This delicious Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry recipe is super simple to make, it’s naturally gluten-free and vegan, and it’s simmered with the coziest creamy coconut curry flavors. Perfect with rice and/or naan bread!

Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry with Cilantro in Saute Pan

On chilly winter nights that call for cozy comfort food…this sweet potato chickpea coconut curry is sure to hit the spot. ♡

We’ve been making versions of this recipe all season with whatever leftover veggies we have in the house, but this simple combination of sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes and spinach has definitely been our favorite. These basic ingredients are all simmered together in a silky, creamy, coconut curry broth that is brightened up with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Then I highly recommend serving the curry piled high with lots of fresh toppings (hello, fresh cilantro and thinly-sliced red onions) over either rice, rice noodles, and/or homemade naan bread.

It’s a quick, easy, vegetarian (also vegan), gluten-free, flavor-packed meal that’s easy to customize with whatever veggies and greens you have on hand. And, bonus, it also makes for fantastic leftovers the next day. So go rummage through that crisper drawer and let’s make some cozy coconut curry together!

Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry | 1-Minute Video

Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry Closeup

Coconut Curry Ingredients:

Before we get to the full recipe below, here are a few notes about the ingredients you’ll need to make this coconut curry:

  • Onion: Our curry begins with onion (white, yellow or red), sautéed in olive oil until softened.
  • Ginger and garlic: I highly recommend using fresh ginger and garlic for maximum flavor in this curry, which we will mince (or you can grate the ginger) and add to the sauté. That said, if you don’t have fresh ginger in the house, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of ground ginger in place of the fresh ginger.
  • Spices: I kept things simple for this curry with a combination of garam masala and curry powder (plus salt and pepper).
  • Milks: To make this curry nice and creamy, we will use a blend of full-fat coconut milk (I like this brand) and some type of plain plant-based milk (I used oat milk). Alternately, you could also just add in some veggie stock in place of the plain plant-based milk.
  • Tomatoes: One can of diced tomatoes. (I recommend fire-roasted diced tomatoes, if they are available in your grocery store, for extra flavor.)
  • Sweet potato: One large sweet potato, diced into 1/2-inch cubes.
  • Chickpeas: One can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained.
  • Greens: I added a few handfuls of fresh baby spinach to this curry, but feel free to use kale, collards, or any other greens that you prefer.
  • Lemon juice: A generous squeeze of lemon juice (or you could also use lime juice) really helps to brighten up the flavors of the broth.
  • Toppings: Finally, I recommend loading each bowl of curry up with lots of chopped fresh cilantro, a sprinkling of thinly-sliced green onions, and/or a pinch of crushed red chili flakes if you would like to add some heat. Feel free to serve your curry with naan bread, rice, and/or rice noodles.

Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry in Sauté Pan with Cilantro

Possible Curry Recipe Variations:

Here are a few additional ways that you can customize this curry recipe if you’d like:

  • Make it spicy: If you would like to add more heat to the entire batch of curry, add a few pinches of crushed red chili flakes to the broth. Or you can also mince and add in a fresh chili, such as jalapeño, serrano or a Thai bird chili.
  • Make it lighter: You are welcome to sub in low-fat coconut milk if you prefer, but note that the broth will be significantly less creamy and a bit thinner.
  • Use butternut squash (or other potatoes): Feel free to sub in diced butternut squash or another type of potatoes (such as Yukon Gold or red potatoes) in place of the sweet potatoes.
  • Add a protein: Feel free to also add meat (chicken, beef, pork, ground turkey, etc) or seafood (shrimp, salmon, etc) to add some protein to this dish if you would like, either in addition to or in place of the chickpeas.

Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry in Bowl with Naan Bread and Rice

More Favorite Curry Recipes:

Love curry as much as I do? Here are a few more of my favorite curry recipes on Gimme Some Oven:

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Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry in Saute Pan

Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 42 reviews
  • Author: Ali
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x

Description

This delicious Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry recipe is super simple to make, it’s naturally gluten-free and vegan, and it’s simmered with the coziest creamy coconut curry flavors.  Perfect with rice and/or naan bread!


Ingredients

Scale


Instructions

  1. Sauté the veggies. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan or stockpot over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.  Add the ginger and garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.  Add the curry powder and garam masala and sauté for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add the next round of ingredients. Add the oat milk, chickpeas, tomatoes, coconut milk, sweet potato and stir to combine.  Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a very low simmer.
  3. Simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking the curry (uncovered) over a very low simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are softened, about 10 to 15 minutes.
  4. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Add the baby spinach and lemon juice and gently toss with the curry until the spinach has begun to wilt.  Season the curry with however much salt and pepper you think is needed, to taste.
  5. Serve. Serve warm, garnished with lots of toppings, with either naan, rice, and/or rice noodles.

About Ali

Hi, I'm Ali Martin! I created this site in 2009 to celebrate good food and gathering around the table. I live in Kansas City with my husband and two young boys and love creating simple, reliable, delicious recipes that anyone can make!

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55 Comments

  1. Evelyn says:

    This was easy and delicious! I used partial chicken broth and low fat milk as well as low fat coconut milk. I also added some cumin and sprinkled with cilantro when served. Served it with microwaved brown basmati rice to which I added a little butter, cumin, salt and a pinch of cinnamon. This is a keeper!

  2. Sammi says:

    So good! I did the classic internet recipe thing and subbed in what I had in the kitchen and left out what I didn’t so wasn’t totally accurate to the recipe as written but the spice amount and blend is PERFECT. For veggies I used: chick peas, carrots, sweet potato, regular potato and peas. Skipped the tomatoes because I don’t like them (so my curry was a little thicker which is my preference!). Only had vanilla almond milk (oops) so did half cup that and half cup water. Added cilantro at the end and a squeeze of lime!

  3. Sherie says:

    Can you freeze this?

  4. Michaela says:

    I made this and it was SO GOOD!! I added a little sugar to balance the acidicness. This was my first vegan type recipe and my whole family loved it!

  5. Anna says:

    I use an emersion blender and make this into a wonderful thick nutrient punch for my 1 year old! Wonderful recipe!

  6. Christy says:

    I could eat this everyday! I thought it was too mild while I was cooking and tasting it, but the spices build, so it was actually perfect for me. I might double the sauce ingredients next time because I love the sauce so much and naan or basmati rice is perfect for soaking it up! Thanks for this recipe!

  7. Alicia says:

    I’m a Vegan and have IBS. I followed the Low Fodmap diet under a Dietician last year and was only making Low Fodmap meals until I came across this recipe. I omit the onions and garlic, make my own curry powder mix and add in Hing to replicate the onions and garlic. Even though I’ve had to change the recipe because of my dietary needs, the recipe is still awesome. This is the best Sweet Potato Chickpea curry I’ve ever made, it’s delicious

  8. Marlize says:

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. Making it for the second time and planning to make it many more times. I cannot wait to make it for my family one day.
    ~ South-African living in the Netherlands :)

  9. Sarah says:

    This was awesome! I grinded fennel and fenugreek seeds with the garlic to give it some extra oomph, and also didn’t have coconut milk so used chicken broth and heavy cream. This is my new favorite curry recipe!
    Another flavor bomb I found out last night; cook your basmati with a cinnamon stick and whole cloves. Soooo fragrant and delicious!

  10. Cari Lynch says:

    My taste buds are doing a happy dance and my house smells SOOOO good! This is beyond delicious and satisfying, full of good, healthy ingredients and it came together in no time at all. Thanks for yet another goodie!