Suitable for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points. Instant pot Indian recipes like tikka masala or this chana masala are quick and straightforward to make and are a great way to spice up your weeknight dinner plans. Pressure cooking allows all the ingredients to meld together beautifully. Chana Masala Instant Pot is such a flavorful and fuss-free meal, just like this Instant Pot Chicken Curry and my Instant Pot Dal and this fun Instant Pot Pumpkin and Plantain Curry. Chana Masala means “spiced chickpeas,” and a blend of Garam masala, ground cumin, and ground coriander will give this dish a lovely flavor. Although not 100 percent authentic, these spices are much more common and you probably have them on hand. If you have a chana masala spice blend, feel free to use it in this instant pot chana masala recipe.
Why Make This Recipe
Restaurant-Style Chana Masala – Get the same great flavor you’d find in a restaurant but save time and money by making Instant Pot Chana Masala at home. It’s Fast – Save time by using canned chickpeas and make this recipe in about 30 minutes. It’s Meatless – Meatless meals are great for us, and this meatless masala curry is filling and flavorful.
Ingredient Notes
Olive Oil – Or use your favorite light, neutral oil to prevent everything from sticking. Aromatics – Chopped onions, fresh garlic cloves, and grated ginger are classic earthy flavors that add depth to this dish.Water – Substitute vegetable stock if preferred. Seasonings – Garam masala, ground cumin, and ground coriander aren’t completely authentic, but make this a super easy recipe with ingredients you already have on hand. You can substitute these ingredients with chana masala spice blends. Chickpeas – Canned chickpeas should be drained and rinsed. Diced Tomatoes – Tomatoes add a nice flavor and canned tomatoes are convenient, but you can use fresh tomatoes. Chopped tomatoes should equal 1 ½ cups. You can also substitute fire-roasted canned tomatoes.
Ready to make this Chana Masala in Instant Pot? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…
How To Make Instant Pot Chana Masala
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
Add oil to the Instant pot insert and heat using the sauté function. Add chopped onions and cook for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent.Add the garlic and ginger and cook for an additional minute, stirring to prevent burning. Immediately deglaze the pan with water and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the insert with a wooden spoon. Add the garam masala, cumin, and coriander to the onion mixture and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add chickpeas and diced tomatoes, stirring to combine with the aromatics. Cover, seal, and cook at high pressure for 15 minutes, followed by a quick pressure release.
Expert Tips
Use ghee instead of olive oil for a nutty flavor. Prep all of your ingredients before you begin sautéing the aromatics because this vegan Chana masala recipe in Instant Pot moves quickly. Deglaze the Instant Pot insert well and scrape with a wooded spoon to prevent a burn error while cooking at pressure. For authentic chana masala, use a chana masala spice blend. Recipe times do not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come to temperature. For a thicker curry, mash some of the chickpeas with a potato masher. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving for a bright flavor. Serve with rice or naan bread.
Delicious Variations
Make It Spicy – Add green chilis and cayenne powder for heat. Add More Flavor – To boost the flavor even more, add cumin seeds, red chili powder, and amchur powder, or add chana masala powder blend or your favorite Indian spices. Sprinkle the finished chana masala with dried mango powder. Use Ghee – If you do not need to make this vegan, opt for Ghee when sauteing the onion and other aromatics. It gives this dish a wonderful flavor.
Prep And Storage
Prep Ahead – If using dried beans, you will need to soak them for a minimum of 4 hours. Store – Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze – Freeze chana masala in a freezer-safe container or food storage bag for up to a month. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat it in a skillet.
FAQs
More Recipes You May Like
Instant Pot Butter Chicken.Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup.Instant Pot Sesame Chicken.Instant Pot Dal.Easy Mushroom Masala.One Pan Cauliflower Curry.Egg Curry.Instant Pot Mango Chutney.
Serving Suggestions
Instant Pot Rice.Instant Pot Lentil Soup.2 Ingredient Flatbread.Curry Rice.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 2 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this. Thank you for reading my Instant Pot Chana Masala recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
