An Easy Weeknight Curry

This stew is inspired by chana masala, a vegetarian Indian dish.
An Easy Weeknight Curry
An authentic curry consists of a mountain of whole spices, carefully toasted, then ground and sauteed with aromatics to create a potent, flavorful paste. This stew is a cheater version. Photo by Lynda Balslev for Tastefood
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Take a break and make a quick and easy curry for dinner. An authentic curry consists of a mountain of whole spices, carefully toasted, then ground and sauteed with aromatics to create a potent, flavorful paste. This stew is a cheater version. It relies on a generous dump of prepared curry powder along with a few dried spices to build deep flavor in a short amount of time.

This stew is inspired by chana masala, a vegetarian Indian dish featuring chickpeas, tomatoes, garlic, chiles, and ginger. Along with the prepared dried spices and a few pantry items, including coconut milk for creamy richness, this simple variation can be prepared within 30 minutes. Feel free to add more vegetables, such as cauliflower and butternut squash, for a heartier stew. Serve it as a main dish, ladled into bowls, with rice or naan.

Lynda Balslev
Lynda Balslev
Author
Lynda Balslev is a cookbook author, food and travel writer, and recipe developer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives with her Danish husband, two children, a cat, and a dog. Balslev studied cooking at Le Cordon Bleu Ecole de Cuisine in Paris and worked as a personal chef, culinary instructor, and food writer in Switzerland and Denmark. Copyright 2026 Lynda Balslev. Distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication.