Nepalese Chickpea Stew Vegan (Chana Ani Kerau)

This authentic Nepali chickpea stew made entirely from scratch (no canned chickpeas here) on stovetop is healthy, hearty and packed with flavors.

I’ve recently learned how to make this Nepali chickpea stew aka. Chana Ani Kerau from my friend Kabita. If you haven’t made her pork momo with sesame sauce recipe or her vegan momo recipe yet, you’re missing out.

Kabita comes from Nepal and has been living in Germany for more than 10 years. Before she came to Germany, she used to work as a cook.

This Nepalese chickpea stew is so easy to make and bursting with flavors. Made with overnight soaked dried chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger and seasoned with coriander powder, cumin and fenugreek seeds and finished off with cilantro (fresh coriander) in just 1 hour.

Makes a complete meal on it’s own, but you could also serve it with sel roti, or rice for a more substantial meal.

What you’ll need to make ayuverdic chickpea stew vegetarian

• 500 g (1.1 lbs) dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
• 200 g (7.1 oz) tomatoes
• 15 g (½ oz) ginger root
• 1 medium onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• about 750 ml (3 cups) water
• 3 tablespoons sunflower oil or any
• ⅓ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1½ teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• Chili to taste
• Fresh coriander (cilantro) for garnish

How to make Chana Ani Kerau

Soak the chickpeas overnight. Simply put the chickpeas in a bowl and cover with double the amount of water.

Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas. Then peel and slice the onion.

Next peel garlic and ginger and cut ginger into chunks. Using a mortar and pestle, mash garlic and ginger. If you don’t have one just use a knife to do it. Then rinse the tomatoes and cut them into slices.

Next, heat oil in a medium pot or large saucepan over medium heat until it begins to shimmer. Add the fenugreek seeds and let them cook for a couple of seconds, until they turn black.

Be careful not to burn them, since they burn quickly! Add three quarters of the chopped onions and cook until nicely brown.

Add the soaked and drained chickpeas, stir and let cook for about 5 minutes, stir halfway through. Add turmeric powder, cumin, chili, salt, coriander powder, the ginger – garlic paste and tomatoes.

Mix everything well, cover (without adding water) and simmer for 10 minutes. Keep stirring in between.

Stir in half of the water and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat, cover and let simmer for about 30 minutes, until the chickpeas are tender.

Keep stirring and adding more water if the chickpeas begin to look dry. I recommend checking them after 30 minutes for doneness.

Garnish with fresh coriander (cilantro) and the remaining, but finely chopped onions. 

• I also made this recipe without fenugreek seeds and it turned out great.

What to serve with Nepalese Chickpea stew

Chana Ani Kerau tastes great served with sel roti (Nepali rice bread), rice, or just like that.

Did you make this Nepali chickpea stew vegan? I’d love to hear from you! Simply write a review and add rating to it.