Black Chickpeas Stew

I had a bag of black chickpeas laying on my pantry shelf, I finally decided to make this black chickpeas stew dish with it. I decided to make a Moroccan-style version of my popular Chickpea Stew. Now I’m not sure which version I prepare because they both taste amazing!

Black chickpea stew, close up photo showing black chickpeas, tomatoes, red bell pepper, garnish with fresh green parsley in a red serving dish

What Are Black Chickpeas?

Black chickpeas also are known as Kala Chana, Bengal Grams in India, a variety of chickpeas that are quite rare. They are also grown in parts of Italy where they are called Ceci Neri.

black chickpeas are small, black or dark brown in color with wrinkled skin and dark brown when cooked, they are harder than the more common beige chickens and much firmer in texture. They have an earthy robust flavor.  

Dried black chickpeas in a white bowl for making black chickpeas stew

Where Can I Buy Black Chickpeas?

Black chickpeas can be purchased in Indian supermarkets or online on Amazon.

Black Chickpeas Nutrition

They are three times higher in fiber than beige chickpeas. They are also low in fat, have a low glycemic index making them great for diabetics, contain carbohydrates, iron, protein, zinc, and potassium. Read more about black chickpea health benefits here. 

How To Make Kala Chana / Black Chickpeas?

Black chickpeas are harder than the beige variety, they require more soaking and cooking times. I soaked mine overnight. Black chickpeas can take as long as 1 1/2 hours to cook on the stovetop. You can reduce the cooking time by cooking the chickpeas in your Instant Pot. 

If you are preparing dried black chickpeas on the stove-top: 

Soak 1 cup of chickpeas in  3-4 cups of cold water overnight. The following morning, drain and discard water. Replace with 4 cups of water in a large pot on medium-high, reduce to simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Drain liquid and follow the recipe below.

If you are using a pressure cooker or Instant Pot:

Soak 1 cup of chickpeas in  3-4 cups of cold water overnight. The following morning, drain and discard water. Add soaked beans to the pressure cooker along with 4 cups of cold water. 

Close lid set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select Pressure Cooking or Manual Setting. Set the cooking time for 35 minutes at High Pressure. 

Let the pressure release naturally, this will take about 20 minutes. Open the pot after the pin drops. Drain liquid and follow the recipe below.

How To Prepare Black Chickpeas Stew

Cook, onion, garlic, bell pepper in olive oil in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Cook until onions are soft, 

Stir in the spices and cook until fragrant.
Add chickpeas and stir to coat. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, vegetable broth, and salt.

Bring to a simmer for about 20 minutes or until stew is thickened, using the back of a spoon mash some of the chickpeas to help thicken. Serve over cooked rice or quinoa.

Other Amazing Vegan Stew

Overhead Black Chickpeas Stew with tomatoes, bell pepper, onion in a vegetable broth, served in a red dish on a wooden background garnished with parsley

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Overhead Black Chickpeas Stew with tomatoes, bell pepper, onion in a vegetable broth, served in a red dish on a wooden background garnished with parsley

Black Chickpeas Stew

This Black Chickpea Stew is amazing and so easy to prepare, it features sturdy Kala Chana, black garbanzo or black chana, a variety of chickpea cooked in a flavorful Moroccan style stew with onion, garlic,  tomatoes, and herbs.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: black chickpea stew
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 442kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups black chickpeas cooked
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 medium red bell pepper diced
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons coriander
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
  • 1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes (don’t drain)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon cane sugar (optional)
  • 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, bell pepper and cook until onions are soft, about 2 minutes.
  • Add cumin, coriander, turmeric, cayenne and cook until fragrant. Add chickpeas and stir to coat. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, vegetable broth, and salt.
  • Bring to a simmer for about 20 minutes or until stew is thickened, using the back of a spoon mash some of the chickpeas to help thicken. Serve over cooked rice or qu

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 1131mg | Potassium: 1133mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1614IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 245mg | Iron: 7mg

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10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I’ve had a bag of black chickpeas for a while, but they didn’t look appetizing to me. Today I decided to find a recipe for them. Wow! This dish is excellent! I’m a convert now. Thank you for this recipe. It’s a keeper.

  2. 5 stars
    SUPER super YUM! You can also get black garbanzos from Rancho Gordo – they have the best beans and more, plus support small farms.

    I am adjusting this to the slow cooker , does anyone have suggestions?

    This recipe is wonderful!!!

  3. This was insanely delicious. I found black garbanzo beans at a local grocery store with an amazing bulk bins selection and had no idea what to cook with them. I’m so glad I found this recipe to try them out for the first time. I forgot to serve it over rice and ended up eating entire bowl full like I would a bowl of hearty lentil stew. I don’t see anything wrong eating it that way. It just makes me want to triple the recipe so I have enough to feed everyone bowl fulls of this insanely delicious soup.

    1. That’s awesome, I’m so happy you tried it and loved it. Yes there is nothing wrong with eating it alone. Thank you for your feedback.

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