Chana Palak/ Chickpeas in Spinach Gravy

Chana palak or chole palak is another healthy recipe, which is liked by many. It is a north Indian gravy usually served with roti or naan. Boiled chickpeas simmered in creamy spinach gravy makes it more flavorful. Palak paneer, Aloo palak, Matar Palak, Palak gobi are other combinations where pretty much same method is used.

Chana Palak/ Chickpeas in Spinach Gravy


  • Chickpeas/Chana- 1 cup (serves 2)
  • Palak- 2 cups
  • Onion-1
  • Garlic- 3 cloves
  • Ginger- 1 tbs, grated
  • Green chilly- 2-3
  • Garam masala- 1/2 tbs
  • Cumin seeds- 1/2 tbs
  • Butter- 1 cube
  • Oil


  1. Soak chick peas overnight and boil them, you can also use canned chickpeas instead where it takes less time for cooking and soaking is not required
  2. Blanch palak leaves with the help of hot water or boil them for 4 minutes, drain and keep aside
  3. In a pan add a tbs of  olive oil, fry chopped onion, garlic, green chilly and ginger. Let it cool.
  4. In a blender blend this fried items  along with palak leaves and 1/2 cup of water into smooth paste
  5. Take a pan add a tbs of olive oil and cumin seeds, let it splutter. Now add the palak paste to it and let it boil in low flame for 3 minutes before you add garam masala and salt.
  6. Mix well and add boiled chickpeas, simmer it for 5 minutes. Allow the chick peas to extract the flavor slowly.
  7. Place a butter cube on it and serve it hot with chapathi or naan

NOTE: You can avoid adding butter if you are into healthy diet and you can add tomatoes along with onion if you want to have the tomato flavor in the gravy.