Chana Masala

 

A very popular restaurant dish, from northern India  “chana masala or chole”. This mouth watering spicy curry with chickpeas in onion and tomato gravy is absolutely delicious, served with bhatura, puri or paratha topped with a dollop of butter or ghee.

Chickpeas are high in protein, zinc and dietary fiber. They are low in calories and can be enjoyed all year round.

Ingredients:

2 cups of chickpeas/chana

2 onion finely chopped

2 tomatoes finely chopped

2 green chilles

3-4 cloves of garlic

½ inch ginger

1 tsp turmeric powder

2 tsp red chili powder

2 tsp garam masala

2 tsp sugar

2 tbsp oil

1 tsp cumin seeds

½ tsp asafetida/hing

1 tsp cumin powder

1tsp coriander powder

1 tbsp lime juice

½ cup finely chopped coriander

Salt to taste

Method:

Pressure cook chickpeas till pressure is released 3-4 times (3-4 whistles).

Blend together one onion, chilies, ginger, garlic to a fine paste.

In a pan heat oil add cumin seeds and let them crackle, then add asafetida and finely chopped onion and sauté for 2 min or till onion become translucent. Now add the fine paste and sauté for another 2 min.

Add tomatoes, turmeric powder, chili powder, cumin and coriander powder, garam masala and sauté till the color starts to change and the oil separates

Then add salt, sugar, and cooked chickpeas and mix well. add water if the gravy is too thick. Cover and let it simmer for 5 to10 min. add chopped coriander and lime juice and serve hot with bhatura, puri or paratha.  

Enjoy!