Chana
Masala or Chickpea Chili (also known as Chole) is a North
Indian vegetarian dish that is extremely popular in India. This dish is
filling and full of nutrition and tastes delicious with Indian poori,
bhatura, naan, or with basmati rice.
Chickpeas or garbanzo beans are very healthy for you as they're full of
iron, fiber,
They are a great vitamin B source (except B12), and protein, and are a
great substitute for meat protein.
If
you're concerned about getting enough protein in your vegetarian/vegan
diet, be sure to include chickpeas in your meals.
Servings: 4 Cooking Time: 20
minutes
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups soaked and boiled chana
(chickpeas,
garbanzo beans, ceci)
or
if using
canned chick-peas, 1 can, drained
1/3 cup onions, finely chopped
1/3 cup tomatoes, finely chopped
1/4 inch piece of ginger, finely chopped
1/4 tsp garlic paste (optional)
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red
chilli powder
1 tsp chana
masala
1/2 tsp dhania-jeera powder (coriander-cumin)
1/4 cup coriander (cilantro leaves), finely chopped
Salt to taste
6-8 tsp vegetable oil
Preparation
Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat and add the
cumin seeds. When the seeds start to pop, add the ginger and
garlic and fry for a couple of seconds.
Add the onions and some salt, and saute until soft.
Add the tomatoes and a little salt and saute for 2-3
minutes.
Take half of the cooked onions and tomatoes and grind
to a smooth paste and add it back to the pan to form the gravy.
Add the chana masala, dhania-jeera powder, turmeric
powder, and red
chilli powder and fry
for a minute.
Add the chana, 1 1/2 cups of water and salt and cook
on low
heat for 8-10 minutes until all the flavours are combined.
Garnish with chopped coriander, and sliced onions,
and a slice of lime.
Serve the chana masala with Indian naan, poori (or
any
Indian bread) or
basmati or jasmine rice. Also tastes great with toasted bread.
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