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Sunday 18 July 2010

No Oil Chana Masala and Instant Whole Wheat- Bread Bhatura


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Hi Friends!
The food from the state of Punjab is extremely popular throughout India and one can find many restaurants catering to this world famous cuisine. I am sure everyone  is fond  of the world famous combo food Chana-Bhatura but as it’s high on oil and calories we eat that once in a while.
Today I share this extremely popular combo food recipe cooked in my style and in a healthy way. I guess all Indian food blogs will surely have the recipe to this, so one might ask, what’s new here?
New is that, I have still not read any one contributing to a NO OIL CHANA, yes this recipe has absolutely ZERO OIL but is high on taste and one surely does not miss out the oil factor.
I had learnt this recipe from my colleague who is a Punjabi Sikh. She would bring this in her lunch box and we all used to love it. She used to call this 'Keechad Chana' or Cheekad Chana, which translates to 'Muddy Chana' in English, probably for the blackish colour of the curry. When I had asked her for the recipe, I was shocked and surprised to hear that it had absolutely no oil, as one can’t make out that difference. I found it a very unusual recipe, very healthy, low on calories and still scrumptious….unbelievable, right?!?!  Do try this and then believe it. As for me, as I finished cooking S entered the kitchen saying, “What are you cooking? It’s smelling good” Smile.
A normal bhatura is made with refined flour and yogurt and the process of fermentation takes 3-4 hrs. This Bhatura recipe is my Mom’s. I have repeatedly mentioned that she is a marvelous cook and I still can’t match the speed with which she cooks. My Mom uses bread which has natural yeast in it so it helps fermenting fast and the bhatura can be rolled in half an hour after the dough is kneaded.
I have always found Bhatura made in this  way is crispy, does not soak the oil  and also  it does not turn chewy on becoming cold unlike the regular bhaturas. One can make this completely with refined flour but being a health conscious Mom I replaced the 'All Purpose Flour' largely and made a whole wheat version.
The Combo made in this fashion becomes a healthier substitute to the normally high fattening version. So next time you are scared on binging chana-bhatura try my method and you will never regret.
Normally after eating Chana-Bhatura for lunch I would have skipped my dinner too, as I find it very heavy to digest. But today with this version I was hungry by 4 PM to have some snacks. This version is surely easy to digest and light on the stomach.
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Ingredients For NO OIL Chana
4 hand full of Chana/ Garbanzo soaked overnight
a tsp salt salt
a pinch of cooking soda
spices
3 black cardamom
a cinnamon stick
3-4 green cardamom
6-7dry amla/gooseberry pieces
Fresh Whole Spice Masala
1-1/2 tsp carom seeds/ajwain
3-4 tbsp coriander seeds
3 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp rock salt
1 tsp white pepper pwd
2 tsp red chili pwd
1 tsp kashmiri chili pwd
1/2 tsp clove pwd
3 tsp anardana pwd
1-1/2 tsp amchoor pwd
1 tsp ginger pwd
& like I said – NO OIL Thumbs-up
Method
Soak Chana/garbanzo overnight.
In a pressure cooker take the soaked chana,  cooking soda, salt, green and black cardamom, cinnamon and dry amla. Cook it on a high flame till the first whistle then simmer and cook for 20 mins.
The chana should be cooked soft. When the pressure drops remove the whole spices and amla.
Roast the carom, coriander and cumin seeds. Grind it along with the other ingredients mentioned under whole spice masala.
Add this to the cooked chana and mix properly. Now using back side of the ladle crush some chana. Add a cup of water and cook this on low flame for another 15-20 mins or till the chana absorbs the masala.
Sprinkle some finely chopped onion on the chana and serve hot with the Bhatura.
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Ingredients for Whole Wheat-Bread Bhatura
8-10 bread slices
3 cups All Purpose Flour/ maida
2 cups Wheat Flour
1 tsp salt
water
Method
Remove the edges of the bread and soak it in water and mash it into a smooth paste ( I used my food processor).
Add the salt and both the flours. Using water knead a soft dough, cover it with a lid and leave it to rise for half an hour in a warm place.
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Heat oil in a pan (use medium high).
Take a small portion of the dough (as big as ping pong ball).
Grease the dough ball lightly and on a marble slab pat it into a 6inch circle, 3-4 mm thick (Like poori). If you find patting difficult, one can use a rolling pin.
Lift it gently and slide it into the frying pan, check that the oil is not extremely hot, else one can see the bhatura browning instantly.
Using a slotted spoon fry the bhatura and let it puff evenly.
Remove on a kitchen towel.
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Serve hot with Chana.
I am sending this recipe to My Legume Love Affair started by Susan and hosted by Siri's Corner.
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63 comments:

  1. wonderful chole batura ,never heard or never tried this superb version ...its more heather too ...yesterday only i prepared chole batura ,i wish i could get this post little earlier but no probs i will try this again ...thank q pari for sharing this :)

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

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  2. sounds healthy dear ......
    both looks delicious.
    nice clicks :-)

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  3. Wow! yummmmmmilicious chole bhatura very healthy and nutritious.Thank u so much for sharing.

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  4. First time to ur blog dear, ur dish sounds interesting...love to try ur version soon....

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  5. Very interesting dish....looks wonderful. Amazing flavors going on here:)

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  6. that looks awesome.. chole bhatura and healthy didn't use to go together until now.. gotta try this.. thanks 4 sharing :-)

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  7. Chole bhatura looks really delicious Pari. Using Bread in baturae is new idea like it. Hope you will buy more cherries to try the cake.

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  8. Very interesting,will try it soon...

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  9. Omg, thats a droolworthy combo..Oil free channa masala sounds very interesting, healthy at the same very tempting, thanks for sharing this beautiful dish Pari..

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  10. Quite innovative ....love both ..drooling here

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  11. Nice and healthy. Love your step by step frames.

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  12. Thank you for a new recipe. I liked the idea of adding bread for making bhatura. Will give this one a try soon. I know so many people who like oil free recipes. Will pass on this recipe to them.

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  13. What a brilliant idea!! My mom makes an oil free version of chole, but I'm totally impressed with your bhatura recipe!! I'm sure I'll love it, will try it very soon...thanks for sharing!

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  14. thats unbelievable. I always avoid chana bhatura as thats laden with oil but your version is super healthy. love the chana recipe and please thank you mother for inventing this idea of bread bhatura. thts unique. bookmarked and gonna try soon.

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  15. Wow thats wonderful drooling pictures.. really making me hungry again.. yummy yummy yummy!!!! I too add bread for making batura .. i comes out wonderfully..

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  16. Chole Bhatura with out guilt....very tempting.

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  17. I do make oil free version of chole sometime but bread in bhatura got to try that.....btw u used both flours right, I mean APF & whole wheat, in total 5 cups + bread, just a quick ques. how many bhaturas did that much flour yield....thanks

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  18. the oil-free chana looks equally delicious as the fattier version, Pari. i love these light meals.

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  19. interesting version, loved it

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  20. Such a great post Pari..Healthy and yummy baturas and chole..Hmmm drooling now..

    Love
    Suji

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  21. that is an awesome recipe for Bhatura... love the channa recipe too... thanks for sharing!

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  22. Wow..no-oil channa and whole-wheat batura,is this for real??Def got to try!!

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  23. oil free chole sounds really tempting.. will definitely try this out..

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  24. Wow.. An ever winning combo - bhatura and chole..And here you have come up with a very healthy version. Liked the use of bread in batura.

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  25. Ha haa...If I saw this on some other day I would have got very tempted dear...but I make this batura yesterday only as I had some guests over....I use very less oil(just 1/2tsp oil)for making chole which is quite negligible....
    But nothing beats this yummy combination dear..

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  26. Bookmarked it.Came out so good......

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  27. totally loved your variation dear !
    Bookmarked.. such healthy recipes should be tried for sure.

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  28. What an innovative twist to the regular batura...... Very yummy & delicious.... I loved the chana masala too..... I have soaked chole in hand & hence was looking carefully at the prep.... to CASE (Copy & Steal Everything) it...... as we don in our cards sometimes to meet the challenge..... :)

    Ash....
    (http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

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  29. Thank u friends for your wonderful cooments, I feel elated.
    Dear spice, yes, I have used both the flours+bread. This makes about 24 bhaturas.Good enough for 6 people.
    Prathy, looking fwd to ur low oil version.

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  30. delicious treats...this is now in my must try list...beauuuuuuuutifully presented..!

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  31. The chole looks delicious. I am definitely trying out this version. Will keep you posted on how it turns out.

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  32. No oil chana...nice..... :)
    Chana Bhatura looks fantastic.

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  33. oh wow! that looks delicious!

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  34. channa with no oil,sounds nice and the version looks very yummy. never tried battura at home. wonderful combo

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  35. Wow!That looks delicious.First time at your blog you have interesting recipes.I am a follower of your blog please follow mine,I have simple healthy dishes.

    simplehomefood.com

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  36. Sounds interseting. Channa with no oil I like it. I've came across couple of chole batura recipe in blogs today and this one sounds healthy and interesting.

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  37. Pari, that bhature recipe is a very innovative one. I have to try it out some time, looks simply superb !!!

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  38. what a healthy version
    looks so delicious
    very nicely explaned the recipe with pic.
    really good one pari

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  39. Wow mast mast mast !!!! This weekend with ur version of chana bhatura:)

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  40. I love chickpeas! This looks and sounds really healthy and delicious!

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  41. Wow! That's unique! I love zero oil dishes! The combo is great!

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  42. love the batura recipe..looks yumm..

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  43. hi pari...just made this bhatura and came out really good..thanks!!

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  44. Pari, I have been meaning to come back and comment on this post since I read it. I have been super busy with studies, kid and home but this recipe is at the back of my mind. I have been wanting to make it but keep forgetting to soak the chana.
    This looks and sounds so delicious. One of those recipes that when you read it you know it is going to turn out good. :) Will let you know when I make it, which should be pretty soon.

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  45. looks superb dear...and very healthy.....thanks for sending this lovely entry in my event

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  46. Bhature from wholewheat bread! You're a genius! Bookmarked! :)

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  47. Chole looks yum, Like your version of bhatura with bread slices,

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  48. wow what a flavoursome healthy chole....thanx for sharing Pari...

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  49. wow awesome....never heard of adding bread to make batura....sounds easy and fun....thnks for sharing...

    Cheers
    Anu

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  50. wow! what an awesome idea... i need to try this recipe for bhatura...

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  51. Hi I would like to make only 4 bhaturas. Could you email / share with me the proportions. Thanks!!

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  52. Hi I would like to make only 4 bhaturas. Could you email / share with me the proportions. Thanks!!

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  53. Hi!
    could you please tell the weight of the chick peas used.
    Thanks

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  54. I had used my hand to soak the chickpeas. I take a handful per person.

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