Monday 18 January 2010

Chana Masala Version II (chickpeas/garbanzo gravy)


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Hello.
As I have mentioned  in my first version of Chana Masala, I make this preparation in several ways to break the monotony and obviously to enjoy the health benefits. I am very happy to post the second version, an authentic Punjabi version. This recipe is very close to my heart and I am surely disclosing some secrets of my kitchen here…. Have I aroused your interest now in reading this post?
As we all know any preparation when it is made by two different people using the same ingredients has a different taste. In this recipe some ingredients that I have used are used by everyone but some are surely new.
I personally like my Chana cooked very soft , made in low oil and with a perfect balance of spices. I like it slightly tangy, medium spicy and enjoy eating it with rice. And yes, I surely enjoy the crunch of raw onions with this combo.
It was a while ago that I had cooked the Chana last,  S reminded me that I had not cooked it in ages… so this ever obedient wife soaked the Chana for weekend…I thought suits me fine, I do not have to stand in the kitchen for a long time on a holiday. smile_wink
I let the Chana soak overnight and then started cooking it in the morning. I have used Kachari to tenderise the Chana naturally. I had heard about Kachari in Sanjeev Kapoor’s show and since then I was in hunt of this ingredient. Ideally it is used to tenderise the meat but can be used for Chana too as it takes a lot of time for them to get cooked otherwise. Kachari is a fruit and in dried form is powdered and used.
The other variation which I have done is boiled the Chana with a few ingredients which adds a flavor, deepens the color, increases the nutrient value and aids in digestion of these ‘Sholay’ sorry Chhole…..read the method for that
So lets hit the complete list of ingredients
Ingredients
2-1/2 cups of Kabuli chana (approx 4 handfuls)
2 potatoes cubed (optional)
1 small stick cinnamon
2 Black cardamom
1 tsp tea leaves
9-10 dry amla
1/4 tsp kachari (alternately, you can also use soda bi carb)
for gravy….
3 onions (make a paste)
3 tomatoes (pureed)
7-8 garlic pods
1-1/2 inch piece ginger
oil for cooking
Spices used…
3-4 bay leaves
1 tsp white pepper pwd
2 tsp red chili pwd
1 tsp turmeric
3-4 tsp coriander pwd
2 tsp roasted  and powdered Cumin
1 tsp roasted and powdered Ajwain / Carom Seeds
3-4 tbsp Anardana pwd*
1/4 tsp garam masala (optional) I did not add
Method
Wash the chickpeas and soak it in overnight with 1/4 tsp Kachari powder  and then boil it in the same water ( to retain nutrients) with  this mix  and  also add salt to taste.
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This mix contains tea leaves which helps to deepen the colour, dry Indian gooseberry (Amla), cinnamon stick and Black cardamom. Tie all ingredients in a cloth (make a potli) and put it  along with the  chickpeas in a pressure cooker, remove the potli after cooking. Amla adds it’s flavor, helps in digestion and is the richest source of Vit C. One can notice the difference in colour after cooking. See below..
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Grind the onions. Heat oil and add bay leaves followed by the onion paste and saute till it gets a light brown colour. One can see how the onion changes colour on cooking.
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Add crushed ginger garlic paste followed by the tomato puree. Cook till the oil separates and then add all the spices and salt to taste. I must tell my friends that the Anardana (dry pomegranate seeds) used here impart tanginess and it’s taste is very different from Amchoor. It imparts  that perfect tanginess which is subtle and surely add that authentic punjabi flavour, people who have used this will agree to me on this and if you have not used it till now please do not wait, use it!
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Add the potatoes, mix, cover and cook till done.
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Add this to cooked chickpeas and add some water, boil on simmer flame for another 10 minutes.
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Serve this with Poori / Paratha / Rice / Kulcha / Naan.
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Sending this as my entry to EC’s MLLA-19 the brainchild of Susan   
                                             &
SWLEventLogo2.jpg picture by arundhuti
to Arundhuti’s Gourmet affair as this was made with lot of love on S’s demand.
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67 comments:

ann low said...

This sounds very healthy and very nice clicks too.

Unknown said...

Looks very healthy & super delicious.

Rachana said...

Looks really good and delicious.

Priya Suresh said...

Channamasala looks really delicious and i love the addition of potatoes...yumm, send me some..

PJ said...

looks delicious and so mouth-watering! As promised, Pari, there are few new ingredients to me.. like kachari is completely new and amla and anardana powder is not something I have used in Chhole before either.. got to give this try soon.

Hayley said...

Hey that chana looks nice and hot...healthy choice..

cheers

simplyfood said...

Lovely dish , there is nothing better than cooking a dish for a loved one.

Anu said...

Looks delicious and healthy...

chakhlere said...

Looks very yummy...will try this way surely!!!

Siddhi Shirsat said...

hey pari this chana masala luks perfect...very tempting n nice pics...u hv used a nice combo of spices

Yasmeen said...

Wish I could smell the aroma here,looks nice and warming :D

Unknown said...

delicious..love the pictures..

Rekha shoban said...

lovely channa masala...nice combo with chapathi and appam.

Khaugiri said...

Wow, it's tempting, chana masala with puri or paratha.....just awesome:)

Vaishali said...

Chana masala with pooris has got to be one of my favorite meals. And yes, I love the crunch of raw onions with mine too. Yours looks delicious, Pari.

Pari Vasisht said...

Dear PJ, am glad u noticed the secret ingredients, do use them, they surely make the Chhole more authentic. Do let me know how they turn out.
Thanks everyone for appreciating.
Ancoo i am glad u liked the clicks, i am stiil a novice in photography.
Hi Vaishali, it was a pleasant surprise to read your comment after a long time. How's ur new job? It seems our taste buds are quite alike. :)

Tina said...

Sounds yummy and delicious....

vidhas said...

Yummy channa masala. Differnet way of making, thanks for the healthy tips.

Oraphan said...

I love chana masala, yours look absolutely amazing! This version sounds so interesting, can't wait to give it a try. You're such a talented cook, Pari!

Sushma Mallya said...

Perfect with puri and looks so delicious...i love to see all the step by step pics u put..easy to follow and understand....worth ur efforts...

lubnakarim06 said...

Wow...that an aromatic curry.....looks yummy ans spicy too...

chef and her kitchen said...

Even my chole is similar ,I also add anardhana and amla n all.but I never knew abt kachari...

Ms.Chitchat said...

Wow, very inviting Chole. Feel like grabbing some to have with Pooris. Good recipe. will definitely give a try and let u know soon.

Chitchat

Pari Vasisht said...

Hi Vidhas, thanx, I hope u try the recipe then only u can understand the difference in taste.
Oraphan, I am humbled, I am still a learner but surely feel can blend spices well.
Prathy I am so glad that u also use these ingredients, so u can surely inderstand when I call this chana masala with a difference..Kachari is not easily available, in case u do not get it do let me know, i can parcel u some.
Thank u chitchat for appreciating the recipe, do let me know how does urs taste.

Nandinis food said...

I know that most people add anardana powder and tea leaves in the dish. I never heard of adding amla in it but it's interesting and yummy! I'll definitely try this!

Shanthi Krishnakumar said...

Nice instructions with a nice dish

radha said...

I do not think kachari is available here. Will try it any way with the other ingredients.

Gita Jaishankar said...

Interesting post and dish Pari....your version also looks delicious :)

Shri said...

The chana looks very delicious,Pari and I like to eat with rice too..And I like the bowl too!!

Also, with using cream cheese in the cupcakes, if you get sour cream, you could try using half and half!!

SE said...

very delicious..i too sometimes use the teabags while cooking chole..and good to know about the kachri!! never heard of it, may be i should hunt for it too

Latha said...

Channa masala looks yummm...next time will try ur version. Nice clicks...

Renuka Bedre - Rao said...

loved this yummy version!! lovely clicks too!!
Renuka
http://cookingyummy.blogspot.com/

Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

Yummy channa masala, looks delicious.

Sayantani said...

Hi Pari love this version but what is Kachari? I have heard that putting anardana powder gives it a distinct flavor(proven by your delicious picture in this post) but yet to find some in the market. does this come under any brand name? please let me know.

Cilantro said...

Lovely presentation. I add the tea leaves for thr color and Amla would also enhance the flavor and color. Should try it next time.

Deepa G Joshi said...

fabulous..it looks so tempting..

Pari Vasisht said...

Dear Cilantro, the amla surely adds to the flavour and the anardana too.
Sayantani Kachari is a fruit seen in Rajasthan it's also called Kacher. Lot of brands sell Anardana and unbranded version is also availabe, it is available with all big grocery stores.

gtyuk said...

wonderful recipe; I use dry pomegranate seeds in my channa masala too, but the addition of kachari is something I've learnt today :)
I love it with pooris; nice one, thank you for the tips!!!

Swathi said...

pari,

i channa in any form, i like you secret ingredients

Anonymous said...

with all those flavours loaded, this is defntly an interesting try worthy dish

Malar Gandhi said...

I simply can't resist over this lovely recipe...will fix it for tonight's dinner:)

Katy ~ said...

Pari, thank you for sharing some of the secrets of your kitchen! This looks good. I would love to try a nice sample of this; this is so new and interesting to me.

Saraswathy Balakrishnan said...

Pari I can have few few pooris with these mouth-water channa masala:)

Saraswathy Balakrishnan said...

Pari I can have few pooris with these mouth-water chanan masala:)

hintofsaffron said...

I am always looking for authentic recipes and looking through your chana masala recipe, I can tell that it is authentic based on the ingredients you have used and the care you have taken to explain them. Keep it up! I have been looking for a authentic chana masala recipe and I am going to try your recipe the next time I make chana masala

Preety said...

channa masala looks so yumm..great recipe too

Pari Vasisht said...

Hi Sanjay, glad u read the post and liked it.Thanks for all the encouraging words.
Thanx Shubha, saraswathy,Pteety.
katy i wish you lived close by, I would have loved to send it to u.
Hi Malar, do let me know how ur dinner turned out.

Raks said...

I am not a big fan of channa few years back! Hubby too hates like anything,so have not cooked for long time other than make sundal once a year ;)...But now a days I am dying for channa masala :( I am all drooling here!

Urmi said...

Chana masala looks delicious and mouth watering.

Pari Vasisht said...

Thanks Preety for appreciating the recipe.
I am glad Raji that either the pic or the recipe has tempted u to try Chana masala again.

Shama Nagarajan said...

delicious gravy...nice picture

Shama Nagarajan said...

delicious gravy...nice picture

FH said...

Give me Chana masala anytime Pari. Love the masala, looks delicious. I will give it a try. Enjoy there! :)

Susan said...

Kachari and amla - fascinating ingredients, and a beautiful recipe to enjoy their special qualities.

I have dried gooseberries, but I'm doubting whether they are amla; I purchased them in a Western grocer. They look like large, flat golden raisins.

Pari Vasisht said...

Susan, I'm not sure which berry u have, just give a search for Indian gooseberry, u will get ur ans.

Dolly Sharma said...

Dear Pari, Awesome and mouth watering Clicks. We all love Chole at my house and this is one yummy delight. Kachari is new to me too. Thanks for sharing this recipe..MY mom makes this version too..(with the potli spices). As for myself I have'nt made that in yrs..thanks for the reminder..will make this way the next time I make Chole.

Saritha said...

Nice curry,loved the ingredients :)

Parita said...

Lovely chana masala!

Pari Vasisht said...

Thnaks Parita and Varunavi.
Dear Dolly, Kachari is surely a natural tenderiser but it's not available that easily. I am glad that my post reminded u to make Chhole, ur family will be happy and we all will be benefitted if u post it.:)

Namitha said...

Classic..Love this combo..:-)

Namitha said...

And Pari, this time there wasn't any problem with the commenting part :D Thanks for fixing it !!

Unknown said...

Simple and yummy..Would like to try ur version for the chana masala in my home :D

my kitchen said...

Healthy & delicious one

EC said...

Very tempting..thanks for all the entries to the event

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Cee Pee Spices said...

Thanks for sharing this post.

I think this is very delicious recipe. I like it very much, I have tried this dish once by using chana masala from Cee Pee Spices and got a great taste and enjoyed a lot.

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