Channa masala
recipe Image
 
It is an Indian curry made of chick peas and Indian spices that makes a spicy and tasty vegetarian side-dish for chapatis, puri or any Indian bread.
Preparation Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time : 20-30 mins

Serves : 3-4

Ingredients:
  • Tinned Channa drained- 400g
  • Onion - 2 medium
  • Tomato - 4-5 or 300g
  • Tomato puree - 2 tsp
  • Ginger-Garlic paste - 1½ tsp
  • Cooking oil - 4 tblsp
  • Cooking oil or melted butter - 2 tsp for the end
  • Curd (Yoghurt) - 1 tblsp
  • Water - as required
  • Salt - to taste
  • Sugar - 1/4 tsp
  • Coriander leaves chopped - 1/2 tblsp

Spice powders:

  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Chilli powder - 1½ tsp for medium spicy or 2 tsp for extra spicy
  • Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
  • Jeera (Cumin) powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Chat masala - 1/2 tsp (optional)

Method:
  1. Drain the channa.
  2. Chop the onion and tomatoes.
  3. Heat a pan and add 4 tablespoons of oil.
  4. Add the chopped onion and saute them on a medium heat until they become translucent.
  5. Add Ginger-Garlic paste and fry for about a minute.
  6. Add tomatoes, salt and all the spice powders and fry for few more minutes.
  7. Add cooked channa and stir them. Let them cook in the masala on a medium heat without lid for about 4-5 minutes.
  8. Add about 1/2 a cup of water; Once the masala starts to boil, reduce the heat to low,cover and cook for about 8-10 minutes or until the channa is fully cooked.
  9. Add more water if needed.
  10. In the end, add two teaspoons of oil/butter and beaten curd, sugar and stir well.
  11. Garnish with coriander leaves.
If tinned channa is not available, soak about 250g of chick peas in water for about 2-3 hours and cook them in water with little salt in a pressure cooker for about 7-8 minutes.

Notes:
It goes well with Chapati or any wheat bread. For the variation, Please try <a href="/recipes/Bartha">Bartha</a>, <a href="/recipes/Paneer-butter-masala">Paneer butter masala</a>, <a href="/recipes/bhindi-masala">Bhindi masala<a> or <a href="/recipes/Aloo-Gobi">Aloo Gobi</a>..