Garbanzo Beans cooked in spicy Indian Gravy

By: Chitra Ahluwalia Pal of New York, US

Chole/Chana/Garbanzo Beans cooked in spicy Indian Gravy, goes well with Puris, Parathas, Chapatis or Rice

Ingredients

·         2 cups Garbanzo Beans

·         2 tomatoes (chopped)

·         1 cup Tomato Puree or Paste

·         3 medium Onions (finely chopped in chopper)

·         2 cloves minced Garlic (optional as per taste)

·         1 tbsp. Ginger paste

·         2 Green Chilies chopped

·         Salt to taste

·         ¼ tsp. Turmeric powder

·         1½ tsp. Red Chili Powder

·         1 tsp. Coriander powder

·         4 tsp. Vegetable Oil / Extra Virgin Olive Oil

·         ¼ tsp. Garam Masala Powder

·         3 tsp. of Chana Masala Powder

·         ¼ tsp. Cumin Seeds

For Garnishing

·         Coriander leaves

·         2 small Onions

·         1 Tomato (sliced in Rings)

Directions

1.     Soak chhole/beans overnight in salty warm water with two tea bags.  (adding Tea Bags will turn Chana Black in Color)

2.     Boil Chole/Chana along with tea bags in pressure cooker/Microwave till they become soft.

3.     On Medium Low Heat, Heat the Pan first and put Oil in Pan.

4.     When oil is ready (you can throw one cumin seed if it sizzles then oil is ready). Add Cumin seeds.

5.     When Cumin Seeds splutter, add minced Garlic and Ginger Paste.

6.     Add chopped Onions  and add a pinch of Salt and fry till they turn brown (Adding salt while frying Onions makes it quicker to fry Onions)

7.     Add coriander powder and fry for some time till it becomes light brown.

8.     Add turmeric powder & chili powder and Salt to taste. 

9.     Add Garam Masala and Chana Masala and again fry for some time.

10.   Add Pureed tomatoes and fry till the oil leaves from the sides. 

11.   Add chopped Green Chilies.

12.   Take out the Tea Bags and Add Chole/Chana into the Pan without water and stir so that it gets mixed up well.

13.   Add the same water which was left in pressure cooker while boiling Chole/Chana .

14.   Add Crème Fraiche for a creamy taste

15.   Cook the Chole/Chana with gravy for 8-12 min’s till gravy dries (but Chana or Masala should not burn).

16.   Garnish with Coriander Leaves and ring Onions and Tomato.

17.   Serve with Puris, Parathas, Chapatis or Rice.