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Vegan Chana Masala/Chole (Chickpea Curry)
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- pinch of asafetida, hing
- 3 medium tomatoes
- 1 inch ginger chopped, can be substituted with ginger paste
- 3-4 cloves of garlic peeled and chopped, can be substituted with garlic paste
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes or green chili, to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 14 oz garbanzo beans washed and drained, or 1 cup dry chickpeas soaked overnight and pressure cooked for 4-5 whistles.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon raw sugar
- 1 teaspoon Chana Masala powder or to taste, Recipe below or use the chana/chole masala blend from indian store.
Instructions
- In a blender, add 3 medium chopped tomatoes, ginger, garlic, chili, lemon juice, 1/4 can garbanzo beans(1/4 cup cooked chickpeas). Blend into a paste and keep aside.
- In a pressure cooker, add oil and onions. Switch on saute or over medium heat if it is a stove top pressure cooker.
- Cook until onions are translucent. Add in the spices, asofetida, chana masala blend and mix well.
- Add in the tomato puree and cook on medium low, partially covered with occasional stirring until the paste thickens and starts to leave oil (about 15 minutes)
- Add in the salt and remaining garbanzo beans and 1 to 1.5 cups water depending on your preference for thick or thin curry.
- Pressure cook for 2 whistles(10 minutes). or cook covered until chickpeas are easily mashable.
- Let the pressure cooker release pressure by itself(5 minutes). Adjust salt. Add more chana masala blend and chili flakes per taste. Mix well.
- Serve hot topped with chopped onions, lemon wedges, cilantro and Rotis or Naans or Basmati Rice!
- Saucepan: Use canned or slow cooker cooked chickpeas, or dry chickpeas soaked overnight. In a deep pan, make the tomato onion mixture as above. Add the chickpeas and 2 cups of water and cook for an hour or so, covered, until the chickpeas are tender. Mash some chickpeas and let cook for another 5-10 minutes uncovered. Adjust water for preferred consistency.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Chana Masala Spice blend/curry powder
Ingredients
- 1/4 teaspoon Hing/Asofoetida
- 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Dry ginger powder
- 1/2 teaspoon green cardamom, elaichi powder
- 1 teaspoon Pomegranate seeds powder/Anardana, Or 1 teaspoon dry mango powder/Amchur
- 1/2 teaspoon rock salt/kala namak
To Roast:
- 1 big Bay leaf/ Tej Patta
- 1 Tablespoon Coriander/dhania seeds
- 2 teaspoons Cumin/jeera seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel/Saunf
- 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper corns, kali mirch dane or to taste
- 1/3 teaspoon clove/laung, 3-4 cloves
- 1 Dry red chili
- 1 stick Cinammon/dal chini , or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 2 teaspoons Dry Fenugreek leaves, Kasturi methi or 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
Instructions
- On a thick bottom pan dry roast ingredients one at a time on low-medium heat till you can smell their aroma and coriander seeds start to turn brown. Stir almost constantly. (3-5 minutes)
- Cool this mix and grind with the other ingredients. Adjust the spice(chili), and sour(pomegranate seeds and rock salt) to taste. We add a bit more spice and mom adds another teaspoon of dry mango powder for a more sour masala blend.
- Store in airtight container for a few months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love our local Indian restaurant but this tops their Chana masala! Going to be making this on repeat with fresh garden tomatoes!
Yay! Good to hear.
I’ve made this so many times. It’s never been anything less than a resounding success each time. Even if I mess it up, it’s very forgiving.
Eating a hot fresh plate of it right now. Cheers!
Yay! Thanks for taking the time to comment.