Easy mild chana dal Curry

Chana dal (chickpea or  garbanzo bean) is a popular North Indian recipe. It is nutritious because of its high protein content in the main ingredient, Chana dal is the Hindi word.

Easy mild chana Dal Curry

                                    Recipe summary

                                               For

                             Easy mild chana dal Curry 

Preparation time: 15 minutes (Precooked or canned chana dal)

Cooking time:30  minutes

Serves:4

1 In a medium sized pot, add 1 tbsp oil and heat it up. When the oil  is hot reduce the heat to medium low .

2 Add chopped 80 grams onion, chopped 2 green chillies and stir fry 8 to 10 minutes.

3 Add slices 3 cloves garlic, 10 grams ginger and 5 curry leaves and stir fry for 1 minute.

Ingredients

4 Add the 2 tbsp chana masala powder, 1/2 tsp salt  and fry for another 3 minutes.

5 Add the soaked and pre-cooked 250 grams chick peas and add a half cup of water.

Easy mild chana Dal Curry

Cook covered for 10 minutes.

By now almost all the water would have evaporated.

5 Add 4 tbsp coconut milk and cook at low temperature for 3 minutes.

                       



 The chana masala curry is ready.

              

Recipe follows in detail with pictures.


Preparation time: 15 minutes (Precooked or canned chana dal)

Cooking time:30  minutes
Serves:4

Ingredients
Main
250 grams chick pea, cooked

Others

80 grams onion, roughly chopped

3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced thin

10 grams ginger, grated

2 small green chilies, sliced thinly

5 curry leaves, chopped
4 tbsp coconut milk or cream

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 cup water

Spices

2 tbsp chana masala powder

Ingredients for Easy mild chana dal Curry 

There are many varieties of dried chick peas. Their color ranges from white to dark brown. Any of the available variety is suitable for this curry. Using canned chick pea (garbanzo beans) is the easiest as it does not require prior cooking. Dried peas are cheap.

I bought the chana masala powder from the store. You can make it yourself also. I give the ingredients for making chana masala powder below.This masala powder is very flavourful and you can use it in any vegetable or meat curry and soups and stews. In Northern India, chana means garbanzo beans. This spice mix is used to cook garbanzo beans (chick peas).

Preparation

I used dried chick peas. You can use canned beans. If you are using canned beans it is not necessary to cook it.

Soak the dried chick peas overnight. Drain and discard the water,

It is best cooked in a pressure cooker. I did not have one so I cooked it in a pan.

Put the soaked peas in a large pan.

Add enough water to cover the peas and be one inch above the peas. We need a lot of water because these peas take a long time to cook. I boil water in a kettle and add to the boiling chickpea when water is needed.

Bring to the boil and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan with the lid slightly opened.  Let is simmer for 1 and a half hour or until the peas are soft. 

Do not add salt from the beginning add after it is boiled and cook for 10 minutes. 

The cooking time will depend on the type of peas. Some peas will take much longer to become soft.

When the peas are soft, remove the pan from the heat and drain and discard the liquid. Set the cooked peas aside.

Method

In a medium sized pot, add the oil and heat it up. When the oil is hot reduce the heat to medium low and add onion, green chilies. 

Add garlic, ginger and curry leaves. Stir-fry the ingredients for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the onions are translucent.

Frying onion and chili

Add garlic ,ginger and curry leaves. fry for a minute.

Adding garlic ,ginger and curry leaves

Add the chana masala powder and fry for another 3 minutes.

Adding chana masala powder

Add the soaked chick peas and add a half cup of water.

water would have evaporated. 

Cook covered for 10 minutes.

By now almost all the water would have evaporated.

Add coconut milk and cook at low temperature for 3 minutes.

Adding coconut milk

The chana masala curry is ready. It can be served with rice or a flat breads like chapatti.

Chana Masala Spice Mix

This spice mix is very popular  India and Pakistan. This masala is also known as chole masala or channay or Chholay.
3 tbsp Coriander seeds
1 tbsp dry mango powder
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp dry ginger powder

2 bay leaf
1 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp kasturi methi
3 or 4 pcs cinnamon
2 tsp black pepper
1 star anise