Channa Masala / White Chickpea Curry

Channa masala is a very tasty and easy to prepare chickpea curry made with white chickpea/ kabuli channa and can be served with jeera rice, roti, chapathi or paratha.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Channa Masala / White Chickpea Curry.

Ingredients:-

White chickpea /Kabuli channa.- 1 cup
Onion.                                -1big
Tomato.                              -2
Ginger.                                -small piece
Garlic cloves.                      -3
Turmeric powder.                -1/2 tsp
Kashmiri chilly powder.      -1tsp
Coriander powder.                -2 tsp
Cumin powder/jeera powder.-1tsp
Amchur/dry mango powder. -1tsp
Garam masala.                      -1tsp
Tandoori masala.                   -1tsp
Cumin seeds.                         -1tsp
Bay leaf.                                -1
Cinnamon.                            -1 piece
Cloves.                                  -3
Cardamom.                            -2
Star anise.                              -1
Kasoori methi.                       -2 tsp
Coriander leaves.                   -hand full
Salt.                                       - to taste
Oil.                                         -2 tbsp
Ghee.                                      -1tbsp
Water. - if required to adjust consistency.

Instructions:-

1). Wash and soak white chickpea / kabuli channa overnight. Drain the soaked white chickpea and pressure cook adding enough water for 4 whistles or until soft. Separate 1/4 cup of cooked white chickpea / kabuli channa and grind to a smooth paste and keep aside the ground channa paste. Keep aside the remaining cooked white chickpea /kabuli channa along with cooked water.

2). Peel and crush ginger and garlic cloves together. Chop onion into small pieces. Puree tomatoes. Chop coriander leaves. Keep aside.

Method:-

1). Heat 2 tbsp oil and 1tbsp ghee in a wide bottom pan and add bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise, cumin seeds and saute well.

2). Add chopped onion and saute well until light brown. Add crushed ginger garlic mixture and saute well until the raw smell goes.

3). Add turmeric powder, kashmiri red chilly powder, coriander powder, cumin powder /jeera powder, garam masala and saute well.

4). Add pureed tomato and saute well until oil separates and tomato is well cooked. Add cooked white chickpea /kabuli channa along with cooked water and mix well.

5). Add amchur /dry mango powder, tandoori masala and mix well. Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Once boiled add the ground channa paste and mix well (this will thicken the gravy).Adjust water accordingly for gravy.

6). Crush kasoori methi between your hands and put it in the chickpea curry. Add required salt and chopped coriander leaves and mix well. Cover and cook the chickpea curry for 5 minutes on low flame and switch off the flame.

Very tasty Channa Masala / White Chickpea Curry is ready to serve hot with jeera rice, roti , chapathi or paratha.