Black chickpeas/kala Chana curry recipe
Boiled black chickpeas / kala chana curry recipe- Kala chanas simmered in aromatic onion tomato gravy, to make a perfect healthy meal with rice or roti.
Black chickpeas benefits-
Blackchickpeas/ Kala chana like lentils, chickpeas, beans is another variety of healthy legumes, that is a very good source of plant based protein.It is different from the regular chickpeas, as in it is dark brown and smaller in size .
As all other pulses, these are low in fat & cholesterol, high in dietary fiber and rich in protein, making them an excellent heart healthy food choice with established health benefits.This is one of a very good vegan option ,to add to your diet, if you are looking for plant based rich source of nutritions.
Consumption-
Black chickpeas in the form of soups, curry, dry, or roasted in your snacks, is considered really healthy especially for the bones.This is a must have in your diet, atleast once a week during winters.
As per my mum, the best vegetarian alternative to chicken soup for colds/respiratory issues, and for stronger bones, is the kala chana(black chickpeas) soup topped with a tsp of ghee!!!
Winters in UK are really harsh, and all of us ,specially kids are really, easily prone to all sorts of infections and colds. So whenever I boil black chana’s for curry, I take out a little bowl of the boiled chickpea soup (water), add a little ghee and give it to my daughter during winters.It really really works!
Don’t believe me? try it! It boosts your immunity.
As this is a whole gram, to cook it properly,It needs to be soaked overnight or for a minimum of 5-7 hours.Then the soaked chickpeas are boiled, and used whichever way you want to use .
In Punjab black chickpeas curry is a regular in all homes, and sometimes it is made dry with a spicy tempering of onion, ginger, garlic, chopped tomatoes and dry spices .
On Ashtami (One of the Indian festivals), these are made in dry form without any onions, garlic and tomatoes, and we have these with poori(fried Indian bread) and halwa, and these taste delicious to the core!
Todays recipe id black chickpea curry. Check out the details below.
Kala chana / black chickpea curry recipe steps-
To make this recipe( black chickpea curry), boil the soaked black chickpeas in a pressure cooker with a little salt for about 20-25 minutes on medium heat.
I add a tsp of mustard oil while boiling, as it really imparts a really nice flavour to this curry. This is optional and you can even skip adding oil.
Open the pressure cooker and check for doneness. The chickpeas should be soft and you should be able to crush them with two fingers.
Tempering-
On the other side, prepare the tempering.
For tempering you need asafoetida powder (hing), onions, ginger garlic paste or crushed/grated ginger garlic, tomatoes, cumin seeds, green chillies (optional),salt, red chilli powder,turmeric powder,degi mirch, coriander powder, garam masala,kasoori methi .
I usually prepare this tempering in pure ghee. But you can use any other oil of your preference.
Also to make this vegan replace ghee with any plant based oil.
In a mixer grind onions and cumin seeds together to make paste.This need not be very smooth.See the picture below.
In a pan heat ghee, and add hing powder (asofaetida).
Add ginger garlic paste , or crushed ginger and garlic. Saute till the raw aroma goes away, and it turns golden in colour.
To this, add onions, cumin seeds paste. Sauté these till the paste changes colour ,starts turning light brown, and starts leaving oil on side. Now add pureed tomatoes.
Sauté this, till tomatoes are completely cooked, and start leaving oil on sides.
Once cooked add the dry spices- salt, red chilli powder, degi mirchi powder, turmeric powder,coriander powder, garam masala powder.Mix well.
Add crushed kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
Add green chillies (whole / sliced or chopped) .I usually add whole, as I do not want to make the curry too spicy, but still need the green chilli flavour.
Once the tempering is ready, add the boiled chickpeas to tempering( or add tempering to boiled chickpeas), and stir well.
Let the chickpea curry simmer, and again pressure cook it for one whistle.
Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.
Serve it with rice, naan, or fresh roti, and salad. It will be one hearty healthy meal, that your family will enjoy.
If you try this and like this recipe, please rate it by clicking the stars below. And don’t forget to like , share the recipe and tag us on Instagram or Facebook using #frombowltosoul_ and #frombowltosoul . Please Comment below for any queries, suggestions and ideas .I would love to hear from you.
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Kala chana/ black chickpeas curry recipe
Ingredients
For boiling the chickpeas
- 1 cup black chickpeas soaked overnight or 5-6 hrs in enough water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp mustard oil
Tempering
- 2 tbsp ghee / or any oil of your preference
- 1/8 tsp hing (asafoetida powder)
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 inch slice of ginger grated/crushed- Can use ginger garlic paste instead
- 4-5 cloves garlic grated/crushed- Can use ginger garlic paste instead
- 2 medium tomatoes pureed
- 2-3 green chillies chopped/ slit
- 1 tsp kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves) hand crushed
- salt as per your taste
- 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp degi mirchi powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
Instructions
- Add the soaked black chickpeas(soaked overnight or for minimum of 5-6 hrs) in a pressure cooker with a little salt .
- Add a tsp of mustard oil . This imparts a really nice flavour to this curry. This is optional and you can skip adding oil.
- Pressure cook for about 20-25 minutes on medium heat.Open the pressure cooker and check for doneness. The chickpeas should be soft and you should be able to crush them with two fingers.
Tempering
- In a mixer grind onions and cumin seeds together to make paste.This paste need not be very smooth.Keep aside.
- In a pan heat ghee, and add hing powder (asofaetida).
- Add ginger garlic paste , or crushed / grated ginger and garlic. Saute till the raw aroma goes away, and it turns golden in colour.
- Add onion, cumin seeds paste. Sauté these till the paste changes colour and starts turning light brown, and it starts leaving oil on side.
- Add pureed tomatoes.
- Sauté these ,till the tomatoes are completely cooked, and start leaving oil on sides.
- Once cooked add the dry spices- salt, red chilli powder, degi mirchi powder, turmeric powder,coriander powder, garam masala powder.Mix well.
- Add crushed kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
- Add green chillies (whole / sliced or chopped) .
- Once the tempering is ready, add the boiled chickpeas to the tempering( or add tempering to boiled chickpeas), and stir well.
- Let the chickpea curry simmer, and again pressure cook it for one whistle.
- Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.Serve it with rice, naan, or fresh roti, and salad. It will be one hearty healthy meal, your family will enjoy.
Notes
Some of you have asked me for the rice recipe as well. It is quick and simple so just adding the rice recipe here for easy reference-
Heat a tsp of oil / ghee in a pan. Add cumin seeds. Let it splutter. Add slices onions (1 onion). Cook it for a few minutes till it is transparent (do not brown). Add 2 cups of water (Water should be double the amount of rice- for 1 cup rice add 2 cups water). Add a little salt, black pepper , and red chilli powder. Mix well. Add washed and rinsed rice (i used Basmati rice). Give it a good mix. Cover and let it cook for 7-8 minutes, till rice is almost done (Do not be tempted to mix it while it is cooking. Let it just sit and cook on its own). Take off the heat. Keep it covered for another 8-10 minutes, and it is ready to be served.Pin it for later– If you wish you try this recipe later, click on any of the pictures to pin the recipe.
I have tried your recipe (with a few changes/additions). It is such a wonderful change to MY usual Kala Chana recipe! Can’t thank you enough.
I also love the name of your Cook-page , ‘From Bowl to Soul’. I shall most definitely approach your Page for more delectable recipes. Thank you.
Hi Marisa
Thank you for trying the recipe. I am so glad you liked it xx
Hey!thank you so much. That made my day :)xx
I tried this and totally loved it. It is going down in my list of dishes to make
Thank you so much for trying this recipe. I am so glad you liked it.
I need to thank my mum for the recipe though (originally hers) 🙂
Excellent Recipe
Thank you! Glad you like it .
This is superb ,so tasty 😋
Thank you Mark . So glad you liked it .
Loved it. Thanks.. By
I love it with puttu!
BlackChanna/Kadala Curry
Super Delicious recipe! Authentic Chana Masala
Thank you Diwakar !
We had a similar dish in Edinburgh and it was amazing. I want to give this a try.. do you had the mix to the boiled chickpeas with the boiler water?
Many thanks