chana masala/chickpea masala/easy & simple

Chana or chickpea masala is my favourite side dish for chappathi. I make this chana masala for chappathi on weekends. Chana masala is common in Indian cuisine.

Chickpeas are available in yellow, brown and green in colour. Here I have used yellow colour chickpea. It is very tasty compared to other varieties.

I have made it by mixing and sautéing boiled chana with onion, tomatoes and chillies and adding our spice powders and garam masala powder. Not only as side dish, chickpea masala can also be eaten alone.

There are different methods for making chana masala or chickpea masala. Here I have made it in my own simple and easy way. Let’s see how to make it.

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Ingredients:

·        1 cup chickpea

·        1 finely chopped onion

·        4 sliced green chillies

·        1 chopped tomatoes

·        1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste

For seasoning:

·        3 tablespoon Gingely oil/coconut oil

·        1 tablespoon Cumin seeds

·        1 sprig curry leaves

·        Asafoetida powder

Spice powders:

·        1 tablespoon chilli powder

·        1 tablespoon coriander powder

·        1 teaspoon garam masala powder

·        ½ teaspoon turmeric powder

How to make this chick pea masala or channa masala?

1.    Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and curry leaves and asafetida powder.

2.   Then add onion and green chillies and sauté it

3.   Add ginger garlic paste and sauté it until the raw smell of the paste disappears.

4.   Add tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Cook until the tomatoes become soft. If necessary, sprinkle little water and cook.

5.   Add add all the spice powders and sauté until the raw smell of the powders disappear.

6.   Then add boiled chana and mix well with the masalas.

7.   Cook for 3 minutes. Add little salt.

8.   Delicious, spicy and mouthwatering chana masala is ready.

It goes well with chappathi.

How to prepare chana for making chana masala?

1.    Take 1 cup of chickpea and wash it well in tap water.

2.   Then soak it in water overnight

3.   The next day take the soaked chana in cooker and add four cups of water. Add little salt.

4.   Cook for 5 to 8 whistles. Sometimes it may take 10 whistles also.

5.   After the pressure has been released open the lid and you can see the chana super cooked.

How to enhance the taste of chickpea masala?

·        To make the masala a gravy type, we can smash some boiled chickpeas using a smasher. It gives a gravy consistency.

·        To make the masala more delicious and flavourful, the onions green chillies and tomatoes can sautéed well and pureed. This puree can be added to the pan followed by ginger garlic paste and spice powder. This method will be tastier. But it increases the preparation time.

Nutrition in chana masala/chickpea masala:

·        Chickpea is rich in plant based protein. So it is an excellent replacement for meat in vegetarian diet.

·        Chickpea is rich in iron, fibre, phosphorus, copper and manganese.

How does chana masala help us?

Controls appetite: protein in chickpea slows down digestion and keeps us filling. So it controls our appetite.

Helps in weight management: due to appetite reducing effect, it reduces food carvings for carbohydrate and hence helps in weight management.

Hair growth: protein in chickpeas promotes hair growth and keeps our hair strong.

Hope you like it.💗💗💗

Be Healthy, Happy and Long-lived 😊😊😊