Punjabi Chana Masala (Chickpeas Curry)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 3

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Bay leaves

• 2 Black cardamom

• 4-5 Cloves

• 1/2 inch Cinnamon stick

• 1/2 teaspoon Black peppercorns

• 1 cup of onion roughly chopped

• 2 small or 1 cup Tomato roughly chopped

• 1 Green chilli

• 1/2 inch Ginger chopped

• 2 cloves Garlic sliced

• 1 cup Dried white chickpeas (Chole or white chana)

• 2-3 tablespoons Oil

• 1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds

• Salt to taste

• 2 teaspoons Red chilli powder

• 1 teaspoon Coriander powder

• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

• 1 teaspoon Anardana powder (dried pomegranate seeds powder)

• 2 1/4 cups Water

• 1/2 teaspoon Amchur powder (dried mango powder)

• 2 tablespoons of coriander leaves finely chopped.

DIRECTIONS

• Wash and soak the white chana in water for 8 hours overnight. Then drain the soaking water.

• To make fresh spice powder, dry roast all the whole spices in a small pan on medium-low heat for 2 minutes.

• Once cooled completely, make a fine powder using a grinder.

• Take an onion, tomato, ginger, garlic and green chilli into a grinder jar and make a smooth paste. Keep it aside.

• Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat and add cumin seeds.

• Once they sizzle add prepared onion-tomato puree along with little salt and cook till it becomes a thick paste.

• Add remaining salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, anardana powder and prepared spice powder. Mix well and cook till oil starts to ooze out.

• Add soaked chickpeas and water, mix.

• Cover the pressure cooker with lid. Put the weight on. Let it cook for 20-25 minutes on medium heat.

• Once pressure releases naturally, open the lid.

• Check the gravy consistency. If gravy is thin and watery, then let it simmer for a few minutes. If it gravy is too thick then add some more water and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

• Add Amchur powder( mango powder)and mix.

• Lastly, garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

• Serve with Roti, Paratha or Plain rice.

HEALTH BENEFITS

• Chickpeas are rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as it has a decent amount of fibre and protein.

• It helps in managing the weight.

• Chickpeas help to keep blood sugar levels under control.

• Chickpeas are high in fibre, which benefits our digestion by increasing the number of healthy bacteria in the gut.

• It helps to prevent high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.