Blackgram Masala (Chana masala)

Black gram masala (chana masala)

Black gram - A very rich source of protein and it's a blessing to vegetarians . If you love Chickpeas and Falafel , I bet you will love this baby more . Black gram or brown chickpeas , taste similar to chickpeas but sweeter and has more health benefits. I grew up eating different recipes made out of blackgram . I will cover different recipes spicy, non spicy and easy to cook here

So here is my mom's recipe for Chana Masala, best served with hot chapatti or Paratha/rice or just eat by itself .

*Medium spicy/ Dry to semi dry gravy

Cooking time -30min

Cuisine - Indian

Ingredients

Black gram soaked and boiled -1 cup (instructions in Step 1)

Medium potatoes -2

Onion - 1 medium finely chopped

Ginger paste - 1 tblsp

Garlic paste - 1 tblsp

cumin powder - 1tspn

coriander powder - 2 tspn

Garam masala - 1 tspn

Turmeric - 1 tspn

bayleaf- 1

Green cardamom- 2

Cloves-4

Cinnamon-1 stick

Oil- 4 teaspoon

Coriander leaves - for garnish

Salt - to taste

Green chillies - 2 (optional)

Lemon juice - 1 tspn

Step 1

I am not used to having tinned food but cooking from scratch is actually not difficult.

Soak gram in water for overnight or 6-8 hours and boil it with some salt, it will take 20 min in normal pan , else if using pressure cooker 10min. Add 2 potatoes (optional) while boiling the gram.

Black gram in raw form

Soaked Black gram

Step 2

Now to make the gravy, heat the remaining oil in the pan, now add bayleaf, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. After 1 min add finely chopped onion and sprinkle some salt .

Fry the onion until it starts turning brown.

Now add ginger and garlic paste and 1/4 cup of water so that it does not stick to the bottom. now add all the powders cumin, turmeric and coriander and copped chillies, keep garam masala for later .

keep stirring and once the oil starts separating , lower the flame and leave for another 2 min .

Now add boiled potatoes and black gram and stir for 2 min.

Add the remaining water from the boiling of gram and let it simmer for another 8-10min.

Add garam masala, sprinkle lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves .