Channa masala/Chole masala/chickpea masala

Chola Batura will be my first choice if I'm in the mood for a heavy dish in a North Indian restaraunt. Wow the delicious aroma from the chole and the soft batura makes my mouth watery !

I have tried channa masala many times but with a little research this time it turned out to be a splendid one with lots of appreciation from J,my husband !

Ingredients

• Channa/chick pea - 1 cup( I used fresh ones from the stores )
• Onion - 1 cup , finely chopped
• Tomato - 1 cup,finely chopped
• Garlic - 2-3 cloves,finely cut
• Ginger - 2 tsp
• Fresh coriander-2 tsp,chopped
• Whole spices- Bay leaf,cardamon,cloves
• Turmeric - 1/2tsp
• Chilli powder- per taste
• Salt - as required
• Channa masala powder- 2-3 tsp OR Substitute with

            Pepper corns - 1tsp
            Cumin seeds - 1tsp
            Ani seeds - 1 tsp
            Lemon juice - 1/4 tsp
            Garam masala- 2 tsp

Method

Preparing the channa :

• Soak the channa for 6-7 hours.
• Pressure cook them for nearly 4 whistles. A good consistency of channa is very essential because over boiled channa will be messy and under boiled ones will not blend.
• The right consistency is reached when you are able to smash the channa easily with your finger tips.
• Drain the channa and keep the water for cooking.
• Channa or chickpea is ready to rock !

• If you have channa masala powder you can skip this step, else grind all the ingredients mentioned in the substitute section except lemon and garam masala , ofcourse.
• Take 3/4th cup of the boiled channa and grind it to a fine paste using some water.
• In a kadai,pour some oil or butter or ghee(according to your diet plan :-) ) and put in the whole spices.
• saute for a few minutes and add the onions. Saute till it turns brownish.
• Add the ginger,garlic and turmeric and saute till fully absorbed.
• Add in chilli powder and salt and cook for few minutes.
• Add the chopped tomatoes at this moment and saute nicely until the mixture turns all juicy .You can add little water if there is no moisture.
• Once the mixture blends well, taste for the spices and adjust if you have to.
• Add the garam masala / channa masala at this stage.
  
• Now pour in the channa mixture, along with some water and mix well.
• Finally add the remaining channa and blend well. Keep for 5 minutes and switch off the stove.
• Add the lemon juice and coriander and stir once.

We are ready to be served! This goes well with puri or batura.