Today I want to introduce you to one of the simplest dishes of Indian cuisine – it’s chana masala. Naturally, it is a vegan dish that surprises with its simplicity and distinctive taste without excessive spiciness.
This food is extremely filling, so even a small portion will give you energy for the whole day. There are no hard-to-reach ingredients, so you can easily cook it whenever you want.
In the recipe, I used canned chickpeas to show how easy this dish is. But of course, if you have time, use dry chickpeas, which you first soak for a few hours and then cook. Of course, this method requires patience and a lot of time, but you will see differences in taste.
GARAM MASALA – a great blend of spices used in traditional cuisine in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries. You can also make it yourself at home. It includes, among others, cumin, coriander, black pepper, cardamom, bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, nutmeg and more!
WHAT TO EAT CHANA MASALA WITH? Usually this dish is served with rice or naan. Naan bread is usually not vegan, although you can try it yourself at home in a dairy-free version, while for rice, choose basmati or jasmine. Do not skimp on its quality, you will immediately see the difference in taste.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cans of chickpeas
- 1 can of sliced tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 3-4 cm piece of ginger
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon of cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon hot pepper
- 3 cloves
- fresh coriander
- salt pepper
CHANA MASALA – PREPARATION
- Finely chop the onion, grate the garlic and ginger. Fry the onion with a tablespoon of olive oil in a Teflon pot for 3 minutes and then add the grated garlic and ginger.
- After a few minutes, add all the dry spices (garam masala, cumin, coriander, turmeric, hot pepper, cloves), mix everything and keep on low heat for 2 minutes.
- Then add the drained chickpeas and canned tomatoes and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve with naan or rice.