Chana Masala
Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Serves:
4-6
Level:
intermediate
About the Recipe
Chana masala is a popular Indian vegetarian dish made with chickpeas in a spicy tomato-based sauce. It is typically served with rice or flatbread such as naan or roti. The dish is flavorful and hearty, making it a great option for a vegetarian meal.
Chana masala is a nutritious and protein-packed dish that can be customized to your personal taste preferences. You can adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less cayenne pepper, and you can also add additional vegetables such as spinach or bell peppers for added nutrition and flavor.
Ingredients
2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or ghee
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 tsp garam masala
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ tsp chilli powder
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes or 3 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
400 ml water
Salt, to taste
Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Preparation
Drain the chickpeas, add to a large pan with 400ml of water and season. Bring to the boil, then turn off the heat and set aside.
Heat the vegetable oil or ghee in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for about 5 minutes, or until it is soft and translucent.
Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the saucepan and cook for another minute, or until fragrant.
Add the ground cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, garam masala and cayenne pepper to the saucepan and stir well to combine. Cook for about 30 seconds, or until the spices are fragrant.
Add the diced tomatoes (with their juices) to the saucepan and stir well to combine. Add the chickpeas and water to the saucepan and stir gently to coat the chickpeas with the sauce.
Bring the mixture to a simmer and reduce the heat to low. Cover the saucepan and let the chana masala simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and the flavors have melded together.
Season the chana masala with salt and add the lemon juice. Serve the chana masala hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.
Enjoy your delicious Chana Masala! You can serve it with steamed rice or naan bread for a complete meal.