Chana Masala
Chana masala is a great example of how Indian dishes can be both incredibly flavorful and simple. This is likely what Anthony Bourdain had in mind when he traveled to India and said if all vegetarian food tasted this good, he wouldn’t be so opposed to it. It’s one of my favorites because it’s naturally vegan, gluten-free, and low in fat.
Bite-Sized translation
In Hindi, “Chana” translates to chickpeas, while “Masala” refers to the flavorful blend of spices used in the dish.
Ingredients
Categorized for easy shopping list creation:
| PRODUCE | |
|---|---|
| Garlic | 4 cloves |
| Ginger | 1 inch |
| Onions | 2, any variety |
| Cilantro | for garnish |
| DRY GOODS | |
|---|---|
| Dried Chickpeas | 1 cup |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp |
| Whole San Marzano Tomatoes | 28 oz |
| Basmati or Jasmine Rice | |
| Almond Flour | 1 cup (optional, for flatbread) |
| Tapioca Flour/Starch (Tapioca Flour and Starch are the same thing) | 1/2 cup (optional, for flatbread) |
| Baking Powder | 1/2 tsp (optional, for flatbread) |
| SPICES | |
|---|---|
| Sea Salt | 1 tsp |
| Turmeric | 1/4 tsp |
| Indian Red Chili Powder | 1/2 tsp |
| Garam Masala | 1 tsp |
| Coriander Powder | 2 tsp |
| Cumin Powder | 1/2 tsp |
| Kasuri Methi (Dried Fenugreek Leaves) | 1 tsp (optional) |
| Bay Leaf | 1 (optional) |
| Cinnamon Stick | 1 (optional) |
| Cloves | 2 (optional) |
| Green Cardamom Pods | 2 (optional) |
Cooking Tips
Soaking Chickpeas: You’ll need to soak the dried chickpeas for at least 8 hours. I prefer to do this overnight to make sure they’re ready to cook. Once soaked, they’ll need 1.5 to 2 hours to cook, so plan accordingly.
Chopping Aromatics: The onions, garlic, and ginger will be blended later, so you don’t need to chop them too finely. Just get them roughly chopped and you’ll be fine.
Final Thoughts
Don’t be scared off by the long prep time. This recipe is simple to make!
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Chana Masala
Prepare to be amazed by the incredible flavors that spices bring to this simple yet delicious dish! Chana masala, which means spiced chickpeas, involves soaking dried chickpeas overnight and then simmering them in a fragrant, spiced onion-tomato curry. This vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and low-fat dish checks all the boxes for a perfect meal. Enjoy it with basmati or jasmine rice and my almond flour flatbread!Recipe adapted from https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/chana-masala/
Equipment
- High Speed Blender Amazon.com: Vitamix 5200 Blender
- Griddle Amazon.com: GreenPan Elite
Ingredients
Chickpeas
- 1 cup Dried Chickpeas equates to 3 cups soaked
Spiced Tomato Sauce
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Bay Leaf optional
- 1 Cinnamon Stick optional, removed before blending
- 2 Cloves optional
- 2 Green Cardamom Pods optional
- 2 Onions, any variety chopped, equates to about 2 cups
- 4 cloves Garlic chopped
- 1 inch Ginger chopped
- 28 oz Whole San Marzano Tomatoes, canned
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
Spice Blend (you can mix these together)
- 1/4 tsp Turmeric
- 1/2 tsp Indian Red Chili Powder The red chili powder I have from India is VERY spicy. If you do not have Indian chili powder, use cayenne or omit if you prefer mild.
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
- 2 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 tsp Kasuri Methi (Dried Fenugreek Leaves) optional
Sides and Garnish
- Cilantro Leaves for garnish
- Basmati or Jasmine Rice
- Almond Flour Flatbread recipe in instructions
Almond Flour Flatbread
- 1 cup Almond Flour
- 1/2 cup Tapioca Flour/Starch
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 cup Water
Instructions
Prepare the Chickpeas
- Rinse dried chickpeas, then add to a bowl with 4 cups of water.1 cup Dried Chickpeas
- Soak for at least 8 hours or preferably overnight.
- After soaking, drain and rinse the chickpeas.
- Transfer chickpeas to a large pot. Add enough water so the chickpeas are covered by at least 2 inches.
- Bring to a boil. Skim any foam off the top.
- Cover the pot with a lid and the lower the heat to allow the pot to simmer for 1 1/2 hours / 90 minutes.
- Taste test to ensure fully cooked. Then drain and rinse.
Prep the Ingredients-these ingredients will be blended so don't worry about chopping perfectly
- Measure out whole spices.1 Bay Leaf, 1 Cinnamon Stick, 2 Green Cardamom Pods, 2 Cloves
- Chop onions.2 Onions, any variety
- Chop garlic and ginger.4 cloves Garlic, 1 inch Ginger
- Open can of tomatoes.28 oz Whole San Marzano Tomatoes, canned
- Measure salt.1 tsp Sea Salt
- Mix together spice blend.1/4 tsp Turmeric, 1/2 tsp Indian Red Chili Powder, 1 tsp Garam Masala, 2 tsp Coriander Powder, 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder, 1 tsp Kasuri Methi (Dried Fenugreek Leaves)
Cooking
- *If making the flatbreads, this is a good time to preheat the griddle.
- Cook rice according to package instructions.Basmati or Jasmine Rice
- Heat a large pot over medium heat and add in oil.1 tbsp Olive Oil
- Add the whole spices (bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom) to the pot. When they begin to sizzle (this will happen very quickly if your oil is hot) add in the onions.
- Sauté onions until they become light golden (~7 minutes).
- Add ginger and garlic and sauté for a minute.
- Add tomatoes and sea salt. Mash the tomatoes with a wooden spoon until they are broken apart. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add spice blend and cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Blending
- Remove the cinnamon stick from the pot.
- Add everything in the pot to a high speed blender. Depending on the size and strength of your blender you may need to do this in batches. My Vitamix was able to do this in one batch.
- Blend until completely smooth. The whole spices should be fully blended into the mix.
Back to the Pot
- Add the puree back to the pot and heat on medium heat.
- Add in chickpeas and 1 cup of water. Mix well.
- Cover the pot and simmer for 15 minutes.
- When the mixture is thick, it is ready to serve. If it's too watery, let simmer with the lid partially off the pot until thickened to your liking.
Serve
- Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve with rice and flatbread!Cilantro Leaves
Almond Flour Flatbread
- Heat a griddle to 350℉. Ensure it's preheated before adding batter.
- Add almond flour, tapioca flour, and baking powder to a mixing bowl. Mix well.1 cup Almond Flour, 1/2 cup Tapioca Flour/Starch, 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- Add 1 cup of water and mix well. The consistency should be thinner than pancakes. Let sit for 1 minute.1 cup Water
- Using a measuring cup, add 1/4 cup of batter to the griddle for each flatbread.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes. The flatbreads should be lightly golden. They will become more pliable as they cool.
