Chole

A very easy recipe to make is Chole or Chana Masala. Also if had with chappati / roti with some salad or raita makes it a complete meal.

It is said that eating lot of this chana causes gas problems, stomach upset etc. but cooking this with some ginger will reduce the 'gassy' effect of this chana.

I have never been very chole person, would prefer eating veggies to chana, but busy lifestyle, less time for cooking etc. have made me develop liking to this food.

Ingredients

• 1 cup kabuli chana / chick peas
• 1 tsp jeera
• 1 onion (chopped finely)
• 1 tomato (chopped finely)
• 1-2 green chillies (chopped finely)
• 2 tsp ginger (finely chopped)
• 2 garlic pods (finely chopped)
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp chilli pd
• 1 tsp corriander pd
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 tsp chana masala / chole masala (any brand)
• 1 tsp cream / yogurt
• 2-3 tsp oil
• 1-2 tsp butter / ghee
• Salt to Taste

How to make:

1. Soak Chana Overnight or for 6-7 hours.
2. Boil and cook Chana along with ginger, a pinch of chilli pd and some salt in a pressure cooker.
3. Heat some oil in the kadhai or a pan. Add jeera and let it splutter. Now add onions and fry till it turns brown. Add chopped garlic to it and fry well.
4. Add the dry masalas - turmeric pd, chilli pd, corriander pd and garam masala and fry.
5. Once fried well, add some cream or yogurt and mix well till oil separates. To this add tomato and let it cook till it forms a consistent mushy gravy.
6. Now add the boiled chana along with the remaining water in which the chana was boiled.
7. Add some salt as per taste and cook for 10 min in low flame so that the masala blends with the chana.
8. In a small pan heat some butter / ghee. When hot add chana masala to it and immediately pour over the chole.

Spicy Chole is ready and can be served garnished with corriander leaves and a dash of lemon.