Shortcut Chana Masala Recipes

Steps:

• Drain the chickpeas, then combine them in a large Dutch oven with the baking soda, bay leaves, black tea bag, black cardamom, 1 teaspoon salt and 3 cups of water. (To pressure cook the chickpeas, see Cook's Note.) Bring the mixture to a boil in a large Dutch oven, then reduce to a simmer and cook, partially covered with a lid, until the chickpeas are tender, about 1 hour. If the liquid is evaporating too quickly before the chickpeas are tender, pour in an additional 1 cup of water and continue to cook. Discard the tea bag, bay leaves and cardamom. Drain the chickpeas and put them back in the pot.
• Meanwhile, heat the ghee and/or oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring and scraping occasionally, until the onions are very soft and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add the ginger, garlic and green chiles and cook until the raw smell goes away, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until well cooked and pasty, about 8 minutes. Add the Roasted Chana Masala Spice Blend along with 2 tablespoons of water and saute until well mixed and the flavors have melded, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the spice mixture to the chickpeas with 1 cup of water (see Cook's Note), mix well and bring to a simmer over medium heat; simmer until the curry thickens and coats and infuses the chickpeas, about 5 minutes. Adjust salt to taste. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges or julienned ginger slaw, if desired.
• Combine the whole spices (coriander, cumin, black pepper, cinnamon and cardamom) in a small heavy skillet (preferably cast iron, if you have it) and roast over medium-high heat, shaking the pan often to ensure even roasting, until the spices start getting darker, 3 to 4 minutes. Lower the heat to low and add the powdered spices (pomegranate powder, mango powder, black salt, chile powder, turmeric and asafoetida) and cook, shaking or stirring constantly, until slightly darker, about 30 seconds. Be careful not to burn the spices. Immediately transfer the spices to a bowl and cool. Once cooled, grind the spices. You can double or triple this recipe and keep it in an airtight container for future use.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion, garlic, ginger, and green chile pepper in hot oil until onions are translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Season onion mixture with cumin, paprika, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and cayenne pepper; stir. Cook onion with spices until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, and tomato sauce; stir and simmer until the tomatoes soften, about 5 minutes.
• Stir yogurt into the mixture until the color of the mixture is even; simmer until again hot, about 5 minutes more. Remove pan from heat; stir lemon juice and salt into the mixture.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, onions and garlic and slowly saute until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add in the curry powder and coriander and toast the spices until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the chickpeas and coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Simmer over medium heat until the flavors have melded, 20 to 30 minutes. Add the lime juice and season with salt and pepper. Put some couscous in bowls and serve the chana masala on top.

Steps:

• Cook the rice as the label directs. Set aside off the heat, about 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
• Finely chop the ginger, garlic and chile in a mini food processor; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds; cook until sizzling, 30 seconds. Add the onion; cook, stirring, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the pot is dry, 3 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon garam masala.
• Stir the chickpeas and chopped chile mixture into the pot. Add the spinach in batches, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of the reserved chickpea liquid if the pot is getting too dark. Season generously with salt and pepper and stir in 1/4 cup chickpea liquid. Partially cover and cook, stirring, until the spinach is soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream; remove from the heat.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1/2 teaspoon garam masala. Cook until the seeds pop, a few seconds. Stir into the spinach; season with salt and pepper. Serve the chana saag with the rice, naan, yogurt and/or lemon wedges.