Restaurant Style Chana Masala Recipe Step by Step — Crispyfoodidea
By: Priyanka Dutta
Tags: Foodies, Food, Recipe, Cooking, Health Foods

There is only one food but many names. Yes, it is, some food is famous in a different name in different places. For example, today’s recipe is called Chana Masala, Chole Masala, Channe, Chole. All the recipes are the same, maybe a little change.

This is a very popular street food. There is a huge influx of chana masala on the streets, or in small restaurants, railway platforms, and school canteens. It will always be in between all the food at different events or festivals. This is very popular, especially in Punjab. This is one of the most famous Indian recipes or Indian dishes that can be prepared within 30 minutes.

The Base of this recipe

Large amounts of onion, ginger and green chillies are the main ingredients of this Chana Masala. The use of garlic is completely optional. Nobody likes to eat garlic and no one does it again, but I like it myself so I made this recipe with garlic.

Another royal ingredient in this Chana Masala is tomato. The extraordinary combination of tomatoes with ginger, garlic, green chili, coriander takes this recipe at the next level. Also, it has the taste of cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom. If this Chana masala can be cooked properly, then everyone will appreciate it’s taste.

Before I finish cooking I like to give some amount of kasoori methi (dry fenugreek leaves) in it, many give it. Personally, this kasoori methi is my favorite of all Indian spices. So when making this Chana Masala, after all, add a small amount of Kasoori methi powder, make a slight stir and then come down.

But here you can know how to make restaurant-style chana masala that will bring water to your mouth. You can also serve it with bread, paratha, baby naan or rice.

How is chana masala made?

The first step in making Chana Masala is to soak the chickpeas. So keep the chana soaked overnight.

Onions and tomatoes enhance the taste of this recipe. So saute the tomatoes and onions well. Then the gravy is well cooked with all the spices to make. Then add the soaked chickpeas and give a little saute. Now served it directly them from the pan.

Which spice powder or hot spice to use?

I use home-made garam masala. If you want to use readymade chole masala, you can use them. But this recipe does not require any chole masala but it just needs a fragrant hot spice or garam masala (recipe mentioned below).

If you do not have both, just proceed with the use of curry powder. But the taste will not be the same.

How to make this one-pot dish?

Not all chana are alike. Some Chana is usually cooked and some Chana takes a long time to cook. So it is easy to cook Chana Masala in one-pot but you have to test it every time.

You know, for a while, it takes so long to make this Chana Masala that the taste of the recipe changes. I think the gravy loses its flavor due to overcooking.

That is why I like to keep the Chickpeas soaked in advance, then cook it well and add the gravy at last.

If you read this recipe and made chana masala, be sure to give feedback in the comments section below with a good rating. Share your recipe recipes with #crispyfoodidea or #foodhakka on Instagram, I will be very happy to see that.

Restaurant Style Chana Masala

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Chana Masala

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 340kcal

Author: Abhijit Dey

Equipment

Bowl

Non-Stick Frying Pan

Pressure Cooker

Blender

Ingredients

250 grm Chickpea (Channa or Kabuli Chana)

2 pcs. Potato (cut into small cubed)

2 pcs. Large Onion chopped or paste

2 pcs. Tomato small size

1 tbsp Ginger-Garlic Paste

2 or 3 pcs. Green chili

½ tbsp Turmeric Powder

1 tbsp Cumin Powder (Jeera Powder)

1 tbsp Coriander Powder

1 tbsp Kashmiri Chili Powder

1 tbsp Red Chili Powder (optional)

4 tbsp Oil Soybean oil or olive oil as your wish

Salt as per taste

⅓ tbsp Sugar (optional)

½ tbsp Kasoori Methi (Dry Fenugreek Leaves) crushed or powdered

⅓ cup Coriander leaves finely chopped

2 cup Water

Instructions

Preparation of Gravy

Paste the tomatoes in a blender and keep it in a bowl.

Again, paste the chopped onions, ginger and garlic together and keep aside.

Prepare Chana Masala

Keep the chickpeas wet about 3 to 4 hours in a bowl.

Take all the chickpeas in a pressure cooker and boiled 3 minutes.

After that do the same with chopped potatoes.

Heat a pan on the oven and put 2 tbsp of oil.

Add a pinch of cumin seeds, 2 cardamoms, 1 cinnamon and fry a little.

Now add the onion paste and saute. After it keeps the gas flame on medium.

Add all the powdered spice like cumin powder, turmeric powder, Kashmiri chili powder, coriander powder and stir it well.

Now add the tomato paste or tomato puree and give a good mix.

Stir all the spices until the tomatoes are release oil. Also, you can add a pinch of salt to make this quick.

After that put the potatoes and chickpeas in the pan.

Mix it well and saute until the chickpeas are boiled perfectly and potatoes become mushy.

Add salt and sugar as per your taste.

Add chopped coriander leaves and mix it well.

If you want Chana Masala dry, then you can serve it now with add some garam masala powder and dry fenugreek powder. Or follow the next steps to make it gravy.

Chana Masala Geavy or Chickpea Curry

Add 2 cups of water and mix it.

When water comes boiling add 1 tbsp of garam masala powder and kasoori methi powder.

After 1 minute turn off the gas and serve it immediately with nan.

Paneer Pakora Recipe -> Check out this recipe

Also, it has an Instant pot version. If you do not have much time to prepare this chole masala, then you can try my Instant pot chana masala recipe. It’s also very easy and after taste this, you will love this recipe.

Instant Pot Chana Masala Recipe

Ingredients are all same for this instant pot recipe.

250 grams Chickpea (Channa or Kabuli Chana)

2 pcs. Potato (cut into small cubed)

2 pcs. Large Onion chopped or paste

2 pcs. Tomato small size

1 tbsp Ginger-Garlic Paste

2 or 3 pcs. Green chili

½ tbsp Turmeric Powder

1 tbsp Cumin Powder (Jeera Powder)

2 tbsp Coriander Powder

1 tbsp Kashmiri Chili Powder

1 tbsp Red Chili Powder (optional)

4 tbsp Oil Soybean oil or olive oil as your wish

Salt as per taste

⅓ tbsp Sugar (optional)

½ tbsp Kasoori Methi (Dry Fenugreek Leaves) crushed or powdered

⅓ cup Coriander leaves finely chopped

2 cup Water.

The main equipment of this recipe is a pressure cooker. So follow step by step recipe to make this awesome chickpea curry instantly.

Instructions

Put a pressure cooker on the oven and heat the oil.

When the oil was heated, keeps the heat to medium.

Add all the dry spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cumin seeds, and cloves with one or two bay leaves. Give a little fry.

Now add the onion paste and give a little saute.

Add all the powdered spice like cumin powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, black pepper powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and mix well.

Pour the tomato paste along with 1 or 2 pinches of salt and saute until oil released.

Now add all the chopped potato and stir it well for 1 or 2 minutes.

After that add the chickpeas and mix well.

Add salt and sugar as per your taste and lock the pressure cooker for 10 minutes or up to 3 whistles.

Now add the chopped coriander leaves and stir for 1 minute.

At last, add the crushed dry fenugreek leaves and garam masala powder. Give a good mix and serve immediately with roti or nan.

Chana Masala Powder or Chole Masala Powder

Ingredients of Chana Masala Powder

3 tbsp Coriander seeds

1 tbsp Cumin Seeds

Dry Red chilies 3 to 4

Peppercorns 1/2 tbsp

Grated Nutmeg 1/8 tbsp

Cinnamon 1 pcs (3 inches)

Green Cardamom 4 pieces

Black Cardamom 3 pieces

Cloves 10–12 pieces

Instruction

Heat a pan or Kadhai on high heat. Then keep the flame on medium.

Dry roast all the ingredients without adding any oil.

Roast them in medium heat until they turn light brown.

Let it cool and grind them into a grinder or spice blend and store it in an airtight container.

If you make a little change in this recipe it will turn into another famous recipe named Chole Bhature.

Chole Bhature is very much popular in India mostly in Punjab because it’s a Punjabi dish. There are two dishes combined Chole + Bhature. This chole is prepared a bit differently than chana masala (a few different ingredients extra), and Bhature is actually puri mainly made with all-purpose flour and sooji.

Tips to make Chana Masala

Soaking chana overnight reduces the cooking time and avoids flatulence.

Pressure cooking chana with a pinch of baking soda helps to cook them softer. However, you can also skip it and just cook the chana for longer or for more whistles.

This chana masala is made with regular garam masala. Just ensure you use a good one as it is the key ingredient that flavors the dish.

Badam Pista Lassi -> Check out this recipe

Q. Why is it called Kabuli Chana?

A. Kabuli, the word comes from Kabul, the capital of Afganistan. When it’s first import in India they named it as same. After that, it will cultivate widely in Mediterranean place. It’s also known as Kala Chana or Bengal Gram.

Q. Is chana masala usually vegan?

A. Yes, this is a vegan dish. Because there is not any use of animal-related products.

Q. How chickpeas help in weight loss?

A. Chickpeas are rich in protein and fiber, both of which help with weight loss. Fiber keeps you long and protein suppresses appetite. The fiber content in it takes good care of your digestive system.

Benefits of chickpeas Lowers sugar level

Glycemic index ranks foods on the basis of how much they increase our blood sugar levels. So, it is recommended to avoid food with a high glycemic index to avoid a drastic increase in blood sugar. According to Harvard Medical School, chickpeas have an index of 10, which is significantly lower than other beans, including black beans, navy beans, soybeans, and lentils.

Improves heart health

The high fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B-6 content in chickpea supports heart health. Chickpeas contain good amounts of fiber, which helps lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood and thus decreases the risk of heart disease.

Reduces inflammation

The choline in chickpeas helps to improve sleep, muscle movement, learning, and memory. Choline also helps in maintaining the structure of the cellular membrane, aids in the transmission of nerve impulses and absorption of fat and reduces chronic inflammation.

Only for foodies:

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