Cholay (Curried Chickpeas)

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Description

This is a very flavorful recipe from North India, usually eaten with fried bread like bhatura or puri. I like to serve it over rice for a very filling meal. You can also try it as a quick snack over toasted bread. This recipe is much quicker to make if you use precooked canned beans, but I like to think that the authentic flavor comes from doing it the hard way!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tea bag
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 (15.5 ounce) cans garbanzo beans, drained
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 3 tomatoes, chopped
  • ΒΌ cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
  • 1 teaspoon grated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric (Optional)
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • ground cayenne pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch garam masala (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Place the 2 cups water
  2. tea bag
  3. and bay leaf into a pot
  4. and bring water to a boil. Reserving about 1/2 cup garbanzo beans
  5. stir the beans into the boiling water. When beans are heated through
  6. discard the tea bag and bay leaf. Remove from heat. Drain the beans
  7. reserving water
  8. and set aside.
  9. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a skillet over medium heat
  10. and saute the sliced onion until tender. Remove from heat
  11. cool
  12. and mix in the reserved garbanzo beans
  13. 1 tomato
  14. and 1/2 the cilantro leaves. Set aside.
  15. Heat the remaining oil in a skillet over medium heat. Blend in the coriander
  16. cumin seeds
  17. ginger
  18. and garlic. Cook and stir for 15 to 20 seconds
  19. until lightly browned. Mix in the turmeric. Stir the chopped onion into the skillet
  20. and cook until tender. Mix in the remaining tomatoes. Season with salt
  21. cayenne pepper
  22. and garam masala. Bring the tomato liquid to a boil
  23. and cook about 5 minutes. Stir in the boiled garbanzo beans
  24. sliced onion mixture
  25. and enough of the reserved water to attain a thick
  26. gravy-like consistency. Continue to cook and stir 5 minutes. Garnish with the remaining cilantro leaves to serve.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 6

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