Quick and Easy Channa

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Recipe submitted by Arup.Banerji@williams.edu (Arup Banerji)

Quick and Easy Channa

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1 medium onion, chopped finely
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoon canola oil
2 stick cinnamon (optional)
6 cloves, crushed (optional)
4 cardamom pods, crushed (optional)
2 teaspoon INDIAN curry powder (see NOTE below)
2 or 3 tablespoon tomato ketchup
2 14-16 oz. cans chick peas (garbanzos)
1 bunch coriander leaves (

Directions:

Although this is not absolutely authentic, its quick (unlike most Indian dishes), and easily made for a delicious approximation of the real thing. Adding the optional ingredients helps the flavor, but a quick-and-dirty onion-garlic-curry powder-ketchup-chick peas version isn't too bad, either.

Fry the onions in oil at medium-high heat until golden and translucent, 2-3 minutes. Add garlic, fry for a minute. Add cinnamon, cloves and cardamom, fry for a minute (until the kitchen begins to smell really good!). Now add the curry powder to the onions, fry for a minute or two. As the mixture begins to stick, add the ketchup to make it more pliable. Keep on frying for about 5 minutes, stirring fairly constantly. Once this base masala is ready (one hint is if the oil starts separating from the mixture), just add the chickpeas, including the water they are in. Stir to mix, heat until it boils, then cover and lower the heat to medium-low. Cook for 15 minutes, take off heat and stir in coriander leaves. Serve hot, with heated pita, tortillas, Indian vegan bread (roti, naan or puri) or rice.

NOTE: McCormicks or other American curry powder just isn't as good as the powder you can find in Indian stores. In case you are finicky and an Indian store isn't easily available, a fair approximation can be made with 1/2 tsp. corinader, 1/2 tsp. cumin, 1/2 tsp. turmeric, 1/4-1/2 tsp. hot chile powder.

We went with the smaller quantity (1/4t)of hot chile powder and wishe'd we had used even less. Otherwise its very good, we had it for dinner last night on rice and I am having it for lunch today on whole wheat pita.

Archived comment by: wayne

I loved this! It needed salt, but that's about it. We ate it with basmati rice, yogurt (were ovo-lacto), and a very spicy coconut chutney. I'll post the recipe for the chutney sometime soon.

Archived comment by: sarah

Hi! I just made this and it is quick, easy and quite good! I found I had to use a bit more ketchup than the recipe indicated - closer to four tablespoons to get a solid tomato flavour. I also found it needed a sprinkle of vegan sugar to add a hint of sweetness. Thanks - its great!

Archived comment by: r

I LUV CHANNA IT IS MY FAVORITE FOOD EVER MY MOMMY MAKES IT LIKE ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I JUST CANT GET ENUFF !!!!!! WE HAVE CHANNA CURRY AND DRY CHANNA AND KABULI CHANNA FROM DE STORE !!!!!!!! I LUV CHANNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! paz! one!

Archived comment by: sweebs

this recipie was absolutely delicious and so easy to prepare. I am a vegan college student and always low on time, so recipies that are quick and healthy are fabulous! ...i have to admit I was skeptical about the ketchup but wow! it was great...unfortunately i didn't have any pitas but I did have some pampaddums which worked out pretty good. this was great...i can't wait to fix it again

Archived comment by: aries_arin

this recipe is so freaking good. the only ingredient i didn't have on hand was the cinnamon stick, but it still turned out fantastic. this easy and delicious recipe will surely become a regular in our house.

Archived comment by: pinkocommie

i used tomato paste because i absolutely cannot STAND ketchup and it was fantastic. very nice recipe!

Archived comment by: secondbase

Yum yum yum! I was skepticle because of the ketchup but it was so good! Thanks!

Archived comment by: hell0ooo

I halved this, while adding a potato and carrot to fill it out. I mixed up Indian curry too, and added a seeded dried chili pepper right at the end. It got really spicy, so I put in a little brown sugar and pickle juice (acid helps! really!) to tone that down. We ate it with plain soy yogurt and Basmati rice-- SO easy, and definitely cheap. Thanks!

Archived comment by: philoserine

This was absolutely delicious! I`m Indian but I`m afraid I don`t use any other recipe for channa besides this-it`s so good. I love ketchup/curry powder together in recipes, yum! I served it over basmati rice and some vegan plain yoghurt! Thank you!

Archived comment by: karma144