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Hello there gorgeous vegan Chana Masala for veganMofo Post 3! I posted a couple of variations of Chana Masala. With some variations here and there, this curry tastes different and fabulous! All the chana masala fans.. raise your hand! We call any curry with chickpeas/garbanzo beans ..Chole.. so you will find that reference on the blog a couple of times. Jump to Recipe
Garbanzo Beans/Chickpeas are an amazing source of a good number of minerals and protein. They have a good amount of fiber to help your digestive tract, unique supply of anti-oxidants, help with better regulation of blood sugar and increased chances of satiety and hence weight control. What more could you want from a bean and it is one versatile bean easily incorporated in so many cuisines.
Some more vegan chana masala/chole recipes. Imli Chole (Sweet and sour Tamarind Garbanzo beans), Everyday Chole, Palak chole(Spinach and chickpea curry). Scroll down for your own home made Chana masala Spice blend!
Vegan Chana Masala/Chole (Chickpea Curry)
This is the Best Vegan Chana Masala you will ever make! Learn to make the Sour, tomatoey and thick sauce. chickpea curry. gluten-free soy-free Indian.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- pinch of asafetida, hing
- 3 medium tomatoes
- 1 inch ginger chopped, can be substituted with ginger paste
- 3-4 cloves of garlic peeled and chopped, can be substituted with garlic paste
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes or green chili, to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 14 oz garbanzo beans washed and drained, or 1 cup dry chickpeas soaked overnight and pressure cooked for 4-5 whistles.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon raw sugar
- 1 teaspoon Chana Masala powder or to taste, Recipe below or use the chana/chole masala blend from indian store.
Instructions
- In a blender, add 3 medium chopped tomatoes, ginger, garlic, chili, lemon juice, 1/4 can garbanzo beans(1/4 cup cooked chickpeas). Blend into a paste and keep aside.
- In a pressure cooker, add oil and onions. Switch on saute or over medium heat if it is a stove top pressure cooker.
- Cook until onions are translucent. Add in the spices, asofetida, chana masala blend and mix well.
- Add in the tomato puree and cook on medium low, partially covered with occasional stirring until the paste thickens and starts to leave oil (about 15 minutes)
- Add in the salt and remaining garbanzo beans and 1 to 1.5 cups water depending on your preference for thick or thin curry.
- Pressure cook for 2 whistles(10 minutes). or cook covered until chickpeas are easily mashable.
- Let the pressure cooker release pressure by itself(5 minutes). Adjust salt. Add more chana masala blend and chili flakes per taste. Mix well.
- Serve hot topped with chopped onions, lemon wedges, cilantro and Rotis or Naans or Basmati Rice!
- Saucepan: Use canned or slow cooker cooked chickpeas, or dry chickpeas soaked overnight. In a deep pan, make the tomato onion mixture as above. Add the chickpeas and 2 cups of water and cook for an hour or so, covered, until the chickpeas are tender. Mash some chickpeas and let cook for another 5-10 minutes uncovered. Adjust water for preferred consistency.
Notes
There are several types of pressure cookers. Some have different pressure settings. The one I use has a whistle top which acts as the pressure regulator(this model ). And it only has setting for high pressure. When the pressure inside builds up to high pressure, the pressure regulator automatically releases a little pressure at intervals to keep it maintained at a safe high pressure. That release sounds like a whistle because of the sudden steam release, which is counted to time the cooking as I have learnt from mom 🙂 For cooking the chickpeas, keep the pressure regulator at high pressure for 10 minutes (which is 2-3 whistles in the model I use) at high heat, then reduce the heat to low-medium and continue to cook for another 10.
Nutritional values are based on one serving
Nutrition
Calories: 137kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 4g, Sodium: 352mg, Potassium: 390mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 855IU, Vitamin C: 14.9mg, Calcium: 55mg, Iron: 1.8mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!
Chana Masala Spice blend/curry powder
A spice blend to add to any chunky bean/lentil soup
Ingredients
- 1/4 teaspoon Hing/Asofoetida
- 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Dry ginger powder
- 1/2 teaspoon green cardamom, elaichi powder
- 1 teaspoon Pomegranate seeds powder/Anardana, Or 1 teaspoon dry mango powder/Amchur
- 1/2 teaspoon rock salt/kala namak
To Roast:
- 1 big Bay leaf/ Tej Patta
- 1 Tablespoon Coriander/dhania seeds
- 2 teaspoons Cumin/jeera seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel/Saunf
- 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper corns, kali mirch dane or to taste
- 1/3 teaspoon clove/laung, 3-4 cloves
- 1 Dry red chili
- 1 stick Cinammon/dal chini , or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 2 teaspoons Dry Fenugreek leaves, Kasturi methi or 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
Instructions
- On a thick bottom pan dry roast ingredients one at a time on low-medium heat till you can smell their aroma and coriander seeds start to turn brown. Stir almost constantly. (3-5 minutes)
- Cool this mix and grind with the other ingredients. Adjust the spice(chili), and sour(pomegranate seeds and rock salt) to taste. We add a bit more spice and mom adds another teaspoon of dry mango powder for a more sour masala blend.
- Store in airtight container for a few months.
Nutrition
Calories: 66kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 2g, Sodium: 675mg, Potassium: 134mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 185IU, Vitamin C: 1.1mg, Calcium: 120mg, Iron: 4.4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!
I’m new to cooking and unfamiliar with using a pressure cooker. Instruction Steps #2 and #3 require cooking oil and onions, until the onions are translucent. Where does one start with this? (How long to cook, under what temperature, etc.) Thank you! HELP!
Added more instructions. Switch on saute for electric pressure cooker, or cook over medium heat if it is a stove top pressure cooker. onions will take about 4 to 5 minutes to cook. See the Saucepan option in the last step to make the dish in a saucepan.
How many servings does this recipe make?
it will serve 4 with sides
This recipe is the bomb! I didn’t make the spice mix myself and instead used a pre-made garam masala and it was still delicious. I’ll have to try with fresh tomatoes next time as I used canned the first time and I feel the taste could have been fresher. I posted pics of my completed dish at http://www.whoneedssalad.wordpress.com
Hi Richa — can you recommend a brand of GF hing? I’ve read that many brands contain undisclosed gluten… Many thanks!
Yes, asafetida crystals are generally ground with a filler like some form of starch which is usually wheat starch. some brands use rice as the filler. You want to check the ingredient list and the brand. I know that World Spice in Seattle uses rice as the filler https://www.worldspice.com/spices/asafoetida and Dual Specialty Shop in NY has gf asafetida as well.
You can find 100% asafetida whole crystals in some Indian shops and get them ground in a spice shop. Also in many recipes, it can just be omitted or replaces by garlic powder added later to the recipe.
I am not gluten intolerant so what is the best asafetida hing I should use? Anything on Amazon?
any asafetida will work then. I usually pick one from the indian store.
Thank you!