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Dried chickpeas are soaked overnight before being cooked in lightly salted water and combined with a savory sauce of tomatoes, black tea, fresh ginger, chilies,garlic, onions and toasted spices. Served with hot tandoori naan brushed with melted ghee..
Pindi Chana
Here’s another pindi chana recipe that includes fruits and nuts.. http://ediblearia.com/2009/10/10/pindi-chana-2/
A traditional, healing curry of tomatoes, onions, chiles, cashews and spices fried in ghee with chickpeas, plump raisins, fresh pomegranate seeds and cilantro.
Pindi Chana
2 cups cooked chickpeas
2 plum tomatoes
1 small white onion
2-4 small green chiles
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly-grated ginger
2 tablespoons ghee or clarified butter (substitute olive oil for vegan option)
1/2 cup large black raisins
1/4 cup cashews, chopped
1/4 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
1 teaspoon crushed star anise
1/2 tablespoon turmeric
1/2 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sweet cinnamon shards
1 1/2 teaspoons hulled cardamom
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon minced curry leaves
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup filtered water
Heat ghee in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add onions and all of the whole spices (including bay) and sauté until onions are browned, about 5 minutes.
Stir in turmeric and paprika to form a thick paste.
Add chiles and tomatoes and continue to cook until tomatoes have released their water, about 5 minutes.
Add chickpeas, water, raisins and remaining spices and simmer 15 minutes.
Add cashews, pomegranate seeds and cilantro and stir to combine.
Serve accompanied with aged basmati rice or flat-bread.
Spicy chickpea curry simmered in a tomato base with whole spices, potatoes and onions..
Canned garbanzo beans work well here- try to use an organic brand that comes in a glass jar or a non-BPA lined can.
Cut potatoes into 1/4 inch dice and sauté in ghee over medium-low heat until softened, about 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium and add diced onion, whole cardamom, cloves, slit red chilies, bay leaf, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, curry leaves and cinnamon. Sauté until spices are fragrant and onions are golden brown, about 7 minutes.
Add chopped tomatoes, garbanzos, turmeric, paprika and ginger and 1/2 cup of filtered water. Cover and simmer over low heat until beans are tender, about 30-45 minutes.
Serve topped with minced onion and accompanied with grilled flat bread.
