Spiced Chickpea Curry (Channa Dal)
Delve into the vibrant world of Indian cuisine with this hearty Spiced Chickpea Curry, also known as Channa Dal. This delicious and nourishing dish combines tender chickpeas with a symphony of spices, resulting in a flavorful, protein-packed meal that perfectly complements rice or flatbreads. Ideal for both weeknight dinners and festive occasions, this recipe is an excellent way to explore vegetarian cooking. The warming spices, including turmeric, cumin, and coriander, create a tantalizing aroma that fills your kitchen. Enjoy the added richness from the sautéed onion, garlic, and fresh ginger, topped off with aromatic cilantro for a refreshing finish. Whether you're familiar with Indian dishes or trying them for the first time, this recipe is sure to delight your palate!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
chickpeas
1 1/2 cups (washed and drained)
water
5 cups (for cooking)
turmeric
1 teaspoon (ground)
cumin
1/2 teaspoon (ground)
coriander
1 teaspoon (ground)
cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon (optional)
margarine
3 tablespoons (melted)
cumin seed
1 teaspoon (for tempering)
onion
1 medium (chopped)
garlic
1 clove (chopped)
fresh ginger
1 tablespoon (grated)
cilantro
2 tablespoons (chopped fresh leaves)
salt
to taste (for seasoning)
Instructions
1
In a large bowl, soak the chickpeas in cold water overnight to soften them.
2
After soaking, drain the chickpeas and transfer them to a heavy saucepan. Add 5 cups of water, turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, and cayenne pepper (if using). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it simmer for about 1 hour until the chickpeas are tender.
3
In a separate large saucepan, melt the margarine over medium heat. Once melted, add cumin seeds and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
4
Add the chopped onion, garlic, and grated ginger to the pan. Cook the mixture for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion becomes golden brown and translucent.
5
Carefully add the cooked chickpeas along with their cooking liquid to the onion mixture. Raise the heat to high and bring everything to a robust boil, stirring constantly to combine.
6
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan again, and let it simmer for an additional 30 minutes. Stir occasionally until the chickpeas are just tender, ensuring they remain firm and not mushy.
7
Taste the curry and season with salt as desired. Transfer the chickpea curry to a serving dish and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro leaves before serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spiced Chickpea Curry (Channa Dal)?
It is a hearty and nourishing Indian dish that combines tender chickpeas with a symphony of warming spices.
Is this recipe suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, this dish is vegetarian and is described as an excellent way to explore vegetarian cooking.
How many ingredients are needed for this recipe?
The recipe requires 13 ingredients in total.
How much chickpeas should I use?
You need 1 1/2 cups of chickpeas, which should be washed and drained.
How long should I soak the chickpeas?
The chickpeas should be soaked in cold water overnight to soften them.
What is the initial cooking time for the chickpeas?
After soaking, the chickpeas should be simmered for about 1 hour until tender.
How much water is required for boiling?
The recipe calls for 5 cups of water to cook the chickpeas.
Which spices are added to the boiling chickpeas?
Turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, and optional cayenne pepper are added to the water.
How much turmeric is used?
The recipe uses 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric.
How much ground coriander is needed?
You will need 1 teaspoon of ground coriander.
Is the cayenne pepper mandatory?
No, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper is listed as an optional ingredient.
What type of fat is used for sautéing?
The recipe uses 3 tablespoons of margarine.
How much cumin seed is used for tempering?
You need 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds.
How long do I sauté the cumin seeds?
Sauté the cumin seeds for 1 minute until they become fragrant.
What vegetables are included in the tempering mixture?
The mixture includes chopped onion, chopped garlic, and grated fresh ginger.
How many onions are required?
The recipe calls for 1 medium onion, chopped.
How much garlic is used?
The recipe uses 1 clove of chopped garlic.
How much fresh ginger is needed?
You will need 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger.
How long should the onion mixture be cooked?
Cook the mixture for about 5 minutes until the onion becomes golden brown and translucent.
What is the final simmering time?
After combining the chickpeas and onion mixture, simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
What should the final texture of the chickpeas be?
The chickpeas should be just tender and remain firm, ensuring they are not mushy.
What garnish is recommended for this curry?
The dish should be garnished with 2 tablespoons of freshly chopped cilantro leaves.
When should I add salt?
Taste the curry after the final simmer and season with salt as desired.
Can this recipe be made vegan?
Yes, the recipe includes a vegan option tag and can be made vegan by ensuring the margarine is plant-based.
What are the suggested side dishes for this curry?
This Spiced Chickpea Curry perfectly complements rice or flatbreads.
What makes this dish aromatic?
The combination of turmeric, cumin, coriander, and sautéed aromatics like garlic and ginger creates a tantalizing aroma.
Is this a spicy dish?
The dish is tagged as spicy, though the heat can be adjusted by the amount of cayenne pepper used.
Is this recipe protein-rich?
Yes, because of the chickpeas, this is a protein-packed meal.
What heat level should I use to boil the mixture?
Bring the mixture to a robust boil over high heat before reducing to low for the final simmer.
What type of saucepan is recommended?
A heavy saucepan is recommended for simmering the chickpeas.