Monday, October 5, 2015

Chana Masala

This looks like the Curried Coconut Chicken dish, and even a lot of the same ingredients are used, it does taste completely different. I was at the local Whole Foods hot bar where they had this dish. I just LOVED it. I googled different recipes and mixed them all up. Here is how I make it. It is my husbands favorite dish and the kids love it too! Traditionally this is a vegetarian dish. But whenever I make something vegetarian my husband will ask me: What kind of meat are you going to put in it? So now it's a chicken dish. That is optional. It's also a little spicy, so I add the Garam Masala last, after taking out a portion for the kids.

This will serve 4 people.

You will need:
A big deep pan (or a wok)
Some olive oil
6 chicken drumsticks or bone-in, skin on thighs (optional)
1 onion, chopped
 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1-2 teaspoons of Garam Masala spice mix (Harris Teeter has it in the international food section)
2 teaspoons of turmeric
2 teaspoons of ginger (can also use fresh)
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 tbs of lemon juice
a bunch of fresh chopped cilantro
salt

Heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Skip this next step if you are making it vegetarian. Add the chicken and brown on all sides, season with salt. Don't cook all the way trough. Set chicken aside and drain the fat out of the pan.

Add a little more olive oil and sautee your onion until translucent. Add the turmeric, ginger and garlic (low heat now) and stir until fragrant. If you cook for kids, leave out the Garam Masala until later. Otherwise you can add it here now as well. Cook while stiring for sbout 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken back to the pan. Also add the cans of diced tomatoes, chickpeas, and lemon juice. Cook for at least 30 minutes, better 45-60 minutes with the lid on over low heat. Your chicken will fall off the bone when its done! If you don't use chicken you still want to cook it this long for the spices to come together and the tomatoes to cook softly. Season with a little salt. Take out the portion for the children and add your Garam Masala now. Cook for 5 more minutes. Add the cilantro just right before serving.

Serve with rice or naan. Or both :)





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