Here is the step by step guide to Chatpata Kala Chana recipe. You can call it chana chat too.
Kala chana is known with various names – black gram, dark chickpeas, Bengal gram and desi chana. It is highly nutritious and is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Kala chana is considered as dal and vegetable both.
There are three types of chickpeas –
- white chickpeas also called garbanzo beans
- dark chickpeas or kala chana or desi chana
- green chickpeas or harbhara or hula chana, as Maharashtrians call it.
Taste and colours are the only difference between all three chickpeas; they all have almost same properties. Kala chana is also rich in calcium and iron. It is rich in fibres too. It is served as snacks or as a side dish. Sometimes kala chana is popped or roasted and eaten like popcorn. Sometimes they are mixed with puffed rice and taken as snacks.
People usually make kala chana in Ramadan. I’m among them too After a whole day of fasting, this protein and vitamin-rich kala chana gives our body strength. You can make this Kala Chana recipe in Iftari during Ramadan. It’s easy and simple.
You can have kala chana raw also. You just need to soak it overnight. Have it in breakfast by sprinkling salt and lemon juice, it’s healthy.
How to Make Chatpata Kala Chana
To make this chatpata kala chana recipe, I, first, soaked it 4-5 hours and then cooked it in masalas. The most important thing in this snack or chat is the garnishing – fresh green coriander, tomatoes, cucumber, raw onions and lemon juice.
Everyone in my family likes the dishes made from kala chana. At times, my husband would munch just the soaked chana. I have to hide sometimes, when I intend to make chatpata kala chana
Servings – 3.
Time Taken – soaking time 4-5 hours, cooking time 20 minutes
Ingredients you need for cooking Chatpata Kala Chana
- 1 cup kala chana (black gram/bengal gram/dark chickpeas)
- 1 small finely sliced onion
- 1/2 tbspn cumin powder (zeera)
- 1/2 tbspn ginger-garlic paste
- 1/2 tbspn all spice powder (garam masala)
- 1/2 tbspn coriander powder (dhania powder)
- salt and red or green chillies as per your taste
For Garnishing
- 1 small finely chopped tomatoes
- 1 finely sliced onions
- 1 finely chopped or crushed cucumber
- 1 lemon juice
- radish finely chopped (optional)
- fresh green coriander
Soaking of Kala Chana
Wash kala chana and soak in adequate amount of water. Soak at least for 4-5 hours.
Cooking Kala Chana
In a pressure cooker, heat 3 -4 tbspn cooking oil. After heating oil add sliced onions. Fry it till slightly brown in colour. Now add ginger-garlic paste and fry for 20 seconds. Add cumin, all-spice and coriander powders, salt, red or green chillies to it and mix well. Add 1/4 cup of water. Mix well. Cover the lid. Pressure cook for 6-7 whistles.
Now open the lid check the kala chana if it has become soften or not. If water is there remove the lid and cook it on the medium flame so that excess water evaporates. Super delicious Kala chana is ready to eat. Serve it in a serving bowls.
Garnish it with tomatoes, cucumber, radish (optional), raw onions, fresh green coriander and squeeze some lemon juice on it.
Your super healthy snack kala chana is ready. Enjoy this chatpata kala chana with your family.
Tips to cook this Chatpata Kala Chana Recipe
- You can add more chillies to make it hot.
- Sprinkle chat masala over the kala chana chat to enhance its taste.
— Recipe and Images Shared by Shumayala Khan