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–+ servings

Chana Masala

Chickpea and Potato Curry, fast, exotic, flavorful, and warming.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course, PubGrub, Snack
Cuisine: Indian
Calories: 264
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Onion Base
  • 1 tbsp Butter Use Olive Oil for Vegan option
  • 5 cups Yellow Onion Peeled thinly sliced
  • 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp Brown Sugar
  • Kosher Salt To Taste
  • Water
Curry Sauce
  • 4 cloves Garlic Peeled, Minced
  • 2 ea Chillies Jalapeno, Serrano, (adjust to your level of spice)
  • 1 tbsp Ginger Peeled, Grated
  • 1 tbsp Garam Marsala
  • 2 tbsp Curry Powder
  • 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 3 tbsp Oil Neutral
The Rest of It
  • 1 can Tomatoes and chilies 10 oz
  • 1 can Chickpeas 15oz, drained
  • 1 ea Starchy Potato Peed, cubed to 3/4"
  • Kosher Salt To taste
  • 3 ea Lemon

Method
 

Onion Base
  1. In a large heavy saucepan, (I use cast iron), over high heat, melt butter, add onions and cook down, stir frequently. Add sugar and baking soda. (Do this gently, as the overall flavor of the dish depends on this)
  2. When bottom of pan archives a coating of fond, add 2-3 tbsp water and scrape, (~5 minutes)
  3. Repeat when fond builds up, ~ 2-3 minutes. Expect to spend 15 - 20 minutes on this.
  4. When onions are completely soft and are bark brown, remove from heat and season.
Build the Sauce
  1. In a food processor / mortar, add Add garlic, ginger, cilantro, and green chilies and grind into a rough paste Alternatively, just mince, very finely .)
  2. In a large heavy saucepan, (again my cast iron), over medium high heat, melt a wadge of butter, and cook down the paste / fine minces from above, add the 1/2 the garam marsala, and the curry powder, It should be quite fragrant, thence add the onion base. Stir / toss to coat every thing, ~ 3 minutes
Assembly
  1. Add the tomato / chile mixture, chickpeas, and potatoes, add ~3/4 cup water and bring to a hard simmer, thence drop the heat to medium / medium low (looking for a bare simmer) and simmer for ~ 15-20 minutes. We are looking for a thick stew texture, where the potatoes are just beginning to break down
  2. Taste season and balance flavor
  3. Remove from heat, stir in the juice of 1 1/2 lemons, as well as remain garam marsala

Nutrition

Calories: 264kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 116mgPotassium: 543mgFiber: 6gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 237IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 103mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Taste, Season and Balance flavor:
We are looking for a layered flavor, not blow your head off spice, or kill you from diabetes sweet.  And DEFINITELY NOT "DIE OF BOREDOM, BLAND" 
So adjust salt to change the saltiness (Uh, DUH!!)
Chili power / chilies for heat
Brown sugar to offset the over-abundance of heat you just added..
The onion base is truly the heart of flavor, but caramelizing onions is SUCH A P.I.T.A.   This method seems to work better than spending over an hour to get there...  Would I use this for french onion soup, ? NON!, but for an onion based sauce or gravy, sounds good to me.
Serve with Basmati rice, Hot Naan, lemon, onion, and chili slices to the side

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