{"id":4077,"date":"2023-03-08T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roguechef.com\/?p=4077"},"modified":"2023-03-08T02:10:40","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T02:10:40","slug":"chana-masala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roguechef.com\/?p=4077","title":{"rendered":"Holi! Chana Masala"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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After several years moonlighting as a private chef and live-in bodyguard to a young lady of Indian origin, I must note it is the Indian Festival of Colors, Spring, and Love, Holi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Wikipedia:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holi also known as the Festival of Colours, Festival of Spring, and Festival of Love, is one of the most popular and significant festivals in Hinduism. It celebrates the eternal and divine love of the god Radha and Krishna. The day also signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it commemorates the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu. It originated and is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent but has also spread to other regions of Asia and parts of the Western world through the Indian diaspora.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with the ritual of Holika Dahan where people gather and perform religious rituals in front of a bonfire and pray that their internal evils be destroyed the way Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, was killed in the fire. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi (Dhuleti) where people smear and drench each other with colours. Water guns and water-filled balloons are often used to play and colour each other, with anyone and any place being considered fair game to color. Groups often carry drums and other musical instruments going from place to place singing and dancing. Throughout the day people visit family, and friends and foes come together to chat, enjoy food and drink, and partake in Holi delicacies.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bit of joyous, colorful chaos, made to heal relationships and the soul. But on to the reason one came here, FOOD!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ll select a Punjabi street food staple, Chana Masala, a spicy curry prepared from kabuli chana or chickpeas, for this bit of cultural mugging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any Nana will tell you the key to this dish is to use dried chickpeas and soak them overnight before boiling them. Well, I am not to be confused with Nana and will take the sluggard route and use prepared chickpeas for this. (Yes, I was smacked with a spoon for this.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would normally serve this with puri, but as the nearest provider is a two-hour car ride away, I’ll make do with nan and side this with Laccha Pyaaz, a raw red onion, and spicy green pepper mixture that will cleanse if not sear your palate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, from Wikipedia:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chana masala literally ‘mix-spiced small-chickpeas’), also known as channay, chole masala, chhole masala, chole or chholay (plural), is a dish originating from the Indian subcontinent. The main ingredient is a variety of chickpea called chana (\u091a\u0928\u093e) or kala chana (‘black chana’) which are approximately half the diameter of typical chickpeas with a stronger flavour and firmer texture even after being cooked.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chole is the name for the larger and lighter coloured chickpea commonly found in the West. These are known as kabuli chana (\u0915\u093e\u092c\u0941\u0932\u0940 \u091a\u0928\u093e) in Hindi. Chana masala is fairly dry and spicy with a sour citrus note (the flavor usually comes from coriander and onion). Chana are usually replaced by chole in most restaurants, and both versions are widely sold as snack food and street food in the Indian subcontinent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Chana Masala<\/h2>\n
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Chickpea and Potato Curry, fast, exotic, flavorful, and warming.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Prep Time <\/span>1 hour<\/span><\/span> hr<\/span><\/span><\/div>
Cook Time <\/span>30 minutes<\/span><\/span> mins<\/span><\/span><\/div>
Total Time <\/span>1 hour<\/span><\/span> hr<\/span> 30 minutes<\/span><\/span> mins<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n
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Servings: <\/span>4<\/span><\/div><\/div>
Course: <\/span>Main Course, PubGrub, Snack<\/span><\/div><\/div>
Cuisine: <\/span>Indian<\/span><\/div><\/div>
Calories: <\/span>264<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ingredients
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