The Secret to a Delicious Chana Masala

Here at Royal Nawaab, we want to push the boundaries when it comes to western expectations of Indian food. After all, there is a lot more on offer than delicious curries! Chana masala is a healthy dish made from chickpeas, tomatoes, onions and spices that can be enjoyed by all the family for both dinner or tea. In this blog, we’ve decided to go over the secret to making a delicious and truly authentic chana masala from the comfort of your own home…

Ingredients

There is a reason why chana masala is a family favourite across the Indian sub-continent as it can be prepared in just 30 minutes using ingredients that can be found inside the average home. To make a traditional variation, you will need:

1 onion
1 tomato
Ginger, peeled and chopped
4 garlic gloves, peeled and chopped
1 green chilli pepper, seeds removed and chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
2 bay leaves
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp garam masala
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 can of chickpeas
1 tsp fresh cilantro

The Method

Start by grinding your onion, tomato, chilli pepper, ginger and garlic in a food processer until they form a smooth paste. Next, heat your oil in a skillet or pan and fry the bay leaves for roughly 30 seconds so they release a fragrant aroma; add the paste to the oil and cook for 2-3 minutes until it turns a golden-brown colour. After this, you will want to season it with the chilli powder, coriander, garam masala and turmeric. Don’t forget to add a pinch of salt to taste too! Following on from this, you should add enough water to give the paste a thick ‘gravy’ like consistency and bring it to the boil; add the chickpeas to the dish and allow it to simmer for 5-7 minutes before garnishing with cilantro and serving with basmati rice.

Although a lot of Indian food does contain meat like chicken, lamb, and mutton, chana masala is gloriously vegetarian! This means that it is an incredibly versatile dish that is certain to please even the fussiest palettes at the table and can be optionally served with Naan bread or a savoury side of basmati rice. If you want to try a truly authentic chana masala, get in contact with the best restaurant London has to offer and book a table at Royal Nawaab today!