Pindi Chana

—Not On Website, Middle Eastern

Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 45 mins Servings: Serves 6 Source:

Ingredients

2 tbsp cumin seeds

2 tbsp dried pomegranate seeds

2 tbsp sunflower/vegetable/canola cooking oil

2 tbsp ghee

4 Badi elaichi/brown cardamom

5 sticks of cinnamon

10 cloves

6 black peppercorns

2 green chilies, slit lengthwise

2 X 400 gm cans of chickpeas, drained and washed under running water

4 tbsp coriander powder

2 tbsp garam masala powder

3 tbsp amchur/dry mango powder

Salt to taste

3" piece of ginger, julienne

1 large onion sliced very thin

2 lemons cut into wedges to garnish

1/2 cup finely chopped green coriander leaves to garnish

Directions

Steps to Make It

Set up a pan on medium heat and when it gets hot, roast the cumin and dried pomegranate seeds on it, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat when they begin to turn slightly darker in color and give off an aroma.

When cool, grind the roasted seeds into a fine powder, in a clean, dry coffee grinder and then keep aside for later use.

Heat a deep, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the sunflower/vegetable/canola cooking oil and ghee.

When they are hot, add all the whole spices - Badi elaichi, cinnamon, cloves, and black peppercorns - and fry until spluttering stops and the spices start to turn a slightly darker color.

Now add the green chilies and fry until they stop spluttering.

Add the chickpeas and all the powdered spices - coriander, cumin-pomegranate, garam masala, and amchur - and add salt to taste. Mix well to combine all ingredients together. Use the spoon to mash some of the chickpeas coarsely.

Add 1/2 a cup of hot water to the mixture and stir well. Simmer heat and cover the pan and allow to cook until the chickpeas are very tender. By this time, the cooking oil you added earlier begins to come away from the curry. This is a sign that the spices are well cooked! The dish will also be like a very thick, chunky gravy by now.

Turn off heat and put the Pindi Chana into a serving bowl. Garnish with the thinly sliced onions and lemon wedges!