Cholay (Curried Chickpeas)

This is a very flavourful recipe from North India, usually eaten with fried bread like bhatura or puri. I like to serve it over rice for a very filling meal. You can also try it as a quick snack over toasted bread. This recipe is much quicker to make if you use precooked canned beans, but I like to think that the authentic flavour comes from doing it the hard way!

Original recipe makes 6 servings

Ingredients

2 cups water
1 tea bag
1 bay leaf
2 (15.5 ounce) cans garbanzo beans, drained
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1 onion, sliced
3 tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon grated garlic
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 onion, finely chopped
ground cayenne pepper to taste
1 pinch garam masala

PREP

20 mins
COOK

25 mins
READY IN

45 mins

Directions

Place the 2 cups water, tea bag, and bay leaf into a pot, and bring water to a boil. Reserving about 1/2 cup garbanzo beans, stir the beans into the boiling water. When beans are heated through, discard the tea bag and bay leaf. Remove from heat. Drain the beans, reserving water, and set aside.
Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a skillet over medium heat, and saute the sliced onion until tender. Remove from heat, cool, and mix in the reserved garbanzo beans, 1 tomato, and 1/2 the cilantro leaves. Set aside.
Heat the remaining oil in a skillet over medium heat. Blend in the coriander, cumin seeds, ginger, and garlic. Cook and stir for 15 to 20 seconds, until lightly browned. Mix in the turmeric. Stir the chopped onion into the skillet, and cook until tender. Mix in the remaining tomatoes. Season with salt, cayenne pepper, and garam masala. Bring the tomato liquid to a boil, and cook about 5 minutes. Stir in the boiled garbanzo beans, sliced onion mixture, and enough of the reserved water to attain a thick, gravy-like consistency. Continue to cook and stir 5 minutes. Garnish with the remaining cilantro leaves to serve.