Besan chickpea curry

                Protein is one macro nutrient that is most essential to the body. They are the building blocks of body tissues and also acts as a fuel. For the vegetarians, pulses and legumes are the major source of protein and if to speak of brown chickpeas in particular 1/4th cup of dried chickpeas provide 11gms of protein provided it gives a feeling of satiety. So, today in Kids vacation special recipes is a protein rich curry called the Besan Chickpea Curry.

                  Besan chickpea curry is very easy to make and also very similar to the earlier recipes Drumsticks besan curry  and Besan that I've shared. The curry has basically three steps first soaking and cooking the chickpeas, second preparing the curry and finally mixing the two and delicious besan chickpea curry is ready, detailed recipe below :-

Ingredients:

1. Brown chickpeas - 3/4th cup
2. Besan / gram flour - 2 tbsp
3. Tomato - 2 nos
4. Cumin seeds - 1tsp
5. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
6. Red chili powder - 1 tsp
7. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
8. Kasuri methi - 1/2 tsp (optional)
9. Coriander leaves - few
10. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
11. Water - 2 cups or more
12. Salt - to taste 

Method:

• Wash and soak the brown chickpeas overnight. Drain the water and pressure cook till tender, will take about 3 whistles or so. Transfer to a bowl. (You can preserve the water and add it to the curry later)
•  You can continue cooking in the same pressure cooker. Heat oil and add cumin seeds when they sizzle add curry leaves.
• Add gram flour followed by 1 & 1/2 cups of water (you can use the preserved chana water) and stir continuously to avoid lump formation, add more water if required.
• Add ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder and season with salt. Mix.
• Add chopped tomatoes and reduce the flame. 
• Adjust the gravy consistency by adding some more water.
• After a few minutes when the tomatoes are almost done, add the chickpeas followed by coriander leaves and kasuri methi. Give a final good mix and leave it to cook on dum or low flame for 2 or 3 minutes. Switch off the flame.
• Serve hot with chapathis or puris.

 

       You may also like to try  Chicken khorma, Dal bhaji, Meethi dal, Sweet corn curry and Tomato chutney from My Mom's Kitchen!

       Happy cooking!!!