How to make Chana Masala - Step by Step Recipe

Cooking Chickpeas or Chanas:

• Wash the chickpeas very well in water. Soak them in water overnight or at least for 7-8 hours.
• After the chanas are soaked well, rinse once again with fresh water.
• Pressure cook the chanas till 6-7 whistles so that it gets softened enough. You can use potatoes as well in this recipe. If you are using potatoes, wash properly and boil the same along with the chickpeas.
  

Making the Masala:

• Meanwhile, take the chopped Onions (1/4th part of the Onion is taken here, rest keep aside), chopped Tomatoes, Ginger, Garlic, and 2-3 tbsp Water into a grinder jar.
  
• Grind all of those into a smooth paste.
  

Preparing Curry:

• Heat some oil in a Kadhai or pan. Temper it with bay leaf, dry red chilly and Cumin seeds.
  
• Fry the sliced onions in the oil till it turns slightly golden on low-medium flame. At this moment, you may add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. This will enhance the color of the onions.
  
• After the onions are fried a bit, pour the masala mixture into the pan. Cook it on low-medium flame until the raw flavor of the masala is gone.
  
• Stir the masala and the onions occasionally so that it does not burn or sticks to the pan.
• This will take some time. Cook patiently and keep checking in between. You will get to know the mixture is cooked when you will see oil gets separated from it and also the color of the mixture will turn light brownish.
  
• Now add some turmeric, salt as per taste. Also, add the Cumin and Coriander powder. Mix well.
  
• After a min, add some beaten curd into the pan. Add the slit green chillies as well. Along with that, you might add 1/2 teaspoon sugar to overcome the sourness of the curd.
  
• Cook the mixture for another 2-3 minutes.
  
• Add the cooked chickpeas and potatoes into the mixture. Give it a nice mix so that all the chickpeas and potatoes are coated well with the masala mixture.
  
• After around 2minutes, add enough water. Cover the pan and let it cook for around 10 minutes until the gravy or the curry becomes thick enough as per your taste.
  
• Finally, sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of Garam Masala powder. Turn off the flame. Garnish it with some freshly chopped Coriander Leaves. Your easy homestyle Chana Masala recipe is ready to serve with Rotis, Rice, or any other suitable options.