Chana Masala

Ingredients:

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1/2 tablespoon olive oil

2 medium onions, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

1 fresh, hot green chili pepper, minced

1 tablespoon ground coriander

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (I used ancho chili powder)

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted and ground

1 tablespoon amchoor powder (this is powdered unripened mango)

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon garam masala

2 cups tomatoes, chopped small or 1 15-ounce can of whole tomatoes with their juices, chopped small

2/3 cup water

4 cups cooked chickpeas or 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 lemon (juiced)



Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion, garlic, ginger and pepper and sauté over medium heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Turn heat down to medium-low and add the coriander, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, cumin seeds, amchoor (if using it), paprika and garam masala. Cook onion mixture with spiced for a minute or two, then add the tomatoes and any accumulated juices, scraping up any bits that have stuck to the pan. Add the water and chickpeas. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, then stir in salt and lemon juice.

Eat up or put a lid on it and reheat it when needed. Curries such as this reheat very well, later or or in the days that follow, should it last that long.



THIS WAS FREAKIN' EXCELLENT!!! I cannot wait to make it again!