Spicy White Chickpeas Curry / Vella Kadala Curry / Channa(Choley) Masala

         The  texture of fully cooked chickpeas which melts in our mouth and the perfect aroma of spices makes this chickpea curry simply irresistible.... This dish is enhanced with a delightfully lite and creamy coconut milk which balances out the spice with its silky smooth sweetness... It’s spicy, mild, creamy, lite, rich and healthy...Usually goes well with bread, Indian breads, puris, chappathis, dosa, idli, appam and steamed rice....
  
       My college mates would be very familiar with this dish as they must have seen dosas & my favourite kadala curry as my main lunch-box menu(mostly at exam time..my brain booster curry(nick name from my friends))...My best friends were very fond of this & i used to bring more dosas & curry having them in mind...(else i won't be able to fill my tummy)..;P...My mom's own recipe..which my husband loves it still from my mom's hand ...Here it goes....:)

 Ingredients (in pressure cooker)

1.White chickpeas (vella kadala)-3/4 cup
2.Garlic pods-10 (peeled & thickly chopped)
3.Onion- 2 (large ..thickly sliced)
4.Salt-1 tsp 

Ingredients (for masala)

5.Onion-2 or 1 (medium..finely sliced)
6.Coriander powder-1 tbsp
7.Chilly powder-1/2 tbsp
8.Turmeric-1/4 tbsp
9.Salt
10.Fennel(perum jeerakam)/Cumin(cheriya jeerakam) seeds powder-3/4 tsp
11.Coconut milk-3/4 cup(can reduce or avoid...its makes it more creamier & tastier)
12.Coriander leaves-1 tbsp (chopped)
13.Cornflour -1 or 2 tsp (optional)

Ingredients (for seasoning)

14.Mustard seeds(kaduku)-1 tsp
15.Shallots(cheriya ulli)-4 (finely sliced)
16.Dry red chilly(vattal mulaku)-1
17.Oil-2 tbsp or 3 tbsp
18.Garlic- half of 1 pod (a very small piece)
19.Curry leaves - 5 /Coriander leaves- 1 tsp

Preparation (of chickpeas)

~Wash the chickpeas thoroughly with water.
~Soak the chickpeas overnight or atleast 5-6 hours in enough water(Remember that it almost doubles,so add enough water).
~Pressure cook these soaked chickpeas with garlic, onion, salt & enough water for 20 whistles.

~If you forgot to soak it at night, boil vigorously the chickpeas with enough water & little salt while your preparing the other ingredients for the curry & then pressure cook them along with garlic, onion, salt & more water.
~It might take 25 to 30 whistles for these chickpeas to get cooked.(its not that much time) 

Depending on their age, chickpeas can take more or less time to soften during cooking, so use the cooking time as a guideline, not a rule. 
Check the chickpeas occasionally.
If they seem too dry, add additional water in 1/4 cup increments.

 ~Let the steam completely release by itself & then open it.

Preparation (of masala)

~Heat a deep bottomed non-stick kadai with 2 tbsp oil.
~Saute onions along with little salt until they become translucent.
~Add chilly powder, coriander powder & turmeric powder & stir cook for 1 min in medium flame.

~Add the cooked chickpeas mix(from pressure cooker) along with the water in it to this onion mix.
~Combine them well & increase the flame & let it boil nicely.

~Add fennel/cumin seeds powder & coriander leaves & cook for 1 min.
~Reduce the flame & add coconut milk & mix well.

~Mix 1 or 2 tsp cornflour in 1/4 cup water & add to this curry to make it bit thicker (optional)
~Check its spice & salt & adjust chilly powder & salt accordingly.
~Now close the lid & cook for about 15 to 20 mins in medium to low flame. (stir occasionally)

~Once it has the thicker according to your interest, remove from flame.

Preparation (of seasoning)

~Heat oil in small pan & add mustard seeds & wait till they splutter.
~Once they finish spluttering add the sliced shallots & a small garlic piece & saute them (don't forget to stir)
~Add dry red chilly broke into half with your fingers (reduce the flame & do this step..be careful)
~Add coriander leaves or curry leaves & off the flame & stir well.

 ~Pour this seasoning to the prepared chickpeas curry & mix well.

Don't avoid the seasoning part, it allows flavors of all spices to blend with each other and give it a mouth watering complex flavor....
Tasty & yummy chickpeas curry is ready to serve !!!

Linking to : Swathi's Favorite Recipes: Vegetarian Recipes

 

Linking to : Lakshmi's Hubby's Delight