Monday, April 20, 2009

Chana Masala, Naan and Fruit salad

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I wanted to make something different as I was tired of eating that boring stuff last week. I was in a mood of preparing a wholesome meal for us so came up with an idea of preparing Naan and Chana Masala.Since I had a lot of fruits lying in the fridge I thought of making fruit salad as well as it is very refreshing especially during summers. I ended up preparing a big bowl of fruit salad which lasted for unlimited servings continuously for two days.

Now coming to Chana Masala,my husband is a big fan of chana masala as he grew up in Delhi and developed a taste for such pulses hence it is prepared every other week.

Chana Masala:


Ingredients:
1 cup Kala Chana
2 medium alu diced
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp dhaniya powder
1/2 tsp toasted jeera powder(fresh tastes better)
1/2 tsp amchur powder
1/2 tsp Garam masala
1 tsp chana masala powder(optional)
1 tbsp chopped coriander
1/2 lemon squeezed
1 green chili
1 Bay leaf/Tej patta
1/2" cinnamon stick
a pinch of hing
salt

To grind:
1 Big onion sliced
2 Tomatoes chopped
1" ginger chopped
4-5 garlic pods

Lemoned Onions:
1 medium onion thinly sliced
1/2 lemon squeezed
1/2 tsp vinegar
Mix everything well and leave it aside for sometime(until it turns pink)

Method:
Soak Chana Overnight(or for 6-7 hrs) with some salt and a pinch of garam masala.Pressure cook chana for 2 whistles and simmer it for 20-25 mins until soft.
Microwave diced alu for 3-4 mins.
Grind onion,tomato,ginger and garlic to a fine paste
Heat oil in a kadai add cinnamon stick,slit green chilli,bayleaf,hing and a pinch of garam masala and fry for a minute.Add ground onion-tomato mixture to it and fry till the gravy separates from the oil.Now add dhaniya powder,toasted jeera powder,chili powder,chana masala,amchur powder,garam masala and fry until all the masala's are well incorporated.Now add boiled alu,chana(slightly smash some chana to get gravy consistency) and fry till all the water is completely absorbed.
Add salt and enough water and cover it and cook for 7-8 mins.Add lemon juice and coriander and give a quick mix and serve.
Serve it hot with lemoned onions,stuffed mirch ka achaar and roti/paratha/Naan.

Note:
For Quicker version,Heat oil in a cooker and add cinnamon stick,slit green chili,bay leaf,hing and a pinch of garam masala and fry for a minute then add ground onion-tomato mixture to it along with all the masala's(dhaniya powder,toasted jeera powder,chili powder,chana masala,amchur powder,garam masala)and fry for 2 mins.Now add diced Alu and soaked Chana and fry for 3-4 mins,add salt and enough water and pressure cook it for 2 whistles and simmer for 25 mins.
Add coriander and lemon juice just before serving.

I feel that the quicker version is better as the chana is cooked in the masala's and the spices are well infused in the chana which makes it's taste better than when prepared in the traditional way.

Naan:


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups plain flour(Maida)
1 ladleful of beaten curds
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Cups milk(to make the dough)




Method:
Sieve well flour with salt and baking powder.
Make a well in between and pour curds,sugar,oil and some milk and using your three fingers mix the dough turning the vessel to form a nice elastic dough by adding enough milk.Give a nice massage to the dough approximately for 10 mins.
Rest the dough in a greased vessel for 3-4 hrs in a warm place.
Make oblong shape Naans,add the toppings like chopped coriander,while sesame,Nigella seeds and roll it once again.prick it with a fork and apply butter over it and bake it in a preheated oven for a couple of minute until brown spots appear on it.
Serve hot with any curry/Dal.

Fruit salad with custard:

I am sure everybody knows how to prepare this delicious fruit salad with custard,keeping in mind about the beginners i am just explaining the process of preparing the fruit salad.


Ingredients:
3 tbsp custard powder(i used vanilla flavour)
3 cups cubed fruits(Mango,orange/mosambi,grapes,banana,apple,strawberries etc)
4 tbsp condensed milk
2 tbsp sugar
3-4 tbsp whipped cream(optional,i did not use it here)
500 ml milk
3 tbsp chopped dry fruits(cashewnuts,badam)
1 tsp raisins
2-3 drops of lemon juice(to retain the colours of fruits)
cherries for garnishing

Method:
Mix custard powder with 50 ml of milk properly and add this to the boiling milk stirring continuously or prepare custard as per the instruction on the pack.cool the custard completely.
Cut the fruits and add sugar and lemon juice to it and mix.
Mix the cooled custard with condensed milk and whipped cream, add fruits and all the dry fruits to it and give a good stir.Refrigerate it for 4-5 hrs.
Serve it cold with a cherry garnished on it.
You can either serve with Ice cream.

Note:
Chop the citrus fruits like orange/mosambi,grapes first and then chop banana and apple so that it does not loose the colour.

I am sending the chana masala for WYF-Side dishes by EC of Simple Indian Food,and this is my third entry for the event.

And the Kalonji-topped Naan to Think spice-Think Kalonji event hosted by Ammalu's Kitchen.

62 comments:

Priya Sriram said...

Wonderful clicks Prathiba! Thanks for the naan recipe... was thinking for sometime I should try it! Looks soo yumm! :)

Sujatha said...

Chana masala looks delicious! and your naan has come out perfect too..

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

wow.. delicious dishes prathibha. looks awesome.

Lavanya said...

looks lovely prathiba..awesome clicks !!

Priyanka Agrawal said...

i must say u r quite talented! i could never muster the courage ti make naan!

Shama Nagarajan said...

yummy delicious recipes

chef and her kitchen said...

thank you gals.:)

Shama Nagarajan said...

yummy delicious recipes

Nandinis food said...

Chana masala looks delicious and nice click! Naan is perfect. Lovely dishes pratibha!

FH said...

Prathibha, I could have this combo any day, any time girl, so delicious! Fruit salad is the best, looks gorgeous!:))

Gita Jaishankar said...

That's a delicious and colorful meal Prathibha, wholesome too!

Vishali said...

wow Chana Masala, Naan and Fruit Salad, Pratibha now I am gonna come to ur house without invitation dear ;). Hope u had a nice weekend.

chef and her kitchen said...

@usha ,@gita,@asha thank you..:)

@vishali you r most welcome dear...!!

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

OMG, Prathibha Channa Masala is my fav... I love that so your fruit salad and Naan nice variations... Simple a great dinner with an awesome dessert...

VIDYA VENKY said...

lovely pics & dishes prathibha..channa is my all time favorite...

Saritha said...

Great combo prathibha,i just love nana,but never did it in the microwave,will try ur version....

Chutneytales said...

Perfect dinner menu!
Im drooling here..Your Naan and channa masala is making me hungry..And i love custard and fruits.

chef and her kitchen said...

@thank you vidya and madhu

@varunavi..It is not done in the microwave, it is done in traditional oven.

Yasmeen said...

What a feast? Wish I were invited:)

Pooja said...

Awesome post prathibha..Looks lovely..

Pooja said...

Wow wonderful dishes and great pics :) Makes me want to have those now :)

Deepa Hari said...

Slurp Slurp!!...What a lovely treat Prathibha?....looks delicious....u r making me hungry now....Nice clicks dear.

chef and her kitchen said...

thank you yasmeen,pooja and deepa for your lovely words,..

Pria@HC said...

Mmm. Nice clicks.. Should try the faster version of channa masala.. Never occured to me.. Thnaks for sharing dear.

Vrinda said...

I lov channa masala..But i never made with kaala channa,i always make channa masala with kabuli channa,looks yummy with naan

Priya Suresh said...

Wat a delicious platter Prathibha, am just drooling over the custard..

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Wow prathiba three shots at a time , looking gorgeous and stomach is filled seeing this. I love channa masala and naan , feel like grabbing it seeing ur pictures. And Nice pictures too.

Malar Gandhi said...

WIshed I lived somewhere close to u. All looks delish. Love the fruit salad, hmmm so yummy. Naan bread, please count me in.

Uma said...

Wow, what a feast! Chana masala, naan, fruit salad all of them look so tempting and yummy! Next time when you make such feast, let me know I will be your guest :)

Cham said...

OMG, u make me drool until the end, everything looks excellent!

Ashwini said...

Wow..comfort whole meal. Delicious..I am hungry now..Can I have some??

chef and her kitchen said...

@Le,@vrinda,@priya,@cham,@ash...Thank you gals for your lovely words..

@Malar,@uma..you guys r invited anytime!!

A_and_N said...

You made Naan? Gosh!

Sum Raj said...

woo wht a wonderful feast...looks awesome dear..

Lakshmi said...

Gosh! everything looks so yumm and colorful esp Naan and fruit salad.

chef and her kitchen said...

Thank you N,suma n lakshmi..

Unknown said...

wow.. nice entries.. nice clicks.. looks perfect & delicious...

Savi-Ruchi said...

you are tempting me to prepare all these.., my son is just recovering from stomach upset, so I have banned spices for a week.., your photos are tempting me to prepare them right away.., great job dear :)

chef and her kitchen said...

thank you sree and sushma...

sathya said...

wonderful dishes prathiba, very tempting and nice clicks.

Purva Desai said...

I prepared chana masala today for lunch, even my hubby is crazy behind them....naan looks perfect along with the tasty fruit salad

Vanamala Hebbar said...

Wow all the dishes are super....looks lovely pics

Anonymous said...

Wow! What an indulgent meal. Just perfect for a weekend

ARUNA said...

gorgeous dishes Prathibha.....i loved all the dishes, especially naan...it has come out so well!

Varsha Vipins said...

Oh,..That Nan looks utter tempting..:)..yummy Chana Masala as well..:)

chef and her kitchen said...

Thank you satya,purva,mala,simran,aruna,varsha for your lovely words.

lubnakarim06 said...

Oh wow my kinda food.....Looks yummy....

EC said...

Thats a feast...lovely dishes, thanks for participating

chef and her kitchen said...

Thank you lubna and EC..

sriharivatsan said...

Chana masala looks delicious and yummy..I love the fruit salad too...Wanna to grab the cup from here..

Indian Khana said...

What a feast gal..everything looks yummy..I love the naan though...thanks for sharing the recipes

chef and her kitchen said...

thank you sree and priti

foodbin said...

like the naan.

Vani said...

Chhole looks fabulous, Pratibha! Naan looks good too. Never tried to make naan at home before.

chef and her kitchen said...

thanks vani....

Mangala Bhat said...

wow! prathibha 1st time here ..wonderful recipe junction .thanks dear

chef and her kitchen said...

Thank you Mangala for dropping at my blog and for your comments..:)

Unknown said...

That is a wholesome meal! Love the naans. They are perfect. i made channa with rotis yesterday. Sounds delicious with naans too. Will try next time!

chef and her kitchen said...

thank you divya..

Anonymous said...

hi mam....i m looking for dry pindi chole recipe...awaiting for ur reply

Anonymous said...

Love ur recipes. Everything that i hav tried turned out very delicious!! Could u pls tell at what temp. Should j bake the naans n for how many mins????

Anonymous said...

Love ur recipes. Everything that i hav tried turned out very delicious!! Could u pls tell at what temp. Should j bake the naans n for how many mins????

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