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Home » Everyday Indian Recipes » Kala Chana Recipe

Published: Oct 16, 2023 | Modified: Oct 16, 2023 by Hina Gujral

Kala Chana Recipe

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This kala chana recipe is a pressure cooker-friendly one-pot wonder. A spicy, vegetarian Indian curry without onion and garlic.

aerial shot of kala chana masala in a white ceramic bowl

The Brown Chickpeas

In the Indian subcontinent, the brown chickpeas are commonly used to make curry, kebab, salad, or other snacks. They are commonly known as kala chana. It is a fantastic plant-based vegan protein.

Many communities in India follow a no onion, no garlic diet regime. The reason is mainly religious. Hence, there is a whole section of Indian food recipes without onion and garlic.

This kala chana masala is one such curry recipe that is perfect for festive feasts and does not require onion and garlic.

Reasons To LOVE Kala Chana Masala

  • easy to cook
  • one-pot wonder
  • vegan and gluten-free
  • plant-based high protein
  • meal-prep and microwave-friendly
side close up shot of chana masala in a white ceramic bowl

Soaking Brown Chana

Like many other legumes and beans, the dry black chana requires a soaking time of 5 – 6 hours before cooking.

The soaking process reduces the cooking time, deactivates anti-nutrients, and improves the amount of magnesium, zinc, and iron you absorb.

I would not recommend cooking dry black chickpeas without soaking. They taste bland and take a hell lot of time to cook.

If you are using canned chickpeas, then this step is not required. Rinse the canned chickpeas nicely and add to the curry masala.

How To Make Chana Curry

I am using a stovetop pressure cooker for this Kala chana recipe. You can follow the same process in an instant pot as well.

collage of chana masala cooking steps

Tomato Paste: Combine ginger, tomato, and green chili to make a smooth paste in a blender (image 2).

The Aromatics: Heat mustard oil in a pressure cooker till it starts smoking. Reduce the heat to low. Add bay leaf, black cardamom, and cumin seeds. Saute for a minute to release the aroma of the spices (image 4).

collage of chana masala cooking steps

Fry Masala: Add tomato paste made in Step 1 along with salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and coriander powder. Fry the masala over low heat till oil separates (image 6).

Soaked Chana: Drain water from the soaked chana. Add them to the pressure cooker. Mix nicely to combine all the ingredients. Fry for a minute.

Pressure Cook: Add 1 – 2 Cups of water. Stir to combine. Close the lid of the pressure cooker. Put the whistle. Cook brown chana over low heat for 15 minutes or 3 – 4 whistles.

Finishing Touch: Once chana masala is cooked, add mango powder, garam masala, and dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi). Stir to combine. Cook for a minute.

Garnish with julienned ginger, green chili, and fresh coriander.

Everyday Indian Thali Meal Idea

Serving Suggestion

The best way to enjoy kala chana masala is with piping hot chapati, palak poori, atta poori, or paratha.

If you make them with extra gravy or curry, serve them with jeera rice or basmati rice.

For a wholesome gluten-free and vegan meal, you can also serve chana masala with quinoa or bulgar wheat.

Navratri Prasad Sukha Kala Chana

Navratri Prasad Sukha Kala Chana

On the festive occasion of Navratri Pujan or Ram Navmi, the prasad of Halwa, Chana, and Puri is offered to the Goddess Durga.

No onion, garlic, tomato, ginger, green chili, or garam masala is added to the prasad chana.

It is cooked in pure ghee with cumin seeds, turmeric powder, red chili powder, salt, and water. A true Sattvic-style dish.

More Indian Curry Recipes

  • Paneer Butter Masala
  • Phool Makhana Curry
  • Dahi Potato Curry
  • Boondi Ki Kadhi
  • Chana Masala
  • Aloo Ki Sabzi
  • Arbi Ki Sabzi

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If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a comment and a rating. This helps us grow and reach other food lovers like you.

aerial shot of kala chana masala in a white ceramic bowl

Kala Chana Recipe

This kala chana recipe is a pressure cooker-friendly one-pot wonder. A spicy, vegetarian Indian curry without onion and garlic.
5 from 1 vote
Save Saved! Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 405kcal
Author: Hina Gujral
  • Pressure Cooker
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Ingredients

  • 2 Cup Black Chickpeas (kala chana)

Ingredients To Make Paste:

  • 1 Cup chopped tomato
  • 1 green chili
  • 1 tablespoon chopped ginger

Other Ingredients:

  • ⅛ Cup mustard oil or other cooking oil
  • 1 black cardamom (badi elaichi)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala (see recipe)
  • 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur)
  • 1 tablespoon dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander
  • 2 Cup water

Instructions

  • Clean, rinse, and soak black chana overnight or for 5 – 6 hours in water.
  • Meanwhile, make a paste of tomato with ginger and green chili in a blender.
    tomato paste
  • Heat mustard oil in a pressure cooker till it starts smoking. Reduce the heat to low. Add bay leaf, black cardamom, and cumin seeds, Saute for a minute to release the aroma of the spices
    frying masala in a pressure cooker
  • Once cumin is roasted add tomato paste along with salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and coriander powder. Fry the masala over low heat till oil separates.
    frying masala in a pressure cooker
  • Drain water from the soaked chana. Add them to the pressure cooker. Mix nicely to combine all the ingredients. Fry for 1 – 2 minutes.
    making chana masala in a pressure cooker
  • Add 1 – 2 Cups of water. Stir to combine. Close the lid of the pressure cooker. Put the whistle. Cook kala chana over low heat for 15 minutes or 3 – 4 whistle. Turn off the heat.
    making chana masala in a pressure cooker
  • Let the steam release naturally from the pressure cooker. Check chana for doneness. It should soft and mushy. Taste and add more seasoning if required. Slightly mash the chana with the back of the ladle.
  • Add mango powder, garam masala, and dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi). Stir to combine. Cook for a minute over the flame. Garnish with coriander, ginger, and green chili.
    making chana masala in a pressure cooker
  • Serve Kale Chane warm with poori and raita.

Recipe Notes:

  • If channa is soaked, it does not take more than 15 – 20 minutes to get cooked.
  • Adjust the quantity of water as per the gravy required. I prefer semi-dry chana masala. Hence, I add only 2 cups of water. If the chana masala seems too thick you can add more water once it is cooked. 
  • Instead of mustard oil, you can use ghee, refined oil, or coconut oil to cook chana masala. 
  • This is a moderately spicy chana masala recipe. Hence, adjust the quantity of green chili and spices accordingly.
  • You can store the leftover chana masala in the refrigerator for 2 – 3 days. Reheat in a microwave or stovetop before serving. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 846mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 496IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 203mg | Iron: 5mg
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating. This helps us grow and reach more food lovers like you.
Kala Chana Masala

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MonuTeena RecipesPassion says

    October 01, 2014 at 7:45 am

    lovely chana recipe dear .. good to know its without garlic.. you can link up your beef and mutton entries to my event Meat Lovers month . just announced it glad if you be a part of this 🙂

    Reply
  2. maya says

    October 01, 2014 at 4:32 am

    Sounds really good, definitely making this today!

    Reply
  3. FunFoodand Frolic says

    October 01, 2014 at 12:47 pm

    will wait to hear from you how it turned out.

    Reply
  4. Anu Nagaraja says

    October 01, 2014 at 9:35 am

    nice recipe:) really appreciate your good deeds that you have mentioned here. such a nice thought.
    best wishes to you

    Reply
  5. Varun Sharma says

    October 22, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    Till now i never made kale chane without onion and garlic. But when i visit your recipe it sounds like without onion and garlic it will be yummy too.

    Reply
    • Hina Gujral says

      October 22, 2020 at 2:49 pm

      Yes, it is delicious. At times, Indian dishes without onion and garlic taste delicious too.

      Reply
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