Chana Pindi (indian Chickpeas Masala)

This recipe is a tried & tested one.My partner generally is not used to appreciating my culinary skills,but he said this one was nice.This one is my mother's recipe with a few changes here and there

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 300  g chickpeas
• 1  black cardamom pod
• 2  green cardamoms
• 2  tea bags
• 4  tablespoons  cooking oil
• 1  tablespoon  roasted  coriander seed
• 1  teaspoon ajwain
• 2  tablespoons gram flour
• 2  tablespoons  ginger-garlic paste
• 2  large  chopped onions
• 3 -4  medium tomatoes, chopped
• 1  tablespoon  crushed cumin powder
• 1  tablespoon coriander powder
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder (1/4 of a teaspoon if you want it mild and 1/2 a spoon if you want it hot)
• 50  g  chana masala
• 1⁄2  lemon, juice of
• 1⁄2 teaspoon chat masala
•  salt
•  coriander leaves, for garnishing
• 1⁄3 teaspoon garam masala

Directions

1. Soak Chickpeas overnight or for at least 6 hours.
2. Boil them with enough water and teabags till they are soft.
3. Throw away the teabags (the tea Bags are to give the chick peas a dark colour) Traditionally Chana pindi was cooked in an Iron Kadahi (skillet) That gave the chickpeas a dark colour.
4. Heat oil in an Iron skillet.
5. If you do not have one use a non stick pan.
6. Add the cardomoms.
7. After a minute add onions and saute.
8. After about two minutes, add the roasted coriander seeds and the ajwain seeds,and continue to saute the onions.
9. When the onions turn golden, add the gram flour (Besan).
10. This is to give body to the curry.
11. Now add ginger garlic paste and keep frying.
12. take care that the ginger garlic paste does not stick to the base.
13. Saute for about 3 to 4 minutes so that the raw smell of the ginger garlic is gone.
14. Now add tomatoes and fry Add all the powders and salt and continue to fry till the tomatoes soften and mix properly.
15. add the boiled chickpeas and fry.
16. Mash 3-4 tablespoons of chickpeas and mix it in.
17. simmerfor 15- 20 minutes.
18. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with chapati, naan, Kulcha etc.
19. Enjoy.