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EconomyBites

Posted: June 8, 2010 01:05 PM

Recession Recipe: Chana Masala (VIDEO)

What's Your Reaction:

Episode 33 is our first jump into Indian food. My recipe for Chana Masala came from weeks of experimenting with this basic recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I tried it once verbatim...and it was just OK. 2nd time I played with the spices and it was better, but still not fabulous. 3rd time I added chicken broth and BAM - the wow factor! Just WAIT until you taste this!!

VEGETARIAN ALERT: this recipe can EASILY be made vegetarian by switching chicken broth for vegetable broth. Also, cut calories by switching the rice from Basmati to Brown. All other notes you need for this recipe (including info on what may be some unfamiliar spices) are in the video, so watch carefully!

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Ingredients

-1 cup basmati rice

-4 cups chicken broth

-1 Tbsp vegetable oil

-1 large white or yellow onion, minced

-3 cloves garlic, minced

-4 tsp grated fresh ginger

-1 jalapeno, minced

-1 Tbsp Coriander (ground)

-3 Tbsp Cumin

-1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

-2 tsp Tumeric

-1/2 tsp Paprika

-2 tsp Garam Masala

-1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

-1 28 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

-juice of 2 lemons

-1 tsp sugar

salt and pepper to taste


Procedure

-Using 2 cups of the chicken broth (instead of water), cook rice to package directions

-Chop onion, garlic, ginger and jalapeno. Set aside together.

-Grind Coriander and combine with the other spices. Set aside together.

-Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion, garlic, ginger and jalapeno and saute over medium until browned, about 5 minutes.

-Turn heat to medium-low and add spices to veggies. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add tomatoes, the remaining 2 cups of chicken broth and chickpeas. Bring to a boil then turn heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

-After 30 minutes stir in salt, pepper, sugar and lemon juice. Cook for another minute or 2 and serve over rice!

ENJOY!

 

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Episode 33 is our first jump into Indian food. My recipe for Chana Masala came from weeks of experimenting with this basic recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I tried it once verbatim...and it was just OK. 2...
Episode 33 is our first jump into Indian food. My recipe for Chana Masala came from weeks of experimenting with this basic recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I tried it once verbatim...and it was just OK. 2...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tunghoy
My other car is a TARDIS
03:28 AM on 06/15/2010
I made a vegetarian version of this over the winter. Came out great, but the house reeked of curry for days. Best to do Indian cooking when you can have the windows open.
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hauruck
Bitten by a radioactive Welshman
02:48 PM on 06/11/2010
I may make this this weekend.
12:02 PM on 06/11/2010
OMG you have to try our BGSK version of Chana Bateta (Chickpea and Potato Masala). It's really easy, cheap, and delicious. Love the recession recipes!! We should collaborate sometime!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
expressionista
03:30 AM on 06/10/2010
sorry but if you're using canned garbanzos and packaged rice you fail at life...
04:52 AM on 06/10/2010
How unnecessarily hateful.

First of all, all rice is packaged.
And regarding canned garbanzo beans: The show is about economy which includes economy of time.

How did you find such animosity for such an innocent video? This goes for all other strangely negative responses.

Also, I'm sorry, but I'm sure you're not actually "sorry."
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KellyRyan
A micro-bio for one who has none.
10:52 PM on 06/09/2010
Simple enough. I'd use vegetable broth and cook this in my electric wok.
Layman23
Do we want to live in the past?
09:11 PM on 06/09/2010
Just curious, why its called the "Recession" recipe. Going by the ingredients and the cooking process looks like a pain staking work.

Unless, you are laid of due to recession and have a lot of time in your hands.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
expressionista
04:36 AM on 06/10/2010
what are you talking about? Rice and beans are one of the cheapest things to eat if you buy them in bulk, spices too!
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kareemachan
watashi ha tororu ga oroka da to omoi masu。
12:30 PM on 06/09/2010
If you like cooking Indian, there's a wonderful cookbook called "Lord Krishna's Cuisine" by Yamuna Devi or any of Julie Sahni's cookbooks that have marvelous recipes. Just remember that although the recipes can look long, much of it is spices and herbs, so they aren't that difficult. Also, buy your spices in small quantities if you have a store that has bulk items. They are MUCH less expensive and fresher that way.
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kareemachan
watashi ha tororu ga oroka da to omoi masu。
12:22 PM on 06/09/2010
From the remarks: 'Also, cut calories by switching the rice from Basmati to Brown.'

Funny, but the calorie counter I looked up said that brown rice has slightly more calories (216) compared to basmati (205). These people should check things out before saying something like that.
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10:20 PM on 06/08/2010
forgot to add, I'd use Ro-tel (canned tomatoes with roasted chiles) for this sort of thing .
Straight up heaven and I always use Ro-tel for Mexican and Indian recipes. About the only time I use a can opener.
Leave out jalapeno at first , taste and then add to where you like it.
-gala1
veganvamp
from Montclair, NJ
11:53 AM on 06/11/2010
good advise! where do I buy Ro-tel? I don't live near Mexican stores, is it available like at Pathmark,Shoprite? never mind, I will check myself
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10:13 PM on 06/08/2010
Why use canned chickpeas if you're writing recession recipes? Frozen cooked are cheaper and simpler.

Soak a pound of dried chickpeas in water starting in morning before you leave for work. After dinner, rinse, add new water and simmer with a bay leaf, a halved small onion and some salt and pepper til tender. takes an hour or two. Drain and cool. then use a can to measure into freezer bags. They freeze beautifully and have a much fresher taste and nicer texture than canned beans that cost four times as much for half the flavor.

-gala1
09:37 AM on 06/09/2010
Dried chickpeas are so much better than canned. Soak them, and then cook them in a pressure cooker; doesnt take nearly as long...which means you're saving on electricity.
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09:48 PM on 06/08/2010
I love this dish!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
BonzaSheila
Having a good time with HOUSE MUSIC
07:31 PM on 06/08/2010
I'm a vegan and eat Chana Masala regularly. Why anyone would want or need to make it with chicken broth is beyond me. It's from a country where veg and non-veg food is taken seriously, and Chana Masala is traditionally a vegetarian dish.
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DutchUncleAl
Civil rights should never be decided by popular vo
08:03 PM on 06/08/2010
My thoughts exactly.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
tombollocks
08:21 AM on 06/09/2010
Too true. I couldn't understand the need for it. But...I would be willing to try the recipe that way, using Better Than Bouillon Vegan No Chicken Base, which I buy from Whole Foods. It's in a glass jar, and is a thick paste. This stuff is fantastic! I've used it when I convert meat recipes, and I also use their vegetable base as well, instead of veg bouillon cubes, or prepared vegetable stock (like Imagine brand).

This is not an endorsement (hahaha), but I was really amazed when I tried this product on a whim.
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06:30 PM on 06/08/2010
and now that we are all unemployed we have to make a wonderful homemade meal. These are actually very simple and there is no excuse to eat well even of you are pressed for time. The like this recipe.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
missjulz
romneying with scissors always gets someone hurt
05:11 PM on 06/08/2010
If you have a buck or two to spare, might want to include fresh cilantro.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
benji85
07:42 PM on 06/08/2010
Well with the cost for the main ingredients I would say you would have enough to pay for it.
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kareemachan
watashi ha tororu ga oroka da to omoi masu。
12:24 PM on 06/09/2010
And that buck or two could buy you cilantro seeds, which is one of the easiest things to grow I've found. It does well in a pot, and if you let it go to seed, voila! You have coriander!
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03:28 PM on 06/08/2010
mmm can't wait to try it! Really looks easy and delicious!