Channa Masala

Ingredients:
Kabuli Channa ( whole chick pea) - 200 gms
Jeera (cummin seeds) - 1 tsp
Onion - 1 ( slice, brown and grind to paste)
Ginger-garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Tomato - 1 small ( chop)
Channa Masala - 2 tsp

Garam masala powder - 1/4 tsp

Green chillies - 1

Red chillie powder - to taste

Ginger - 1/2 " piece julliene finely

Lime juice - to taste

Salt - to taste

Ghee/oil - 3 tbsp

( Instead of the onion paste and chopped tomatoes I used a readymade paste - Maggi Bhuna Masala )-

Soak the channa overnight.

The next day pressure cook it with a tea bag ( this gives it the rich black colour) * useful tip from my sister-in-law, and a green chilli till soft.

In a wok, heat the oil/ghee. 

Add the cummin.

And the onion paste, the ginger garlic paste and sauté awhile.

Add the chopped tomatoes now.

Sauté further.

Add the channa masala, fry the masala for some time

Add the boiled channa, salt, chillie powder

Simmer for about 5-8 minutes.

Add garam masala.

Remove, garnish with corriander leaves, sliced onion, julienned ginger

Squeeze lime juice into the channa and serve with rotis, nan, batura.

Or even eat it plain.

Indian Fast Food - Ready to Eat

Haldiram's Bhel - A product I recommend - and reasonably priced too at Rs 15/- per pack.

Just like it says on the lid - Open-Mix-Enjoy (Kholo-Milao-Khao). Handy to have at home and also while traveling. It contains roasted puffed rice (murmura), fried groundnut, fine sev, puri and three chutneys. To eat - open flap of container, mix in the three chutneys that come seperately packed in neat little plastic sachets- it even has a plastic spoon inside - and eat. Tastes almost as good as the original fast food that is sold off the streets.

However, if you are eating the bhel at home, you can make it tastier by adding some more roasted and cooled puffed rice , boiled potato, finely diced onions. Tomatos - finely chopped can be added too. The chutneys are more than sufficient and with these extras can be a serving for two.

Products I Have Tried and Liked

This is first of the products tried and reviewed. I shall only include those that I like and would definitely buy again.

Tata's High Range Strawberry Preserve - has many whole strawberries too. And when you buy their product, the proceeds go to a worthy cause.

And Karen Anand's Chunky Orange Marmalade - rather yummy - this is the first product of her range that I have tried. Does not have the synthetic taste of some of the other available jams .

Fabindia Marmalade is also good. They claim their products are totally organic . If you do not like anything bitter avoid the Grapefruit-Orange Marmalade.