Cholay Recipes

CHOLAY (CURRIED CHICKPEAS)

Steps:

• Place the 2 cups water, tea bag, and bay leaf into a pot, and bring water to a boil. Reserving about 1/2 cup garbanzo beans, stir the beans into the boiling water. When beans are heated through, discard the tea bag and bay leaf. Remove from heat. Drain the beans, reserving water, and set aside.
• Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a skillet over medium heat, and saute the sliced onion until tender. Remove from heat, cool, and mix in the reserved garbanzo beans, 1 tomato, and 1/2 the cilantro leaves. Set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in a skillet over medium heat. Blend in the coriander, cumin seeds, ginger, and garlic. Cook and stir for 15 to 20 seconds, until lightly browned. Mix in the turmeric. Stir the chopped onion into the skillet, and cook until tender. Mix in the remaining tomatoes. Season with salt, cayenne pepper, and garam masala. Bring the tomato liquid to a boil, and cook about 5 minutes. Stir in the boiled garbanzo beans, sliced onion mixture, and enough of the reserved water to attain a thick, gravy-like consistency. Continue to cook and stir 5 minutes. Garnish with the remaining cilantro leaves to serve.

CHOLAY

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine chickpeas and enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight, then drain and rinse thoroughly under running water.
• In 6- to 8-quart saucepan, combine chickpeas and 5 cups water. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to moderate and simmer, uncovered, until chickpeas are tender but not mushy, about 2 1/2 hours. Raise heat to high and boil until all but 1/2 inch of water has evaporated. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In large saucepan over moderate heat, heat oil. Add cumin seeds and sauté until they begin to sizzle, about 30 seconds. Add onions and sauté until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add tomatoes, chile powder, cumin, and salt and simmer, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in chickpeas and 1/2 cup cilantro, cover, and simmer until thick sauce forms, about ten minutes. Pour into serving dish and garnish with remaining cilantro, sliced onions, and sliced tomatoes.

ALOO CHOLAY (CHICKPEA-POTATO CURRY)

Steps:

• In a large pot, combine the broth, chickpeas, tomatoes, potatoes, onion, butter, ginger, salt, cumin, coriander, and cayenne.
• Stir to mix and nestle the potatoes into the liquid.
• Set the pot, uncovered, over medium heat.
• Simmer vigorously for about 35 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
• Serve the curry in bowls with Indian naan bread or over rice.

KALA CHOLA PAKISTANI-STYLE

Steps:

• Place garbanzo beans in a large bowl. Pour enough water over the beans to cover by several inches. Soak 8 hours to overnight. Rinse and drain the garbanzo beans thoroughly.
• Combine garbanzo beans, 3 cups water, tomatoes, 1 finely chopped onion, jalapeno pepper, vegetable oil, salt, turmeric, ground red chile pepper, and dried whole chiles in a large pot over medium-high heat; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the garbanzo beans are tender, 3 to 4 hours, adding water as needed to keep about 1 inch of liquid at the bottom of the pot.
• Garnish with cilantro and 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion to serve.