Ingredients
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2 cups chickpeas (not canned)
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1 1/2 teaspoons salt
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10 garlic cloves
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3 tablespoons butter
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1 inch chopped ginger (finely chopped or put in food processor)
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2 chopped tomatoes, skins removed (to be processed in 1/2 tomato portions at a time)
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0.25 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
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2 small potatoes, cut into chunks
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1 teaspoon dry crushed red pepper
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2 tablespoons garam masala (found in Indian stores or ethnic food section)
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1 teaspoon turmeric
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water
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1 1/2 large chopped onions
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1 green onion, chopped
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2 teaspoons chana masala
Instructions
- Wash chickpeas in water.
- Put chickpeas in fresh water with salt, two parts water to one part chickpeas.
- Leave overnight to soak.
- Put chickpeas (with water they were soaked in) into a large pot. Top up water to maintain 2 parts water to 1 part chickpea ratio if necessary. Bring water to a boil.
- Cover and turn down to medium (level 5) heat, skim off any white foam.
- Leave to simmer until chickpeas are tender, usually 2 or 3 hours.
- Take off heat.
- In a large pot, sauté onions and garlic on high heat, then turn down to (medium-high) level 8.
- When onions are thoroughly transparent put in ginger.
- Continue to sauté until mixture is sticking to bottom and brown bits are evident.
- Put onion mixture in a food processor and mix (not steadily) until smooth.
- Process tomato, 1/2 tomato portions at a time.
- Put mixture back into large pot.
- Add green onion.
- Heat should be at (medium-high) level 8.
- When mixture starts to bubble add tomato paste.
- Stir for 1 to 2 minutes until butter is released and mixture does not stick to pot.
- Add in potatoes.
- Add in chana masala.
- Reduce heat to level 7.
- Put in chickpeas with a slotted spoon.
- Water is NOT put in, but put aside for later.
- Mix for about 2 minutes Add in red pepper, masala.
- Mix for a further 2 minutes.
- Add water from chickpeas, additional water can be added to give mixture a watery consistency (mixture should not be too thick looking initially, as mixture will reduce, usually you can add in another cup of water).
- Add turmeric.
- Bring mixture to a boiling point on max heat, then reduce heat to level 7. Cover partially and mix infrequently.
- Once potatoes are tender, the daal is done.
- This daal is typically eaten with Indian bread- naan or chapati.
- As with most Indian cooking there is no"true" recipe, the cook decides what the recipe needs (somewhat of a hit and miss strategy, but it works).
- If you are unable to find garam masala the following can be used: 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon cracked dried bay leaves, and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves.