Beyond Curry
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[Photograph: Prasanna Sankhe]

Note: To use canned chickpeas, start from step 2. In step 3, add 1 cup of water to pan with the chickpeas. Ginger-garlic paste can be found bottled in Indian markets or in a well-stocked supermarket. To make ginger-garlic paste from scratch, combine equal parts garlic and fresh ginger grated on a Microplane grater.

About the author: Denise Dsilva Sankhe is a writer & creative director by profession. But that's only when she isn't eating her way across India. She recreates this delicious cuisine in her Mumbai home, which she shares with her husband, who has long since given up his determination to have salads for dinner.

Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!

About This Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas (or two 15-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed, see note above)
  • 1 black cardamom pod
  • 1 inch piece cinnamon
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 peppercorns
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 3 teaspoons coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 2 dry kashmiri chillis
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste (see note above)
  • 2 large tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon amchur or dry mango powder
  • 2 small Indian or Thai green chilies, split in half
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems

Procedures

  1. Place the chickpeas in a medium bowl and cover with warm water by 2 inches. Let soak for 12 hours. Transfer soaked chickpeas and their liquid to a pressure cooker. Seal and heat over medium-low heat to low pressure. Cook until chickpeas easily break down, about 25 minutes after they come to pressure. Release pressure and set aside to cool.

  2. Meanwhile, heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add black cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaf, peppercorns, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, and Kashmiri chillies. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool and then grind in a coffee grinder till completely powdered.

  3. Heat oil in the same pan on medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger-garlic paste and stir until the raw smell of the paste disappears, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, until the tomatoes break down and the oil separates, about 10 minutes. Add dry mango powder and green chillies. Stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the powdered spice blend and stir until fragrant. At this stage, add a few teaspoons of water in case the spices stick to the bottom of the pan as they tend to burn easily. Cook, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add the boiled chickpeas with the water they were boiled in, stir, and simmer for 10 minutes so that the chickpeas absorb the spices. Garnish with coriander leaves, onion rings and serve with rotis, bhaturas (deep fried bread), or rice.