Anyone who’s lived in Delhi long enough to have tasted it’s street food can’t claim ignorance at the mention of ‘Chana Kulcha’ – or a lip-smacking bowl of spicy chickpeas with some light and airy bread. While its opulent and rich cousin Chhole Bhature (drooool!) is my absolute favourite (and I could one day die of being a glutton, gorging on this heavenly dish), the humble Kulcha Chana – available at most street-side bazaars in ramshackle shops or on food carts – is just the right thing to satiate early morning hunger pangs. That’s if you are immune to the happenstance of the occasional Delhi Belly! The dish is just right for the health-conscious, calorie counting bunch – if you lose the kulcha – which anyway is healthier than the oil-soaked bhatura– the chana on its own is akin to any salad and yummier too – beat that!
So, here is my take on this classic and popular street food, have a go and have fun!
Makes – 2 plates Ready in:15 -20 mins (minus soaking and boiling)
Calories: 100 per person (not counting the kulcha)
Ingredients:
- Chick peas or dried green peas- 2 cups, soaked overnight and pressure cooked/boiled in salt water to a soft consistency; or 1 no. drained,400g tin chick peas, if you’re in a rush
- 1 onion- coarsely chopped
- 1 tomato- coarsely chopped
- 1 green chilli – finely chopped (add or remove depending on your heat tolerance)
- Bunch of coriander leaves – coarsely chopped
- 1 inch of ginger – finely chopped (optional)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Salt: to taste
- Cumin powder – 1 tsp
- Chilli powder- ½ tsp
- Chat Masala (optional, available in all Indian grocery stores): 1 tsp
- Oil: NONE AT ALL! (yaaaas!)
Method:
- Toss the drained, parboiled or tinned chickpeas in a mixing bowl and mush a few of them with a spatula to add texture to the mix
- Add the rest of the ingredients and give it a thorough mix
- Top it with a dash of lemon juice and chat masala (optional) and garnish with some more chopped leaves and enjoy!
That’s it – really! This is all you need to do to enjoy a healthy, wholesome plate of goodness.
Try it and let me know how you liked it.
Also, watch this space for a quick and easy-to-do Kulcha recipe – FYI… it’s the simpler version of a Naan.
Until next time,
Paulomi x
The Interrobong 