Healthy Kala Chana Salad & Kala Chana Soup
Healthy Kala Chana Salad & Kala Chana Soup are nutritious and protein-rich dishes from Indian cuisine. The salad is a refreshing mix of boiled black chickpeas, vegetables, and spices, while the soup is a hearty and flavorful option perfect for a light yet fulfilling meal.
Ingredients
For Boiling (minimum 5 whistles)
- Kala chana (काला चना) – 1 cup
- Water (पानी) – 10 cups
- Bayleaf (तेज पत्ता) – 1 no
- Black cardamom (काली इलाइची) – 2 nos
- Salt (नमक) – 1 tsp
For Soup
- Olive oil/Ghee (ज़ैतून तेल/घी) – 1½ tbsp
- Onion, medium (प्याज़) – 1 no
- Garlic cloves, small (लहसुन) – 6-7 nos
- Ginger (अदरक) – a small piece
- Cumin (जीरा) – 2 tsp
- Peppercorn (काली मिर्च) – 12- 15 nos
- Cloves (लौंग) – 5-6 nos
- Green chilli (हरि मिर्च) – 1-2 nos
- Turmeric (हल्दी) – ¾ tsp
- Kashmiri chilli powder (कश्मीरी मिर्च पाउडर) – ¾ tsp
- Salt (नमक) – to taste
- Boiled Kala Chana (उबला हुआ कला चना) – ¼ cup
For Chaat
- Cucumber, chopped (खीरा) – ⅓ cup
- Tomato, chopped (टमाटर) – ⅓ cup
- Onion, chopped (प्याज़) – ⅓ cup
- Potato, boiled & diced (उबला आलू) – ⅓ cup
- Green chilli, chopped (हरि मिर्च) – 1-2 nos
- Pomegranate (अनार) – ½ cup
- Coriander, chopped (ताज़ा धनिया) – handful
- Cumin, roasted & crushed (भुना कुट्टा जीरा) – 1½ tsp
- Chaat masala (चाट मसाला) – 1 tbsp
- Salt (नमक) – to taste
- Black salt (काला नमक) – ½ tsp
- Sugar (चीनी) – 2 tsp (optional)
- Lemon, medium (नींबू) – 2-3 nos
Instructions
- In a pressure cooker, add the overnight-soaked chana, salt, black cardamom, bay leaves, and plenty of water. Cook it for 5-6 whistles.Once cooked, strain the chole into a bowl and remove all the dry spices. Next, grind some of the boiled chana along with its cooking water and set it aside.
- For the salad, combine chana with diced cucumber, tomato, onions, potato, green chilies, pomegranate, chopped coriander, roasted ground cumin, chaat masala, salt, black salt, and sugar (optional). Finally, drizzle with lemon juice and toss to mix well. Enjoy!
- For the soup, heat some oil in a pan, then add whole cumin seeds and cloves, tempering until they crackle. Add sliced onions, roughly chopped ginger, garlic, and green chilies. When the onions become translucent, stir in turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chili, and the reserved chana water. Once the soup is boiling, add the ground chana mixture and cook it until you reach your desired consistency. Adjust the seasonings as needed, then strain the soup and serve it warm.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!