how can I process chick peas (garbanzos) into dal?!
Answers:
In India, there are two different varieties of chickpeas, namely 'Desi Chana', and 'Kabuli Chana'.
Desi Chana is smaller than Kabuli Chana and of light to dark brown seed color. The Kabuli Chana is larger and the seed color is almost pink pearl white.
Desi Chana is the most commonly used variety of any beans in India. The seed is slightly roasted and ground to make flour called Besan. Besan is used to make sweets, breads, batter to make fritters. The split Desi Chana is called Chana Dal.
You need Chana Dal to make Dal. You bring Chana Dal to a boil in plain water, cook on low till the split Chana is tender. Now you add spices including salt, hot chili peppers, ground cumin, and ground coriander seeds. Make a Tarka of Ghee, thinly sliced onions, green fresh chili peppers, and chopped fresh ginger root. This process is also called tempering.
Kabuli Chana are normally cooked as whole. They are a traditional dish in North India specially Punjab. The dish is called 'Cholay'. Normally, the beans are presoaked overnight in water. The presoak water is discarded. This helps reduce complex sugar that promote farting. It also helps get the beans tender in a uniform fashion internally. The beans are cooked till soft and tender. It may take few hours. Masala is prepared of ground onions, garlic, fresh ginger, fresh green chili peppers. The Masala is fried in Ghee, spices such as salt Ajwain (Carom), ground cumin are added. Adding a souring agent such as Amchoor or lime juice are important. The finish product has a consistency of a stew.
Here's my recipe for a super simple dish:
4 cups chickpeas (canned)
2 cups onions, chopped
1 tsp cumin seed (you can use ground cumin if you want)
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp red or cayenne pepper (to taste!)
2 tbsp canola oil
1 tsp MDH channa masala (if you can get your hands on it!)
Saute onions in oil on medium heat until carmelized. Add cumin seeds and cook until fragrant. Add chick peas, salt, channa masala, and pepper. Heat through & simmer for at least 10 minutes (longer if you want them softer/mushier). Garnish with fresh diced tomato and onion.
Easiest way to serve is with basmati rice, roti (Indian flatbread), or naan.
Chick peas is not really used for dal. However, you can cook chick peas and make indian food. Just google for recipes. Dal is boiled and blended, doing that to chick peas and making dal would just not taste right.
put them in a blender...make hummus.
add garlic (finely chopped)
sea salt
garbanzos are also good to add to chicken curry...with Basmati Rice on the side...or with it.
Food processor, salt, pepper, olive oil,cumin,tumeric, curry,etc.... mix all together!!
the food processor or blender
