The weekend is over, which means it’s time to pull up your socks and get ready for a busy week ahead. In between a busy everyday life, it seems like a luxury to spend hours in your kitchen. That’s why most of us on weekdays prefer to go for food options that are hassle-free and quick to make. But that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on taste! If you ask us, we go for smart alternatives to our favorite dishes that can be prepared in much less time. One such example is chana masala. A staple in North Indian cuisine, chana masala is made from chickpeas (or chana), boiled and simmered in a spicy gravy. You can pair it with roti, paratha, bhature and even plain rice to put together a healthy lunch or dinner.
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About Chana Masala: Are Chana Masala and Chole the same?
Visit a North Indian household for a meal, and you’ll find chana masala having a constant place on their menu. Also referred to as chole (or Pindi chole) in some places, this dish is traditionally made in a spicy onion-tomato-ginger-garlic sauce. But the taste differs from place to place according to the adaptation of spices. If you explore, you will also find people who make it without onions and garlic. The variations are many, but what often comes as a drawback is the time you need to make a classic North Indian chole. It is cumbersome and requires several steps to follow, which makes people think twice about putting it on their everyday menu. Don’t worry, we have the perfect solution for your problem.
We have found some easy chana masala alternatives which can be prepared in less than half an hour. Does that sound perfect? So without further ado, let’s take you through the recipes.
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How to make Chana Masala in less than 30 minutes?
Recipe 1. Chana Tikka Masala:
Here we give you the best of both worlds. Boiled kole/chana/chickpeas cooked in tikka masala makes it a perfect dish to enjoy. In addition to the usual spices, the recipe also contains cashew nut paste for extra creaminess. The best part is that you can prepare the dish in about 15 minutes. You heard us! Click here for the recipe.
Recipe 2. Hara Chana Masala:
Have you ever tried making chana masala with cholia (or hara chana/green chickpea)? If not, then you should try it soon. In addition to hara chana, the recipe also contains potato, onion, tomato and some basic kitchen spices. This dish is more like bhurji made with cholia and aloo and tastes best when paired with roti or paratha. Click here for the recipe.
Recipe 3. Chikar Chole:
To put it simply, chikar chole is a Punjabi home-style chana masala recipe that goes well with paratha and rice. Here, the coal remains slightly mushy, and the sauce is prepared with boiled potato, tomato, onion, ginger, garlic and a variety of spices. You can prepare chikar chole in just 20 minutes. Click here for the recipe.
Now that you have these delicious recipes at hand, we suggest you prepare them at home and enjoy a delicious meal even on busy weekdays. And let us know which of the three recipes you liked the most.
