How To Make Chana Batata ( gravy ) / Tangy Spicy Chick Pea

Chana Batata is a street side chatpata Indian snack. Chana batata is made of boiled chickpeas simmered in spicy/mild spicy tamarind thick gravy. It is one of the most favorable street side snack loved by all. 

I have been making this kind of chana batata since past 15 -17 years now, but never got the chance to put up on my blog. Infact whenever I make chana batatas and post on any of FB groups ( social networking site ) , I get many request to put up the recipe. Well since then I am struggling to draft this recipe last 2 years, but some how I could not. Today I felt I have to draft the recipe for sure. So here is my recipe of Chana Batata.

INGREDIENTS : 

• 1 cup brown chana ( brown chick pea-200 gms )
• 1 tsp red chilly powder 
• 5-7 cloves of garlic
• 4-5 green chilies
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder 
• 2 -3 tbsp gram flour (besan )
• 2 medium boiled potatoes , cut into cubes
• 1-2 tbsp thick tamarind pulp 
• 3-4 curry leaves 
• 1 sliced onion sliced
• 1 tsp cumin powder 
• lemon wedges
• Few fried onions ( birishta)
• coriander leaves for garnishing
• salt to taste
• oil 

METHOD : 

• Soak brown chana over night in a vessel with few cups of water .
• Next day in cooker add drained chana with 3-4 cups cooking water with salt. Cook and make 3-4 whistles on high .
• Slow down the gas and let it make 3-4 more whistles. Off the gas and once cool , check if the chana is completely done. 
• Side by side, crush garlic and chilies in a motar pestle.
• In a deep pan , drizzle some oil , add curry leaves and sliced onions .
• Fry until golden brown in colour , add chana , turmeric powder and red chilly powder and fry for a minute .
• Add crushed garlic and green chillies and mix well , fry for a minute or so.
• Now add 2 cups water ( you can add in which you boiled chana ) 
• Side by side dilute gram flour in 1/4 cup water , mix well .
• Bring to boil and add gram flour mixture in chana.
• Now add potatoes , mix well and cook until gravy thickens.
• Slow down the gas and add tamarind pulp. Adjust the salt, seasonings and add cumin powder too. (add tamarind pulp if required as per your taste)
• Transfer in a serving bowl, garnish with some coriander leaves and fried brown onions, serve hot.

NOTES: 

• You can increase or decrease the no of garlic and green chillies as per your taste.
• Adjust the tamarind pulp as per your taste .
• If you want to add more green chilies and do not want to add red chilly powder then do not add it.

PREPARATION TIME : 30 Minutes.
SERVES : 2-3 Persons.