In celebration of “successfully” completing last week, which included: tests, tests, exams, and culminated with the SAT, I decided to go all out on my stomach and make my most favorite dish of all time. I though it would be nice too for my GF Anniversary that was coming up and a nice addition to the tests I have been putting my stomach through. Even though this is my favorite dish, it is just so dangerous to eat with my stomach. Tomatoes, spices, and beans. But when in Rome India, just go for it. And having a dish like this once in awhile, especially since my stomach has seemed to have gotten stronger, was totally worth it. And finally, Indian food is the best celebration food in my opinion. The smells, colors, flavors…o everything about it; my favorite cuisine!
Chana Masala is so easy to make on your own. The spices are the only thing you get fancy with, otherwise I just use three ingredients. Chickpeas, Tomatoes, and Spinach! If you have never had Chana Masala…I don’t know if we can still be friends. Well I take that back. After you see the recipe, I know you will make it ASAP if you have never had Chana Masala, so we are all good here. Now without further adieu, my #1 favorite dish of all time. If you ever want to make my day and have me love you forever, just make me some Chana Masala 😉
Chana Masala
(My food photos are getting more creative, right? Haha!)
Ingredients: (serves 4)
+ 1 Cup of Dried Chickpeas (soaked overnight and cooked, I put them through one cycle of my rice cooker with a bay leaf.) This makes about 2 1/2 heaping cups of cooked chickpeas.
+ 1 and 1/2 15oz Cans of No-Salt Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes
+ 4 to 5 Cups of Baby Spinach
+ 1/4 Cup Water
+ 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
+ 1 1/2 Tsp Onion Powder
+ 1/2 Tsp Ginger
+ 1/2 Tsp Coriander
+ 1 Tsp Cumin
+ 1 1/2 Tsp Turmeric
+ 1 TB of Garam Masala
+ 1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
+ 1 Tsp Paprika
+ 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
+ 1 TB Dried Parsley
Directions:
+ Gather all you ingredients and put everything into a very large saute pan and stir. On the stove, heat the pan (covered) on high for 5 minutes, then reduce to a medium heat and cook for 20 to 25 minutes.
+ Taste and adjust seasoning to your preference, stir everything around and done! See I told you it was easy.
+ I served mine with a nice warmed brown rice tortilla, but some GF Naan or rice would be lovely as well!
Did I mention that this is a perfect cozy Fall/Winter dish as well? No, well it is! It will warm you from the inside out and make your day that much better 😉 Happy WIAW, Allergy-Free Wednesday and Ricki’s Wellness Weekend! Do me a favor and go out and make yourself some Chana Masala tonight! 🙂
So tell me:
Favorite Indian dish? If its not Chana Masala, that’s okay. Pretty much all Indian food is awesome.
Do you like to make your dishes super spicy or more on the mellow side? If you want this to be really spicy, feel free to add in some Cayenne!
What is you go-to celebration meal?
***Today is the last day to enter my ENERGYbits Giveaway! Go enter, it’s really easy!***
Dale @ Vegfaqs
This was the first chana masala I’ve ever made and I loved it. Will be making many more times in the future.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I’m so glad to hear it!
Pali
Looks delic! Love that you added spinach 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Abigail C. Murdock
I usually eat vegetarian to improve my health.
My favorite dish is Chana Masala because I like the color and the taste of it.
Thanks for your great post.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The colors are fantastic!
eat good 4 life
I love Indian food…my family? No so much. I wish I could cook it much more often. I could probably have Indian and Thai food for the rest of my life. Good luck with your exams if you have any left. I know what that is like 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I would eat Indian and Thai forever too! So wonderful, all the flavors and spices!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow
This is a lovely version of chana masala. I love the flavors and the combination of the beans with spinach and tomatoes. It goes wonderfully with dal and rice or even with a simple fish.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think it is the best Indian dish!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
I love Chana Masala – this one looks wonderful!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Ashley!
Kate @ Veggie Desserts
This looks amazing! It’s the sort of meal that is going to be a regular staple at my house. Making it tonight!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This dish brings me so many warm feelings of home and comfort! I hope you enjoy!
Xiomara @ Parkesdale
Can I use canned garbanzo beans instead?
Strength and Sunshine
Of course! Why not?
Rachael F. (Glass of Win)
YUUUUM! This is one of my mother’s favorite Indian dishes ~ I’m definitely going to have to surprise her with it one day. Thank you for the recipe, fellow SITS-sister!
Strength and Sunshine
It is my favorite too! So simple but so delish! She will love it 🙂
Bethany
Is that 1 teaspoon of ginger powder or 1 teaspoon of grated ginger?
strengthandsunshine
Ground ginger powder!
Gemma
That was lovely, thank you very much for sharing! Really tasty. 🙂
strengthandsunshine
Thanks 🙂
Casey Lindberg-Coghill
Love this! I stumbled across your blog on Moi Contre La Vie’s page and am in love. I adore chickpeas, tomatoes, and spinach, so this dish would be heaven for me. Thank you so much for sharing! And I totally love your fall-inspired photos. 🙂
strengthandsunshine
Aw, thank you Casey! These flavors just so so well together, it is a perfect dish 🙂
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)
This is one of my favorite meals! Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂
Hope your week is great!
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Cindy, your so sweet 🙂
Marlys @Thisand That
This sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday and I hope that you will join us again this coming week.
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Marlys! Of course I’ll be there 🙂
Sarada
Lovely pictures and what a coincidence I made Chana masala (or I call it Chole) and bumped into your blog. You added a nice twist to it by adding Spinach, I will try that next time. One more thing is this dish freezes so well, I make a big batch and freeze half of it for a yummy ready to go meal on a workday 🙂
strengthandsunshine
O I know! I love making a huge batch and then freezing portions to enjoy whenever!
Jo-Lynne Shane {Musings of a Housewife}
That looks wonderful!
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Jo-Lynne!
Kelly
This looks delicious!! I love Indian food and would love some easy dishes I can make at home, so this looks like a win-win. Cheers!
Kelly
http://www.alovelylifeindeed.com
strengthandsunshine
I am pretty sure this is one of the easiest Indian dishes out there! It is so simple to pull together in a rush 🙂 Happy cooking!
Beth (OMG! Yummy)
Saying hi from SITS! Beautiful job on the photos and the dish. I make chana dal in the slow cooker that is pretty darn good. I’m learning all about Indian spices from my neighbor. So much creativity in that cuisine’s use of spices. Got to love it!
strengthandsunshine
Thanks for stopping by Beth! That is exactly why I love Indian cuisine! I am fascinated by spices and herbs and have an over flowing cabinet full of every spice you could ever want 🙂
Christine
That looks delicious!
strengthandsunshine
Thank you Christine 🙂
Kierston @candyfit
I love masala! This recipe looks and sound amazing.
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Kierston! I’ll be sure to link it up to your blog on Friday 🙂
Kelsey @ Fueling Strong
Sounds amazing! I was thinking about what to make for dinner tonight, and I think this may be the winner!
strengthandsunshine
Let me know how it comes out! 🙂
Kaila @healthyhelperblog!
This looks so fresh and delicious!!
strengthandsunshine
Its the best and I love the nontraditional addition of spinach 🙂
Megan (The Lyons' Share)
This looks delicious! I like my food medium-spicy … just a kick of spice but not too hot that I’m chugging water after every sip! I like a lot of Indian foods, but Chana Masala is always a safe one if I can’t understand exactly what is on the menu :).
strengthandsunshine
Right! Its so simple. It was the first Indian dish I ever made or tried 🙂