Sunday, January 6, 2008

Chickpeas and Potato Curry

I believe in Evolution! Yes the same evolution "Darwin's theory of Evolution" that we all studied in school. I recently happened to watch a program on PBS "Intelligent Design on Trial" very very informative but somewhat unsettling because something like this even went into trial. I may be very wrong, but I don't know of anywhere else in the world, battles being waged for having only Evolution taught in Science classes. It gives me a slightly (may be more) uneasy feeling about the quality and future of science education in the US. Watch the program online here.

In my kitchen I believe in Evolution strongly and also have solid proof :) Food evoltion happens in my kitchen everyday, starts with something and ends with something that is totally unrecoginzable. This ChickPeas Potato Curry evolved from two very tasty recipes I saw recently on two lovely blogs

Sailu's Gongura Mutton
Lisa's Chickpea Vindaloo

I wanted to make Chickpea Vindaloo but the awesome looking Sailu's Gongura Mutton lead me in a different direction but combining ideas and ingredients the result was tasty Chickpea and Potato Curry.


Photobucket



Ingredients
1. 1 1/2 Cup of Chickpeas soaked overnight
2. 1 Large Potato pealed and cubed
3. 1 Medium sized onion chopped
4. 3 Green Chilies split
5. 1 tbsp coriander powder
6. 1 tsp cumin powder
7. 1 tsp turmeric powder
8. 1 tsp red chili powder
9. 1 tsp masala powder (garam masla, chicken masala, anything you prefer)
10. 2 tbsp heaped yogurt
11. Lemon Juice (lemon from half a juice)
12. oil
13. 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds
14. 1 Sprig of curry leaves
15. 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Saute and blend 1. 6 -8 garlic cloves
2. 1 inch piece of ginger
Saute and blend to a smooth paste.

Method
1. In a pressure cooker or heavy bottomed pan heat a teaspoon of oil, add the cumin seeds and curry leaves.
2. Add the green chilies and onions and saute till translucent.
3. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes
4. Add all the powders except the garam masala
5. Add the yogurt and mix well.
6. Now add the cubed potatoes, garam masala, lemon juice
7. Add sufficient about 2 1/2 cups.
8. DO NOT ADD SALT yet

Close the lid and pressure cook.
9. Once cool open the lid add required salt, coriander leaves, if too thick add a little bit more water and cook for a few more minutes.

Now Tasty Chickpea curry is ready to eat with chapatis or steamded rice.

Novel Reading
Digging to America - Anne Tyler
Bridge - Doug Marlette

18 comments:

  1. Totally yummy combo, dear! happy new year to you and your loved ones too, dear. Thanks for your lovely note, not blogging much lately.....but am doing fine :).

    Hope that you had a wonderful time for the holidays.

    cheers,
    musical.

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  2. I watched that PBS show too, and was almost pale with disbelief that people can argue about evolution with a straight face- why? because the notion that humans and monkeys are so closely related upsets them! One can only hope that good sense will prevail.
    Your cooking is evolving to tastier heights by the day for sure :D That curry looks hearty and tasty!

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  3. lol, great intro... :) I missed that program, but I am fascinated by the whole science vs god debate, and the intelligent design theory... thanks for the link to the video...
    About the dish, looks delicious, it sure has evolved into a very advanced recipe.. :)

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  4. I am a strong advocate of evolution in the kitchen. I love your blending of flavors here and am honoured to be paired up with Sailu's meaty creation to produce a new Indian vegetarian culinary pleasure.

    Nice!

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  5. The curry looks creamy and yummy

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  6. ISG..lovely post..the kadala looks yummy! HNY yet again!!

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  7. I too missed that programme.

    However, as Nupur says, your culinary adventures in the kitchen are highly evolved :)

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  8. Me too! It's silly to think "GOD" made it all in 6 days!!!!!!:D

    I am not a nasthik but hey! I am not THAT dumb.

    Aloo Chole is mouthwatering!! Happy Monday Indo!:)

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  9. happy new year! i believe in evolution too! my food is always evolving too!:)

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  10. Oh, how delicious that looks ISG! Love the bowl too, is that new? Religious freedom is great, but I am a believer in evolution too -- in and out of the kitchen ;)

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  11. delecious curry I love with puri,
    loved your ridgegourd chutney too

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  12. cool recipe!! will give it a try...happy new yr, dear.

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  13. I ma totally floored by your theory of evolution if this is what the end result looks like ;-) Looks really good - Happy New Year to you and u're family!

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  14. Musy, glad to see you back. hope you too had a good and relaxing holiday.

    Nupur absolutely. And the really astonishing thing is how these people get in School Board and pusing this cause to the detriment of everything else.

    What would we do if we don't believe in evolution in the kitchen? :)

    Sig, sure the advanced recipe still has room for evolution :)

    Lisa, thanks. I strongly agree, evolution in the kitchen is something we cannot do without :)


    easycrafts, thank you.

    Purnima, thanks. Give it a try.


    Oh! Cynthia thank you, I happy to hear that my culinary skills are highly evolved :)


    Asha, absolutely. This new twist to the chole was a good one.


    Linda with you totally. Scientific research deserves the same amount of freedom and independce. Chickpeas and the Potatoes make it a one pot meal. Hearty and tasty :)

    Sagari, thank you, the ridgegourd is delicious and with idlis mouthwatering.

    Swaroopa, thank you.


    Latha, thank you, see why I believe in evolution so much :)

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  15. Looks very very inviting !!!I wish i could have had it ...I just finised my lunch and now i want to eat this .....!!!awesome

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  16. The curry looks and sounds so yummy. I would love to try it with some rice!

    And for the evolution theory, perhaps because I am a researcher, I think it need to be taught as a theory only, not an absolute fact. After all, we need to teach our kids to think analytically and know both sides of the story. That is what I want to achieve being a lecturer :D

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  17. I luv this curry and make it at least once a month..:) your post reminds me that I need to this month :)

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  18. I have tried a lots of varieties of Channa and guess what, this is the BEST. The whole pot was emptied.

    Thanks a lot.

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