Dry kala chana masala sabji (sukhe kale chane) is a great Indian side dish made from brown chickpeas. It is generally served as snacks but also can be eaten with roti. This tangy tasty dry black chana curry is quite easy to make. The only preparation required is to soak and boil kala chana. Once you have boiled kala chana, it takes minutes to stir fry with some Indian spices.
Kala chana or brown chickpeas can be used to make many dishes. I have already published recipe of kala chana masala which is an Indian curry of kala chana with gravy. Kala chana is used in different Indian street food dishes. Lot of people make kala chana masala for pani puri stuffing. Also it is used to make chana jor garam, a popular Indian street food dish.
Did you noticed the table cloth below dry kala chana in the first image? Yes you guessed it right. This is dry kala chana recipe for navratri. I cook this dish during navaratri festival. I remember as kid I used to ask my mom every now and then to cook this wonderful mouth watering dish. I used to grab a spoon and just start eating without waiting for chappati. Kids love this dish. Trust me.. Just make this dry kala chana sabji once, drizzle some lemon juice and give them. Kala chana being a lentil is really great source of protein. So it is great for kids.
Being a dry sabji this dish can also be served for lunch box/tiffin box. Just use butter instead of oil while stir frying kala chana in spices. That way the butter will get soaked by kala chana and won’t ooze out.
Step by step recipe of dry kala chana masala (stir fried black chana)
Rise the kala chana thoroughly and soak them in water for 7 to 8 hours / overnight. Kala chana take some time while cooking is it is good idea to pre-soak them the night before making sabji.
- Kala Chana: 1 1/2 cup, boiled
- Oil:1 tbsp
- Cumin seeds:1 tsp
- Ginger:1/2 inch, cut into julienne
- Garlic: 1 tsp, grated
- Red chili powder:1 tsp
- Coriander powder:1 tbsp
- Turmeric powder:1/2 tsp
- Garam masala:1tsp
- Green chili:1 chili , chopped
- Coriander leaves:1/2 cup, chopped
- Lemon juice:1 tbsp
- Tomato: 1/2 cup, chopped (optional)
- Salt: to taste
- Wash and soak the kala chana over night or for 7 to 8 hrs.
- Once the kala chana are soaked, boil them in the presser cooker by adding a little salt and water for about 4 whistle or for 10 minute.
- In a non-stick pan heat a tablespoon of oil and temper cumin seeds (jeera).
- Add ginger garlic and cook till the rawness of ginger and garlic is gone.
- Now add the boiled kala chana and stir it and let it cook for 2 minutes.
- Add in all the spices: red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and salt to taste. Be careful while adding the salt because we have already added the salt in the chana while boiling.
- Mix all the masala well and cook for about 4 minute. If required add little water.
- Throw in the green chili and cook for a minute.
- Now add the chopped coriander leaves and few drops of lemon juice mix well all the ingredients.
- Dry kala chana sabji is ready. Add chopped tomato and serve hot with chappati of just like that.
Excellent.
I added one potato and mashed it well so that all masalas stick properly on the chanas.
Thank you for sharing.
The way you describe the procedure is so simple and easy to follow!!
Keep it up.
How many calories might this be
Hi, this recipe look delish. I’m making it right now! But I want to confirm something… when you say 1.5 cups kala chana, boiled. Do you measure the 1.5 cups before saoking and boiling? Or do you measure 1.5 cups of kala chana after boiling it? I’m doing 1.5 cups measured dry, but it looks like more than 2 servings so I started to doubt myself.
Thanks!
Hi laura, I measure kala chana as 1.5 cup after boiling it. you can take half the mesurement bofore soaking.
I just cooked this….yummm!!