Best Tamarind Chickpeas Recipes

TAMARIND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan, fry the nigella and fennel seeds for about 10 seconds. Add the onion and cook gently for 8-10 minutes until golden.
• Mix in the tomatoes, chillies, sugar, paprika, turmeric and chickpeas. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the tamarind and coriander. Add the spinach leaves and stir gently until they've just wilted. Serve with yogurt and chapatis.

TANGY TAMARIND CHICKPEAS - KHATA IMLEE CHANA (SLOW COOKER)

Steps:

• Place the chickpeas and water in a 5 quart slow cooker .
• In a food processor, puree all of the remaining ingredients, except the lemon, onion for garnish and bread.
• Add to slow cooker, stir, and cook on High for 10 hours.
• Add the half lemon and cook another 2 hours on High. After cooking, remove and discard the lemon.
• Top with the sliced red onion and serve with hot naan. (I ran out of naan and wrapped these in warm flour tortillas - very good).
• To make half the quantity, use a 3 1/2 qt slow cooker.
• Note: I loved these plain, but loved them even more with a cucumber salad. Mix chopped cucumbers - I used seedless - and some chopped red onion if you like, stir in some sour cream or thick yogurt. Spoon onto the chickpeas and naan - the contrast between the spicy chickpeas and the cool creamy cucumbers is out of this world!

KALE WITH CHICKPEAS AND TAMARIND

Steps:

• Cook 1 tablespoon each minced ginger and garlic in butter in a pot over medium-high heat, 2 minutes. Add one 15-ounce can chickpeas (drained and rinsed), 2 teaspoons curry powder and a pinch of salt. Toast the chickpeas, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in 8 ounces chopped kale. Add a mix of 3 tablespoons each water and dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon tamarind paste and a pinch of cayenne. Cook until the kale is tender. Top with cilantro.

CHUTNEY CHICKPEAS WITH TAMARIND

Steps:

• 1. Soak the chickpeas overnight in water to cover by 2 inches. Meanwhile, prepare the tamarind paste and the ginger-garlic paste. When ready, drain the chickpeas and place them in a pressure cooker long with 5 cups water. Baking soda, salt, cardamom pods, cinnamon, and bay leaves. Secure the lid and cook over high heat until the regulator indicates high pressure, then cook 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the pot to depressurize on its own, 12 to 15 minutes.2. Carefully open the lid and check to see if the beans are very soft with some of them broken if not, add more water as needed, cover, bring up to pressure, and cook under high pressure another minute. Or, cover and boil until the chickpeas are soft and creamy, about 45 minutes.3. Heat the oil in a small nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat and add the cumin and ajwain seeds they should sizzle upon contact with the hot oil. Quickly add the onion and cook, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger-garlic paste and stir about 1minute. Add the tomatoes and continue to cook until the tomatoes are soft and all the juices evaporate, about 5 minutes.4. Add the coriander, ground cumin, garam masala, turmeric, and black salt, then add the tamarind paste and bring to a quick boil. Mix into the chickpeas along with the green chili peppers, cilantro, and mint, and summer until the sauce is very thick, about 15 minutes. Stir vigorously and smash some of the chickpeas to further thicken the dish. Serve.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.