Chana Masala, Naan and Fruit salad

I wanted to make something different as I was tired of eating that boring stuff last week. I was in a mood of preparing a wholesome meal for us so came up with an idea of preparing Naan and Chana Masala.Since I had a lot of fruits lying in the fridge I thought of making fruit salad as well as it is very refreshing especially during summers. I ended up preparing a big bowl of fruit salad which lasted for unlimited servings continuously for two days.

Now coming to Chana Masala,my husband is a big fan of chana masala as he grew up in Delhi and developed a taste for such pulses hence it is prepared every other week.

Chana Masala:


Ingredients:
1 cup Kala Chana
2 medium alu diced
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp dhaniya powder
1/2 tsp toasted jeera powder(fresh tastes better)
1/2 tsp amchur powder
1/2 tsp Garam masala
1 tsp chana masala powder(optional)
1 tbsp chopped coriander
1/2 lemon squeezed
1 green chili
1 Bay leaf/Tej patta
1/2" cinnamon stick
a pinch of hing
salt

To grind:
1 Big onion sliced
2 Tomatoes chopped
1" ginger chopped
4-5 garlic pods

Lemoned Onions:
1 medium onion thinly sliced
1/2 lemon squeezed
1/2 tsp vinegar
Mix everything well and leave it aside for sometime(until it turns pink)

Method:
Soak Chana Overnight(or for 6-7 hrs) with some salt and a pinch of garam masala.Pressure cook chana for 2 whistles and simmer it for 20-25 mins until soft.
Microwave diced alu for 3-4 mins.
Grind onion,tomato,ginger and garlic to a fine paste
Heat oil in a kadai add cinnamon stick,slit green chilli,bayleaf,hing and a pinch of garam masala and fry for a minute.Add ground onion-tomato mixture to it and fry till the gravy separates from the oil.Now add dhaniya powder,toasted jeera powder,chili powder,chana masala,amchur powder,garam masala and fry until all the masala's are well incorporated.Now add boiled alu,chana(slightly smash some chana to get gravy consistency) and fry till all the water is completely absorbed.
Add salt and enough water and cover it and cook for 7-8 mins.Add lemon juice and coriander and give a quick mix and serve.
Serve it hot with lemoned onions,stuffed mirch ka achaar and roti/paratha/Naan.

Note:
For Quicker version,Heat oil in a cooker and add cinnamon stick,slit green chili,bay leaf,hing and a pinch of garam masala and fry for a minute then add ground onion-tomato mixture to it along with all the masala's(dhaniya powder,toasted jeera powder,chili powder,chana masala,amchur powder,garam masala)and fry for 2 mins.Now add diced Alu and soaked Chana and fry for 3-4 mins,add salt and enough water and pressure cook it for 2 whistles and simmer for 25 mins.
Add coriander and lemon juice just before serving.

I feel that the quicker version is better as the chana is cooked in the masala's and the spices are well infused in the chana which makes it's taste better than when prepared in the traditional way.

Naan:


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups plain flour(Maida)
1 ladleful of beaten curds
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Cups milk(to make the dough)




Method:
Sieve well flour with salt and baking powder.
Make a well in between and pour curds,sugar,oil and some milk and using your three fingers mix the dough turning the vessel to form a nice elastic dough by adding enough milk.Give a nice massage to the dough approximately for 10 mins.
Rest the dough in a greased vessel for 3-4 hrs in a warm place.
Make oblong shape Naans,add the toppings like chopped coriander,while sesame,Nigella seeds and roll it once again.prick it with a fork and apply butter over it and bake it in a preheated oven for a couple of minute until brown spots appear on it.
Serve hot with any curry/Dal.

Fruit salad with custard:

I am sure everybody knows how to prepare this delicious fruit salad with custard,keeping in mind about the beginners i am just explaining the process of preparing the fruit salad.


Ingredients:
3 tbsp custard powder(i used vanilla flavour)
3 cups cubed fruits(Mango,orange/mosambi,grapes,banana,apple,strawberries etc)
4 tbsp condensed milk
2 tbsp sugar
3-4 tbsp whipped cream(optional,i did not use it here)
500 ml milk
3 tbsp chopped dry fruits(cashewnuts,badam)
1 tsp raisins
2-3 drops of lemon juice(to retain the colours of fruits)
cherries for garnishing

Method:
Mix custard powder with 50 ml of milk properly and add this to the boiling milk stirring continuously or prepare custard as per the instruction on the pack.cool the custard completely.
Cut the fruits and add sugar and lemon juice to it and mix.
Mix the cooled custard with condensed milk and whipped cream, add fruits and all the dry fruits to it and give a good stir.Refrigerate it for 4-5 hrs.
Serve it cold with a cherry garnished on it.
You can either serve with Ice cream.

Note:
Chop the citrus fruits like orange/mosambi,grapes first and then chop banana and apple so that it does not loose the colour.

I am sending the chana masala for WYF-Side dishes by EC of Simple Indian Food,and this is my third entry for the event.

And the Kalonji-topped Naan to Think spice-Think Kalonji event hosted by Ammalu's Kitchen.