ROOKIE RASOIYA - Easy, Healthy, and Modern Indian Recipes for Beginners
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Channa Masala:  Chickpeas in Tomato Gravy

2/22/2015

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My first attempt at making Indian food for my husband was six months after our wedding.  The dish I chose was a simple one:  channa masala.  I felt I had chosen an easy recipe and one that my husband really enjoys--"should be easy enough," I thought.  After an hour of slaving over the pot, the results were clear:  my channa masala was not good.  Of course my sweet Hubs ate it and told me it tasted great, but I knew the truth.  Hubs loves channa masala, so I had to try again; and after some trial and error (and more guidance from my Mom), I now know the tricks to make this a fantastic dish!
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There are three things that really make this recipe work. 
First: use dried chickpeas which you have rehydrated in a pressure cooker or slow cooker, rather than canned chickpeas.  If you don't know how, it is really easy and you can follow my step-by-step directions to do it. 
Second: use MDH brand chana masala powder--they are a North Indian-based spice producer, and so their spice blends are not as spicy as many other brands which are based in South India.  I once used a different brand, and it was so hot that Hubs and I could barely eat it. 
Third:  adding tamarind concentrate or chutney to the dish helps thicken the gravy and adds a hint of tanginess.  
Now that I make sure to always use these three components in my channa masala, it turns out great!

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Chai-Spiced Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

2/12/2015

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We are in the dead of winter where I live, though thankfully I don't live in poor Boston!  Nonetheless, temperatures are expected to dip into the single digits in the next few days and the skies have been gloomy and gray.  If for no other reason than to give me something to be excited about in the middle of dreary winter, I enjoy "celebrating" Valentine's Day.  Truthfully, I never do much planning for it; since the very beginning, Hubs has been the one to surprise me with plans that always involve relaxation and a fun activity, like chocolate-making or spending time at a botanical garden.  My usual way of reciprocating is by making Hubs his favorite food:  cookies.
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Yes, Hubs' favorite food is actually cookies.  His go-to cookie is a chocolate chip cookie with pecans or walnuts, but he is not discriminating and will eat any cookie that comes his way.  This year I wanted to change it up and thought about making shortbread cookies instead of some chocolate chip variation.

Shortbread cookies require very few ingredients--just flour, butter, and sugar.  No eggs, no baking soda, etc.  The dough ends up being more firm than that of other cookies, and the cookies end up crispier than most other types of cookies--which makes them ideal for dipping into chocolate.  I also decided to use ghee instead of regular butter in these cookies because it has a slightly nutty flavor that I thought would pair well with the chai spices.

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    Exploring Indian cuisine and trying to learn the recipes of my family. I hope to help and inspire others along the way.

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