Black Chickpea chana Curry
Chana The Seed of Silent Strength Series – Post 2
When Black Chickpeas Learn the Language of Patience
There are some dishes that do not like hurry
Kadala curry is one of them
You cannot bully black chickpeas into softness
You cannot rush coconut into aroma
You cannot shortcut the depth of roasted spices
This Black Chickpea chana curry teaches you something quietly..
That Strength is built slowly
A Small Kitchen Story
It was raining
Not the dramatic movie rain
the soft Kerala kind that taps gently on windows like an old friend asking to be let in
The pressure cooker was on the stove
Black chana soaking in water since morning
Grated coconut waiting in a steel bowl
My thoughts wandering everywhere
I stood there stirring…
And realized something
This dish is not cooked
It is waited for
The Spiritual Side of chana / black chickpea
In many Indian homes, black chickpeas are offered during fasting days and temple cooking
Not because they are fancy
But because they are..
grounding
filling
steady
honest
In yogic thought, such food is called sattvic with strength — the food that supports the body without disturbing the mind
Kadala does not spike your energy
It holds it
Like faith
Pause Here for a Moment
Do you allow anything in your life to grow slowly?
Or are you always pressure-cooking your dreams?
When did patience become weakness instead of wisdom?
Easy Kerala-Style Black Chickpea chana Curry
Ingredients
1 cup black chickpeas (soaked overnight)
half cup grated coconut
1 tsp coriander powder
3–4 dry red chilies
2 cloves garlic
1 small piece ginger
1 onion (sliced)
1 tomato (chopped)
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garam masala
Curry leaves
Coconut oil
Mustard seeds
Method to make Black Chickpea chana Curry
Pressure cook the soaked chana with the onions, tomato, ginger and garlic and turmeric
after it is cooked take out the cooked onion, tomato, ginger and garlic along with two tablespoon of chana in a bowl and let it cool
now take this cooled mixture and grind it to a fine paste alongwith the grated coconut
mix this ground paste with the boiled chana and keep it on gas and let it simmer for five minutes
add in turmeric, red chilli powder, dhaniya powder and salt and give it a good mix
now for the tempering
taka a small pan
pour in 2 tspn coconut oil, add in the mustard seeds, red chillies, curry leaves
once they crackle, off the flame
now add in the garam masala to the oil
add this tempering to the boiling chana mixture and let the chana curry simmer for 5 minutes and off the flame and close the lid for 5 minutes
you can adjust the salt and chilli according to taste
your tasty kerala style yummy Black Chickpea chana curry ready to serve

What This Dish Black Chickpea chana Curry Teaches Me
Kadala curry reminds me..
Not everything must be soft immediately
Not all strength is loud
Not all nourishment is visible
Some healing happens quietly…
in steel vessels,
in wooden spoons,
in the kitchens no one photographs…
https://reflectwithsmitha.com/walking-through-my-palace-in-my-slippers-part-3/
do make time to read my blog
A Closing Thought
If your life feels slow right now…
If progress feels boiled, not fried…
If results are taking their own sweet time…
Maybe you are not failing
Maybe you are becoming like this kadala curry.😁
Strong
Deep
being Ready when the time is right…
hope you find this recipe awesome
until next time, keep smiling
much love … stay happy … stay blessed … always
SMITHA
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