Apart from being quick and easy, this recipe is healthy and delicious too. You can boil the chana or Bengal gram in advance and make this recipe any time of the day. You can use as many spices and as many veggies you want and all of your choice. I am making it in the way the street vendors use to make it. You can also add pomegranate/bell peppers/fried peanuts/lettuce etc.

Firstly clean and wash the Bengal gram and soak it in water overnight or at least 5-6 hours. It will become almost double in size after soaking. Now transfer it to the pressure cooker adding salt to it. I used the same water in which I soaked the Bengal gram because it has a lot of nutrients in it. You can discard this water if you want and use freshwater. Once done cover the lid and pressure cook it for 13-15 minutes or until completely cooked. Make sure to add enough water to the cooker.

We want our chana to be juicy so more water is required. Once the chana is completely cooked off the flame let the pressure release and keep it aside. Crush the garlic, ginger, and green chilies and keep them aside. Now in a wok add 2 tbsp oil when it gets heated add the cumin seeds and asafoetida saute and then add the crushed ginger garlic and chilies. Cook it till the rawness goes away. Then finely chop 1 onion and add to it. Cook it till translucent then add a few powdered spices.

Red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder، black pepper powder, and 2 pinches of salt mix them all very well then add the tomato paste and mix again. Cook these spices until the oil oozes out and is cooked well. Then add the cooked Bengal gram and mix very well. Now add 1/2 cup of water to it and allow it to boil. Then cover it and cook it on high flame till the water reduces to half by this the chana will absorb the spices and will taste much better. Once done transfer it to a big bowl.

Then add all the chopped veggies to it followed by the spices roasted cumin powder, chaat masala, black salt, black pepper powder, red chili flakes, chopped green chilies, and lime juice according to your taste and mix really well. Your kala chana chaat is ready to be served. Serve hot along with some papad or paapdi or sev if you like.
Make it and enjoy it with your loved ones.
Happy Cooking😊