Chana Masala

Chana Masala

This North Indian/Pakistani dish was passed to me from my Norwegian roommate in Ireland (go figure). It has been a staple for me in my travels, since chickpeas are relatively easy to find in most places. If you are using dried chickpeas, be sure to soak them overnight, drain and soak again until you're ready to cook.

Ingredients:

Chickpeas (one/two cans, drained; or half a pack of dried, soaked as above)
Onion (halved and sliced)
Ginger (a good chunk, chopped or grated)
Garlic (to taste; 2-4 cloves)
Vegetable stock (about 2 pints)
Coriander seeds (2 tsp)
Cumin (2 tblsp)
Garam masala powder (same)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh coriander, to garnish
Fresh yoghurt, to garnish

Sautee the onion, half the ginger, garlic, and coriander seeds together in a dollop of extra virgin olive oil until onions are translucent, about 5-10 mins. Add the chickpeas, stir around for 3-5 mins. with salt and pepper, then add the stock. Season with the cumin & garam masala. Cook on a medium heat to reduce the liquid. You may have to add 1-2 pints of water as the dish cooks down. The chana is ready when the chickpeas 'burst' and are slightly mushy, split along the back, and the liquid is reduced. Garnish with fresh coriander and yoghurt. Suggested as an accompianment with short grain brown rice.

Workout Queen's Spicy Sauteed Garbanzos with Meat

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. ground beef 
  
• 1 tsp. plus 1 Tbl. extra virgin olive oil
  
• 1/2 tsp of your favorite meat seasoning
  
• 2 cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drain and save liquid 
  
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
  
• 1/2 tsp. ground chipotle chile powder, more or less to taste
  
• 1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
  
• salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  
• *optional: 1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish if desired
  

Directions:

1. Drain chickpeas and save the liquid.
   
2. Heat 1 tsp. olive oil in a large deep trying pan over high heat
3. Add ground beef, crumbling into pieces as you put it into the pan. Add seasoning.
4. As you cook the meat, make sure to break it up into small pieces.
5. When the meat is browning and is broken up, add the garbanzos. 
6. Keep the heat high, saute meat and garbanzos together until meat is well browned and garbanzos start to change to brown. (10-15 minutes depending on stove temperature. (if the mixture starts to stick turn down the heat a little.)
7. Add ground cumin, ground chile powder, and minced garlic. Mix it all around. 
8. Cook for about a minute more. 
9. Add garbanzo liquid now to the mixture. Scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any meat from the pan.
10. Season with salt and pepper, then reduce heat and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated (about 10-15 minutes)
11. Turn off heat and serve hot.
12. *optional: Stir in chopped cilantro and the 1 T olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Commentary:

I'm BAAAACKKK!! Yes, boys and girls...after just completing a half-marathon, I am back in action and ready to cook for YOU!! During my 8 weeks of training I was trying to figure out ways to give my body the proper nutrition it needs to be energized and ready for super-training action. So I read this book Food for Fitness: Eat Right to Train Right By: Chris Carmichael's, and if there is anything like a training BIBLE...this is it. If you're training hard, pick yourself up a copy because it really helped me to get to know what and how I should be eating, especially to replenish depleted carbs and proteins from my body. This recipe is perfect to boost up the carbs because of the garbanzos and has a great amount of protein as well. The ground beef is high in protein as well, so this meal is quite nutritious and I would eat it as a lunch (before working-out) or a dinner before a good training day to come. It's flavorful, tasty and gives your body what it needs to stay focused and motivated. Don't think I'm going to slack on you guys anymore, cause I'm definitely not! We are just at the beginning of a triathlon season, and it's time to get-in-SHAPE!!! (By the way, my camera broke, so sorry that my pictures are terrible) Comment and let me know what you think!