Palak Channa: Spinach & Chickpeas

I finally purchased Raghavan Iyer's 660 Curries and I've been waiting to get this book for a long time! Actually, my mom gave me the money to buy whatever I wanted for my birthday and this is what I chose :) I really love his recipes as I already have one of his other books. I decided to make this recipe for Palak Hara Chana, though I did some variations as I didn't have all of the ingredients.

Oh, and pardon the picture... I almost forgot to take one and had already started eating, so I quickly snapped a pic!

Ingredients:

• 2 cans chickpeas, or 1 cup dry soaked overnight and cooked
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon black mustard seed
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1/2 teaspoon ajwain
  
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar (or jaggery, crumbled)
• salt, to taste
• 8 ounces fresh spinach, washed and chopped or 1 package (8 - 10 ounces) frozen spinach
• 2 teaspoons cumin/coriander powder
• 1 medium lime, juiced (or 1 teaspoon tamarind concentrate)

Method:

Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the mustard seeds, cover, and cook until seeds stop popping. Sprinkle in the cumin seeds and ajwain and cook until they sizzle and turn reddish brown, 5 to 10 seconds.

Add the onion and fry until it is light brown around edges, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ground chili powders and turmeric and cook without burning, about 5 to 10 seconds. Pour in 2 cups water and stir in sugar and salt. Bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until half the liquid has evaporated, 15 to 20 minutes.

Stir in the spinach and coriander/cumin powder. Cook until the spinach is warmed through and has turned olive green, about 5 minutes.

Add in cooked chickpeas and simmer over medium heat, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until chickpeas absorb the flavors, 20 - 25 minutes. If the sauce is too thin and you prefer it thicker, mash some of the chickpeas and simmer about 5 more minutes.

Add the lime juice (or tamarind) and stir. Serve and enjoy!

He was going crazy to try this and couldn't get enough! But he won't eat the meat from McDonald's ;)