Chana saar upkari ( Black chikpeas curry)

Winter is around the corner. We all get craving for something hot when temerature starts dropping. Today's recipe is ideal for such situation.Chana saar upkari is a Konkani dish. Hot chana saar upkari along with rice is comfort food for all the konkanis around the world!! It is an awesome combination of soup like curry and  side dish made of black cheakpeas.

Ingredients:
1 cup black chana
3-4 green chillies
9-10 curry leaves
pinch of hing (asafoetida)
6-7 red chillies
1/4 cup of grated coconut
2 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tsp tamarind extract
4 tsp oil
1 tbsp ghee

Method:

1. Soak black chana overnight in water.
2. Add 4 cups of water in soaked chana and pressure cook them.
3. Retain the water used to cook chana. We are going to use this water to make saar. Take this water in vessel.
4. Grind together 5-6 red chillies, coriander seeds, 3 tbsp grated coconut, 2 tbsp cooked chana, tamarind extract by adding little water.
5. Add this masala in the water we have separated. Heat this till it boils. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Add salt to taste.
7. For seasoning, heat ghee in kadhai. When it is hot add 5-6 curry leaves and hing.
8. Add this seasoning to saar.

     For upkari:

1. Heat oil in kadhai. Add mustard seeds.
2. When mustard seeds spluter add green chillies, 1-2 red chillies.
3. Add curry leaves and hing. Fry for a minute.
4. Add cooked chana.
5. Add 2 tbsp grated coconut and salt to taste.
6. Add half cup of water and let upkari simmer for 5-10 minutes.
7. Switch of the heat when all water is evaporated.

Enjoy hot saar and upkari along with rice

Preparation time : 45 minutes