Fresh Green Chana & Paneer Curry, Choliya Paneer

          Winter is when we get fresh green peas, avarekalu, fresh green chana/choliya, red carrots in India and I love all of these vegetables. Fresh chana/chickpeas is not available as easily as the other ones, so when I see some, I buy them immediately. Last week I bought some and instead of doing the regular curry with it, I browsed and noted down a few recipes to try out with it and first in line is this Choliya Paneer, a simple and delicious curry with green chana and paneer. The curry turned out super good and tasted excellent with rotis and I am sure that it would go well as a side with pilafs and other rice dishes, do try this curry when you find some fresh green chana in the market..

Need To Have

• Fresh Green Chana/Chickpeas Peeled - 1/2 cup
• Paneer - 100 gm
• Sesame Seeds - 1 tablespoon
• Tomato - 1 medium, chopped
• Onion - 1 small, chopped
• Garlic - 2 cloves, chopped
• Ginger - 1/2" piece, chopped
• Green Chilly - 1. chopped
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Red Chilly Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Coriander Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Garam Masala - 1/4 teaspoon
• Cumin Seeds - 1/4 teaspoon
• Chopped Coriander - 1 tablespoon
• Salt to taste

Original recipe here

Method

          I have shown the fresh green chana in the picture, pop and peel the outer skin, wash and your green chana is ready to use.

          Slice the paneer, toast it in a little oil, remove and keep them in hot water till we add it to the curry.

          Dry roast the sesame seeds, remove, grind it with the tomato, onion, garlic, ginger and green chilly and keep.

          Heat some oil, add the cumin seeds, once starts sizzling, reduce the heat completely, add the turmeric, red chilly and coriander powders and mix, then immediately add the ground paste. Saute it well till the raw smell goes away, then add the green chana.

          Add salt and about 1/2 cup of water, cover and cook till the chana gets cooked. Add the paneer pieces and garam masala. mix and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, garnish with coriander leaves and switch off.

Note
Keeping the paneer pieces in hot water, keeps it soft.
The above quantity serves 2 people.
While toasting the sesame seeds, once it starts popping, cover and reduce the heat, so that it doesn't spatter all over.