Buttery Chickpea Masala

I have made a version of this chickpea dish before. This time I added green peppers and went easy on the spices. The reference to "buttery" is because of the buttery color and flavor the grounded chickpeas add to the dish. Here are a few pictures of the preparation work and the recipe.

1 cup dry chickpeas, soaked overnight (will make roughly 2 cups when cooked)
4 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell peppers, chopped
2" piece ginger, grated
2 green chilies, minced
1 tsp cumin seeds
Pinch of asafoetida powder
1/2 tsp paneer masala powder
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp coriander powder
1 small lemon, juiced
1 tsp corn starch (mixed with 3 tsp water to make thin paste)
1/2 tsp sugar
Salt to taste
2 tbsp chopped cilantro

1.Soak dry chickpeas overnight. Next day, pressure cook chickpeas in enough water. Add a little pinch of salt to help chickpeas cook and cook the chickpeas until soft and tender. Once they cool down, grind 1/2 of the chickpeas into smooth paste and keep remaining whole.
2. Heat oil in pan. Add cumin seeds ands let them sizzle. When turning brown, add i nthe asafoetida powder. Then add the minced green chilies, ginger, garlic and onions. Sautee for few minutes until onions become translucent.
3. Add the green bell peppers next and cook them for few minutes until they turn soft.
4. Then add the chopped tomatoes, turmeric, coriander, red chili and paneer masala, and salt. Mix well and reduce heat. LEt tomatoes cook until they become soft and reduce down in size.
5. Now it's time for the chickpea paste and corn starch paste. Mix together and let cook on medium-low heat.
6. Finally, add in the whole chickpeas, sugar and lemon juice and cook for last few minutes.
7. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with parathas and spiced raita.

This meal is quite healthy, because chickpeas are a great source of protein.There's no butter or ghee involved because the chickpeas release their own natural buttery goodness. It tasted very delicious, and we both give it 4 Stars!