Best 3 West Indian Style Channa Wrap Recipes

CHANNA (CURRIED CHICKPEA FILLING FOR ROTI)

Steps:

• Heat the oil or ghee in a skillet and saute the onions over medium high heat, stirring constantly, for about 6 minutes, or until they are golden brown. When the onions are almost done, add the garlic and saute 2 minutes more. Add the curry and amchar powders and stir for 1 minute.
• Transfer the onion mixture to a cast iron or other heavy pot and add the chickpeas. Stir over medium heat until chickpeas are coated with the spices and onions. Add 1 cup of water, the Scotch bonnet pepper and salt to taste; stir. Bring to a simmer, cover and let simmer over low heat for 1/2 hour. (If the mixture dries out, add a little more water; the finished channa should be slightly thicker than a thick bean soup.) Let cool for a few minutes before adding to the roti.

WEST INDIAN-STYLE CHANNA WRAP

Steps:

• In a deep skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until slightly soft, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, chili pepper and ginger, cook for about 2 minutes. Add the spices and salt, stir well. You'll end up with a paste.
• Add chick peas, plus enough water to barely cover (at least 3 cups). Bring to a lively simmer, then lower heat and cook at a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid evaporates, 50 to 60 minutes. You're looking for very soft chick peas with a thick gravy, not soup.
• Tast for salt and season accordingly.
• Place a few tablespoons of channa into warmed tortilla with any or all of the optional add-ons. The channa is also great over rice.
• Keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 5 days.
• NOTE: recipe wouldn't take 2 x 1 inch piece of ginger, or 8 tortillas, but those are the amounts.

TRINI CHANA AND ALOO

Steps:

• In a medium Dutch oven or heavy soup pot, add water to cover the chickpeas by 2 inches, and bring to a boil over high heat, skimming the foam, then lower to a simmer. Simmer for 45 to 60 minutes, until chickpeas are tender; drain, keeping the cooking water. (I like to use it later in the recipe; it's also a nice base for soups.)
• Meanwhile, purée the culantro and 1/3 cup water in a blender until smooth. Add a pinch of salt, the garlic and the chile. (Half a deseeded habanero will make the dish gently but noticeably hot. Adjust from there.) Blend until smooth. Stir the herb purée into the hot, drained chickpeas.
• Rinse and dry the pot. Peel the potato, and cut it into 3/4-inch chunks. In the pot, heat the oil over medium heat, add the curry powder and turmeric and stir, until very aromatic and just starting to darken. Carefully add the potatoes and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the chickpeas and cook, stirring, until you get a little sticking on the bottom of the pot, 3 to 5 minutes. Add a little water to scrape up the stuck parts, then add water to cover by 1/2 inch. (I use the chickpea cooking water, but Dolly Sirju prefers fresh water.) Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt.
• Bring the pot to a vigorous simmer, shy of a full boil, and cook until the potatoes are tender and the chickpeas are soft, about 30 minutes. Season with salt to taste. Chop some more culantro. Serve the curry with long grain white rice or roti, and garnish with chopped culantro.