Hara Chana (Green Whole Bengal Gram) Salad.

“Hara Chana (Green Whole Bengal Gram) Salad” … A simple, healthy, nutritious and delicious salad that can be relished as it is for dinner or with some roti, you can also serve it as an accompaniment with other dishes in combo meals … Yummilicious … 

** Salads are a must in most of the homes specially in my home in the recent years. A little bit of salad served as a side dish goes a long way in promoting good health and filling up the stomach. Salads are loaded with health benefits, less in calories, provided they are prepared in a healthy manner. There are various combinations of salads that can be prepared and I have already included many in the Blog. Just search salad option and you will get them in plenty. Simple onion or tomato onion tossed salad is one of my hubby’s favorite salad. He can polish off the whole bowl himself. He also loved boiled chana / whole Bengal grams and always loves to eat them as it is when I pressure cook them. 

** Recently I had bought some dried green Bengal grams and wanted to added them to the salad as it tastes crunchy and yumz. Here is the simple salad, the only hitch here is it cannot be prepared instantly as you need to soak them overnight or for at least 6-8 hours, pressure cook and then use them. But it is worth the effort as it tastes awesome and they are also full of protein. Do try this out and if you are a working women like me all you need to do is soak it in the morning before you rush of to work and pressure cook it in the evening when you return home and you have a nice accompaniment to be served with roti or khichidi. It is simply awesome. You can add in a little bit of beaten curd if desired, but personally I will not recommend that as this tastes better with a dash of lemon. 

** Here is the simple method of preparing "Hara Chana (Green Whole Bengal Gram)" Salad, My Style ......

** Ingredients : 

Green Bengal Gram / Chana : 1 cup 

Tomatoes : 2 large sized 

Onion : 1 large sized or 2 medium 

Green Chillies : 3 less spicy one’s. 

Hinga Uddaka / Asafoetida water : 1 tsp 

OR 

Hing / Asafoetida Powder 

Lemon : ½ of small sized lemon. 

Coconut : 2 tblsp freshly grated (Optional) 

Coriander leaves : 1 tsp finely chopped. 

Salt to taste 

** Wash and soak Green Bengal Gram / Chana in plenty of water overnight or for at least 6-8 hours. 

** Remove, wash well and put the soaked green grams into a pressure cooker pan along with enough water, say about an inch above the level of the gram and pressure cook to 3-4 whistles on medium heat. 

** When the pressure from the cooker falls on its own, Open the lid, let the chana completely cool. Drain off the cooked water. Keep it aside and do not discard it, you can prepare saar out of the same. Sharing the link to the saar at the bottom of this recipe. 

** Wash and wipe the tomatoes and chop them finely into small pieces. Keep it ready aside. 

** Peel off the skin off the onions and chop them also into fine pieces. Keep it ready aside. 

** Cut the green chillies into medium sized pieces giving them slightly slant cuts and keep it ready aside. 

** Put the chopped tomatoes, onions, grated coconut (optional), cooked chanas and green chillies in a bowl. Squeeze out the juice of half a lemon into it. Add salt to taste and the hing water / powder along with the finely chopped coriander leaves and toss the salad with the help of a large fork / spoon to mix well and your fresh and healthy salad is ready. 

** “Hara Chana (Green Whole Bengal Gram) Salad” is done and ready to be served. Serve this as an accompaniment with any spicy curry and pulav or any other dishes of your choice. It goes very well with any dish. You can also prepare this and store in fridge for later use, remains well for 12 hours. 

** Given below is the link for for preparing the "Chana Kokum Saar" with the cooked chana water ... http://gayathrifoodbytes.blogspot.in/2014/12/chane-saru-black-chana-saar.html

** An Earnest Request : There are many more recipes of different types in the blog. For all my Recipes, use the search option or the label section in the Blog. If you are still not able to find it or have a query, please leave a message in comment section or mail me the same. I will try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Do try out various types of dishes included in the Blog and Enjoy them with your family and friends and do give me a feedback if possible. 

** I am happy to inform you that I have also started a food group for by the name "KONKANI DELICACIES" which is over and year old, with about 19K strong members. It is a pleasure to inform that you will find in the group many more recipes posted by our expert members and you too can share some of your own. The link to the group is posted on the left side of the blog page. Do join us in our culinary journey. I strongly believe in Sharing and always endorse that "Sharing Is Caring" … Thank You ….