I love this recipe, chickpeas in a tomato sauce. It can be spiced in any way you like, with whatever you have, and served with fresh cooked, fluffy nan – nomnom as a friend says

Chole & Nan

• • 125g dried chick peas
  • 70g onion, chopped
  • Half a tin of tomatoes, 200g
  • 10g sugar
  • Tblsp vegetable oil

For the Nan

• 60ml milk
• 125g self raising flour
• Tsp sugar
• Pinch of salt
• Tblsp spread

1. First of all, make the nan. These really need to rest for at least an hour to get that doughy nan texture. If you make and eat them straight away, they will still taste good, but they will be  more cakey.
2. Stir all the nan ingredients together and give it all a good knead. Place in an oiled bowl and leave to prove for an hour.  Punch down and divide into 2. Roll out into nan shapes.
3. When you are ready to eat, pre-heat grill to high and place each nan on the grill pan and grill until it puffs and there are some brown spots. No need to turn over. Brush with the spread and serve straight away.
4. I love these nan, they look, to me at any rate, very authentic, and taste fab
5. Soak the dried chick peas over night and cook them the next day for about 45 minutes until very soft. This can be done in a slow cooker for fuel efficiency, you could even put them in from dried and slow cook them overnight. Or if you have a pressure cooker, I tend to do mine, from dry, in there, on full pressure for 45 minutes. Or you could cook them when you have time and freeze them for when you need them.  Or if needs must, you could use a tin.
6. Heat the oil in a pan, add the onion and fry until softened. Mix in the tomatoes and chick peas and simmer until you have a thick paste.
7. Serve with the nan

Makes 2 portions

Variations

There are no spices in this recipe as we have none in the shopping list, but if you have some available, this is the recommended blend. Add ½ tsp fine chopped fresh ginger,  ½ tsp turmeric, pinch chilli, fat clove garlic finely chopped, a clove, pinch garam masala, and a little fresh, chopped, coriander sprinkled over at the end

A mixture of any of these, depending on what is in your cupboard would all work well, or indeed, any spices that you have will add interest

• Per serving, including nan
• Calories  600, Protein   22, Fat 13, Carbohydrate 97
• Cost       27p per serving, including nan

This is from Meal Plan 1, a complete 7 day plan for 2 adults. Contains 3 meals a day, plus snacks, all recipes and a shopping list

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