Black Bengal Gram in Bengali & Indian Cooking Explained

Black Bengal Gram is something which actually kills hunger in a healthy way. It is considered one of the backbones of Indian protein containers in the Indian pulses.

The chickpea is a having three pods or two pods within which is having blue, violet and pink color. It grows upto 20 to 50 cm.

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Uses of Black Bengal Gram in Bengali & Indian Cooking

You can choose Black Bengal Gram within dried forms, it is the same for both Black Chana and Kabuli Chana. In India there are two varieties of chana available one is Kabuli chana and another one is Kala Chana.

It is also known as Egyptian pea, garbanzo bean and garbanzo. In our country it is known as Kadale in Kannada, Kadala in Malayalam, Senagalu in Telugu and Kondaikadali in Tamil.

North Indians also love chole masala on various occasions. In Bengal it is mainly used in boiled or steamed form to have different types of snacks.

Wet Kala Chana:

You can soak the chickpea and then have it like a snack or use it as a snack item.

Deep-Fried Kala Chana:

You can simply fry the kala chana with onions and tomatoes by adding some lemon and salt.

Slightly Roasted Kala Chana:

You can simply roast the soaked black chickpea with some lemon and salt.

Boiled Steamed Kala Chana:

You can soak the chickpea and then fry it with onions and tomatoes with some lemon and salt.

Black Gram Flakes:

You can get this in stores. This is exactly like cornflakes and it is a good snack.

Black Gram Salad:

You can soak the kala chana and then boil it with a little bit of salt. Then in a bowl add the boiled chana, sliced onions, green chilies, tomatoes, black salt and lemon juice.

You can add chopped boiled potatoes and a little bit of peanuts. Garnish it with fresh green corianders.

Black Gram Kabab:

You can soak the kala chana and then boil it with a little bit of salt. Then make a fine paste of it. Add a little bit of boiled potatoes, sliced onions, green chilies, tomatoes, black salt, garam masala, ginger – garlic paste and lemon juice and smash it together.

Add a little bit of oil in the pan and stir fry everything very nicely. You need to make small kebab patties and keep it for sometime. Then just keep it over the “tawa” and toast it one by one.

What Can Be Made from Black Bengal Gram?

You can make Kala Chana curry by simply soaking the chana overnight or 3 to 4 hours. Then in a pressure cooker you can simply add some oil, sliced onions, garlic and green chilies fry it.

Then add some tomatoes and salt with turmeric. Stir fry everything and add the chana and two or three cups of water. Then pressure cook it for 15 mins and it will be ready.

Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. You can also make different types of salads, snacks and even try chana flakes.