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Chickpea Curry with Mustard Paste, Besan ki Machhli

This is a very popular vegetarian curry from Bihar and Jharkhand region. This Chickpea curry with Mustard Paste is popularly known as Besan ki Machhli.
Machhli in Hindi means fish. A base of yellow mustard paste is the key ingredient for this cuisine and the same base is normally used for fish curry. Hence the name Machhli.
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Soaking Time 5 hrs
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4
Calories 177 kcal

Equipment

  • Vitamix Blender

Ingredients
  

To Grind to Paste

  • 4 tbsp yellow mustard seeds. soaked overnight or at least for 4-5 Hours.
  • 2 Nos Green Chillies
  • 3 Cloves Garlic. Large Cloves.
  • 1 inch Fresh turmeric. Can use 1 tsp turmeric powder as a substitute.
  • ¼ cup water

For making Chilla or Pancake

  • 1 cup chickpea flour. Sieve to prevent lumps.
  • 1 tbsp Garlic. finely chopped or grated.
  • 1 tsp Green Chilli finely chopped.
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¾ cup water. add more water if required.

For Gravy

  • 1 tbsp mustard oil
  • 1 tsp Black Mustard Seeds.
  • 2 Nos Dry Red Chillies.
  • 1 cup Tomatoes. Finely chopped. You can use 1 tbsp of Dry mango Powder as a substitute.
  • 1 tbsp coriander powder.
  • 2 tbsp coriander leaves.
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions
 

Prepare Paste

  • Add all ingredients for paste to a small blender jar.
  • Add approx 1/4 cup water or more if required. Make a fine paste and keep aside.

Prepare Chilla /Pancake

  • Mix all ingredients of Pancake along with water and form a smooth batter.
  • Heat a Pan. Pour about 1/4 cup of Batter and make small Pancakes.
  • Drizzle few drops of oil. If using a Non stick Pan then you may not have to add any oil.
  • Cook only on one side. Fold from both sides and slightly cook on both sides.
  • Prepare pancakes with entire batter. This quantity will yield about 7 pancakes.
  • Cut each pancakes into 4 pieces and keep aside.

Prepare Gravy

  • Heat a Pan and add mustard oil.
  • Add mustard seeds.
  • Once Mustard crackles, add dry red chillies.
  • Add the prepared paste of mustard and saute for about 10 minutes.
  • Then add coriander powder.
  • Add chopped Tomatoes. You can use Dry mango powder as a substitute.
  • Cook till tomatoes turn soft.
  • Add 1 tsp of salt.
  • Add 2 cups of water.
  • Allow the gravy to boil.
  • When it boils, add prepared pancake pieces.
  • Turn off flame immediately.
  • sprinkle fresh coriander leaves.
  • Serve with hot steamed rice.
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