CHANNA CHAT/ALOO CHOLAY

Assalam o alaikum everyone:)
Long time and no posts,i apologize.Since i got back from my vacations, life has been very hectic.Its been close to impossible to update the blog.but now that i a am free ,how about one of my all time fav dishes....
street food in Pakistan is just incredible.All the aromas and flavors are such a delight for some one like me(i am a self proclaimed street food addict).But the one treat that i always like to have on a trip to a food stall is Channa chat :)

It is a dish that is made of Chick peas and it tastes incredible.Now the variety that you get at your local food stall , food court or hotel comes with an array of chutneys and dressings.But i like mine not too complicated. so this recipe is just for the basic Channa chat.If you want to add any chutneys,yogurt, or garnishing... (feel free to do so:)
Ingredients:
Chick Peas: 1 cup presoaked  overnight
Potatoes: 2 (medium) cut in cubes
Garam masala: Includes 1 cinnamon stick, 4-5 cloves, 1 tsp zerra ,4-5 black pepper corns, 2 black cardamoms.
Salt: 1 1/2 tbsp
Chilli powder: 2 tbsp
Ginger garlic paste: 2 tsp
Water: 3-4 cups.
Method:
1. In a pressure cooker,add the pre soaked and drained chick peas.Add in 3 cups of water,salt,chilli powder,all the garam masala, along with the ginger garlic paste.


2. Bring to a boil.
3.Close the pressure cooker for 30 min.
4. Open the cooker.Take a wooden spoon and mix the chick peas vigorously for 2-3 min. (this helps the skin on the chick peas to seperate, which really helps bring the flavor out and also allows the the chick peas to cook thoroughly.

5.Add in the potatoes.Add another glass of water , bring to a boil and close the cooker again for 30 min.

6.After 30 min open the cooker and allow the mixture to simmer.Reduce the gravy as mich as you like.I like mine with a bit of gravy so i dont reduce it too much.Some people want no gravy so they simmer it until no gravy is left. depends totally on your preference.
7.Last thing to do is to taste the salt and your channa chat is ready. Put in a bowl.Sprinkle chat masala over it.Put some papri (Papri can be bought from the market or made at home.its easy.Will try to put up a recipe for it soon)
                                                                           Papri
8.Garnish with thinly sliced onions(i cant stress the "thinly" part enough.Its very hard to eat big chunks of onion and it ruins the whole dish.It would be better if you slice them in the beginning and soak in ice water , some sweet white vinegar and a tsp of salt for a few hours) and mint leaves which have been finely chopped as well.
9.The aroma the is produced when you put onions and mint on piping hot chat can not be described in words ;)

10. Use what ever chutney you like.
Till next time .....