Kala chana – Ashtami Prasad

Kala chana – Ashtami Prasad is a quick and easy meal that packs tons of flavors and is so simple, yet so tasty. Pair it with sweet semolina pudding and deep-fried pooris to make a lip-smacking meal!!

It’s again this time of the year when Navratri (festival of nine nights) is coming to an end and every household is prepping up for Ashtami or Navmi pujan. The eighth day of Navratri is celebrated as Durga Ashtami which also marks the end of fasting period for several devotees. On this day, devotees offer prayers to Goddess Durga and perform Kanchike or Kanjak. Kala chana – Ashtami Prasad

Kanjak means young girls within the age of birth – 9 years of age and these girls are ceremonially worshiped. This puja also referred to as Kanjak Pujan or Kanya pujan ( worshiping a girl child) and is celebrated either on Ashtami (the 8th day) or on Navmi (the 9th day) of Navratri .

Every family follows their own tradition as some worship ashtami and some do puja on Navami. North Indian families cook Ashtami prasad which mainly consist of dried Kala chana (black chickpeas), Sooji halwa and puri –  a delicious and favorite KANJAK food.

How Kanjak Pujan is done! Kala chana – Ashtami Prasad 

People welcome young girls in their house. 

• Wash their young feet,
• Apply kumkum on their forehead and
• Tie roli (a sacred thread) on their little hands.
• Perform the young girl’s aarti, touch their feet and seek their blessings.
• Then the girls are made to sit in a row and
• Later they are served kala chana – Ashtami Prasad
• When they are done eating and ready to leave people shower them gifts in form of money or toys. 

Durga Ashtami is the most auspicious day of the year and people celebrate it with great zeal and enthusiasm.

Now on to the recipe! 

Soak kale chole overnight. In the morning pressure cook for 8-9 whistles (it may take longer for some). Once chickpeas are thoroughly boiled and soft (as shown in the pic below) cook them in oil and mild spices.

From here on the recipe is straightforward and needs no fancy ingredients. Just the regular spices and a couple of tablespoons of oil and there you go – delicious and tasty sookhe kale chane are ready.

Feel free to add/delete spices to your liking. Adding a teaspoon of amchur (mango powder) will add some tanginess to this chana recipe. Since this prasad is consumed mostly by young girls I have skipped adding green chilies and cilantro but feel free to experiment.

Black chickpeas are extremely healthy as they are low in fat and high in dietary fiber. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals. It’s a great addition to your daily diet and it can be a fairly versatile recipe. 

If not using it as a prasad then add some chopped onions, green chilies, chopped cilantro, chaat masala and some sev and munch it as an evening snack with your tea.. yum yum yum…. This is what we relished as children and now my kids do the same with leftover Ashtami prasad 🙂

HAPPY ASHTAMI TO ALL OF YOU!! Enjoy ashtami prasad with Sooji ka halwa and Puri .

If you happen to make these then either drop me a line below or share your yum pictures with me on Facebook. Would love to see your creation!

Cheers!

Kala chana - Ashtami Prasad

Votes: 23 Rating: 4.13 You: Rate this recipe!

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Kala chana - Ashtami Prasad is a quick and easy meal that packs tons of flavors and is so simple, yet so tasty. Pair it with sweet semolina pudding and deep fried pooris to make a lip-smacking meal!!

Servings	Prep Time
6 PEOPLE	- OVERNIGHT

Cook Time

40 MINUTES

Servings Prep Time 6 PEOPLE - OVERNIGHT

Cook Time 40 MINUTES

Kala chana - Ashtami Prasad Votes: 23 Rating: 4.13 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe Kala chana - Ashtami Prasad is a quick and easy meal that packs tons of flavors and is so simple, yet so tasty. Pair it with sweet semolina pudding and deep fried pooris to make a lip-smacking meal!! Servings Prep Time 6 PEOPLE - OVERNIGHT Cook Time 40 MINUTES Servings Prep Time 6 PEOPLE - OVERNIGHT Cook Time 40 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 cup Black chana/chole
• 3/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Haldi (Turmeric powder)
• 1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• 1-2 teaspoon Coriander powder (sukha dhaniya)
• 3 tablespoon Oil
• 1 tablespoon Chopped cilantro leaves (optional)

CHANGE SERVING SIZE: PEOPLE

CHANGE UNITS:MetricUS Imperial

METHOD

1. Clean, wash and soak chana overnight.

   
2. By the morning they swell up and double in size. Drain them through a strainer. Wash again.

   
3. In a pressure cooker add chana along with water. Add salt and haldi, mix and close the lid.

   
4. Pressure cook for 8-9 whistles. Once the steam is out, open the cooker and check if chana is cooked.

   
5. For that spoon out some chana and press them between your fingers. If they mash up easily without pressing too hard - they are cooked. Set them aside.

   
6. Meanwhile assemble all the spices.

   
7. In a pan heat oil, add cumin seeds and

   
8. When they start to crackle add in all the spices one by one.

   
9. Carefully, add boiled chana to this pan.

   
10. Bring it to a boil till all the water has dried out.

    
11. Cooked chana. How to cook Prasad in an hour- Start by boiling chole first and while they are boiling, prepare sooji ka halwa. Meanwhile knead the dough for poori. When kale chole are done boiling and the whistle is out, prepare its tempering/tadka and finally add chole. While chole water is evaporating, I roll out and cook my pooris. This way all the work is done in 45 - 50 minutes.

    
12. Serve hot with poori and sooji halwa. Happy Astami!!

    

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