How to Make Perfect Chana Masala Powder?

Chana Masala Powder is a classic seasoning commonly used in dishes containing Chana (chickpeas).

It provides a well-balanced combination of rich, warm, and earthy spices to give Chana Masala a genuine flavor. A modest amount of the Chana Masala Powder will add a well-balanced aroma and flavor to your home-cooked meals.

Where Can I get Chana Masala Powder?

You can buy different brands of Chana Masala Powder from a departmental store. Mostly, their taste depends on the ingredients they use.

However, you can also prepare this sizzling Masala at your house with the right ingredients and some effort. The homemade Masala Powder flavor can make your food taste at another level.

I always prepare this Masala at home and believe me when I say that this homemade version smells amazing, tastes amazing, and is far superior. I’ve tried it a couple of times, and I absolutely love it. The best part is that it only takes a few minutes to prepare!

How to Make Chana Masala Powder at Home?

Ingredients for dry roasting

Two tablespoons of cumin seeds (jeera)

3 black cardamom (Nepali Alainchi / Thulo Sukumel / Badi Elaichi)

5 to 7 cloves (lavang)

6 to 8 green cardamoms (sukumel / hari elaichi)

Two tablespoon coriander seeds (dhania seeds)

1-inch piece of cinnamon (dalchini)

One tablespoon black peppercorns (marich / kalimirch)

2 medium-sized bay leaves (tej patta)

One small size nutmeg (jaiphal)

4 to 6 dry red chilies

1/4 teaspoonful fenugreek seeds (methi)

Two teaspoonful carom seeds (jwano)

Other Ingredients

One tablespoon red chili powder

Half tablespoon black salt

One tablespoon dry mango powder (amchoor)

Instruction for Making Chana Masala Powder 

1. First, Take a heavy-bottomed pan or an iron griddle and heat it in medium flame. Then, add the dry red chilies and roast them on low flame for about two minutes. Stir the dry chili continuously to avoid burning.
2. After that, add the coriander seeds to the pan and saute the seeds in low flame.
3. Then add the bay leaves and roast them for 1 minute.
4. Next, add the cumin seeds, black cardamom, cloves, green cardamoms, cinnamon, black peppercorns, nutmeg, and fenugreek seeds in the pan and saute all these spices in low heat for 1 minute. Take precautions to prevent them from burning.
5. Place the roasted vegetables on a plate. Allow cooling completely before transferring to an electric mixer.
6. Once they are cooled, place the roasted spices in a grinder.
7. Then, add the red chili powder, black salt, and dry mango powder to the grinder together with the roasted ingredients. Blend them to a fine powder.
8. Finally, store the obtained homemade Masala Powder in a clean air-tight jar. You can store one batch for up to 6 months.

Your homemade Chana Masala Powder is now completely ready. You can use one tablespoon of the Masala when preparing Chana curry.

Some Additional Tips & Tricks

1. If you are preparing more than 200 grams of Masala Powder, then roast all the ingredients separately to roast all the spices evenly.
2. Use the green cardamoms and black cardamoms without peeling their skin since they are extremely fibrous.
3. The recipe prepared in this article yields a mildly spicy Punjabi Chana Masala Powder. If you like a spicy flavor, raise the quantity of dried red chilies used.
4. Do not overcook the ingredients, as it can lead to the burning of ingredients. Only 1-2 minutes of roasting is sufficient to bring out the smell of the ingredients.
5. To preserve the Chana Masala Powder, store them in a dry, clean, sealed bottle. Only use a clean, dry spoon to apply as needed. It keeps nicely at room temperature for months; however, I recommend using it sooner rather than later.

Is Chana Masala Powder Healthy?

Yes, Chana Masala powder is healthy for your health if it is fresh and used appropriately. Some key benefits of this Masala are as follows:

1. Adds Flavor to the Chana Curry

Chana Masala Powder provides fragrance and a pleasant and unique flavor to foods. As Chana curry is a famous dish in Nepal and is easy to prepare, this Masala can easily raise the taste of the curry.

2. Strengthens Immunity

This Masala Powder consists of cinnamons and cloves. These two spices boost your immune system and prevent you from harmful pathogens. Likewise, other ingredients in the Masala possess anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities, which assist in enhancing the body’s immunity amid weather changes.

3. Digestion

Chana Masala Powder promotes the secretion of gastric acids in the stomach, which stimulates hunger and aids digestion. Likewise, this masala Powder stimulates the production of digestive enzymes, which aid in the breakdown of food. Cloves and cumin in it aid in reducing indigestion, and cloves also help to avoid acidity.

4. Fights Bad Breath

Chana Masala has an abundance of cloves and cardamom, making it good for combating foul breath.

Hence, if you’re searching for ways to improve the taste of the Chana curry, you can try this nutritious and tasty Chana Masala Powder recipe. I bet you won’t regret it.

Thank you for your time.