Kala Chana & Brown Rice Kebab

Kebab, the word itself tantalizes my taste buds, every time I hear it. Whether grill it, bake it or fry it... it just melts in the mouth. The word kebab is derived from an Arabic word 'Cabob' which means to burn or char. They are one of the most popular grills around the world. In India, kebab has been a symbol of opulence. Most of the famous kebabs originated in the Royal kitchens. Today it has transformed into a common street food. So I thought why not try my hand at making kebabs today. Kala chana or brown chick peas is supposed to be very healthy and nutritive. What better than having a royal dish served in the most healthiest way possible.

                Kala chana kebabs are supposed to be very dry. So you can add more of thick yoghurt or even a tablespoon of cheese spread to make it moist. But make sure the dough is not loose. Otherwise you might have to add in more bread crumbs to lock in the moisture.

Kala Chana and Brown Rice Kebab

Ingredients:

2 cup kala chana soaked and pressure cooked

1 cup cooked brown rice

1/2 cup brown bread crumbs

1 inch piece ginger chopped

3-4 cloves garlic

2tbsp yoghurt

Salt to taste

1tsp red chilli powder

1tsp dhaniya powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

2 green chillies

1 lemon juice

1/4 bunch coriander

To be served with:

Onion slices mixed with salt, red chilli powder and sash of lemon juice

Mint Chutney

Lemon wedge

Mango Salsa

Method: Coarsely grind kala chana, brown rice, green chillies, ginger, garlic and coriander together. Remove in a bowl. Add all the other ingredients and mix well. The mixture would resemble a hard dough. Now make patties and shallow fry in a pan using oil till brown and crisp on both sides. Serve with mango salsa, onions, lemon and mint chutney.

Note: Can substitute cooked brown rice with boiled and mashed potatoes.

Grilled Mango Salsa

Ingredients:

1 raw mango cut in horizontal strips

1 onion chopped

1 tomato chopped

1 capsicum chopped

1 green chilli chopped

Salt to taste

1 lemon juice

Method: Take a grilling pan and grill the mango slices using little oil on both sides till the grill marks are visible. Be careful as the mangoes grill very fast and become soft and mushy. Remove in a plate and cut in small cubes. Mix all other ingredients and let it sit for a while till all the flavors blend together. Serve with kebabs or as a side dish.