Chana in Walnut Cream is one interesting twist to your salad which not just makes your meal protein rich but also tasty. Now this Walnut cream can be used in any kind of salad where you typically want a mayonnaise substitute. I however loved it with Chana as lot. Also in this recipe we have soaked the nuts and that’s an important part of the recipe. I would suggest not to skip that step. Soaking helps in getting the creaminess and also enhances in better absorption of nutrition.
For reasons Chana in Walnut Cream was a fluke recipe which turned out well. Another important tip is to use fresh walnuts and not the ones which are stored for long as they tend to get bitter. However a good balance with garlic, salt and lemon helps to neutralise the earthy taste of walnut. This Chana in Walnut Cream recipe is a good way to use the walnut cream in sandwiches instead of spread.
Try this with beans of chickpeas too and you would enjoy it more. You can add some fresh basil leaves as a taste enhancer too in this recipe of Chana in Walnut Cream.If you ask me I enjoyed this with heat of green chilli and tanginess of lemon but that’s how I like my salads. You may want it with a hint of sweetness of honey too. Adding vegetables of your choice will only make it more colorful.
Channa in Walnut Cream
Ingredients
- 7 Walnuts
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 Green Chilli
- 2 tbsp Coriander Leaves
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 2 tbsp Hung Curd (Optional)
- 1 tsp Mixed Herbs
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 cup Boiled Channa
- 2 tbsp Chopped Tomatoes
- 2 tbsp Chopped Bell Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Instructions
Soak walnuts for 3-4 hours and then drain the water.
Take a mixer and add soaked walnuts, green chilli, garlic, salt and coriander and make a paste of it.
Add little hung curd and again pulse it. It should start turning into creamy sauce.
Now add little olive oil , more hing curd and black pepper and adjust the seasonings as per taste while pulsing again.
In a bowl take boiled channa and add this sauce with some mixed herbs , tomato and bell peppers and give it a gentle mix.
Adjust the seasonings like lemon juice, salt and black pepper at this point again before serving.
If you want a little contrasting flavour add a dash of honey too. But this is optional. For vegans you can skip hung curd in the recipe.