Festivals (eatout) / Chhole

eatout :

Festivals (hyderabad) ****
Dinner for two : Rs200-300

"Festivals" is a Vegetarian restaurant on Road No 10, Banjara Hills and its discovery was of that kind called serendipity. But once discovered, its a place worth recommendation.

Its a nice, cozy place to wrap up in and it doesn't have the clutter of "Chutneys". The interiors have a soothing, blended lighting style and one of the walls is done in an innovative way - masts and sails of ships against a white background. The service is prompt and the people very courteous. And the food is the best part of it all. The kebabs are brilliant and the "kathi roll" is a must pick. There are a million different variety of rotis on offer and the sarson-ka-saag, makkki-ki-roti combination would make an ideal dinner order. And all these, without burning a hole in your pocket.

-arundhoti banerjee

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"Chhole"

Ingredients:

• 1 teacup kabuli channas
• 2 chopped onions
• 2 potatoes
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons dhana-jira powder
• 2 tablespoons chilli powder
• 1 tablespoon amchur power
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• ½ teaspoon soda bi-carb
• ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
• 3 tablespoons ghee
• salt to taste
• Slices of tomatoes and ginger, chopped coriander and a few whole green chillies for decoration.

Procedure:

• Soak the channas for at least 6 hours
• Add ½ teaspoon of soda bi-carb and cook in a pressure cooker
• Cut the potatoes and tomatoes into big pieces
• Heat the ghee in a vessel and fry the potatoes until soft
• Remove the potatoes. In the same ghee add the onions and cook for a little time.
• Add the dhana-jira and chilli powder and fry again.
• Add the boiled channas and salt.
• After 5 minutes, add the garam masala, amchur and black pepper powder and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the potatoes and tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.
• Decorate with coriander, chillies and slices of tomatoes and ginger.

- foodbuff