Greens with Beans ..... Chole Palak or Spinach cooked with Garbanzo Beans

'Beta bade hoke tum kya banoge' (What do you aspire to become when you grow up) is one of the favorite questions adults ask kids. I am sure each one of you would have answered this question n number of times till you actually figured out what you wanted out of life. And I am in that phase of life where I ask this to kids around me ... and most times I am amused by their innocence.

I remember someone asking this to my little sister when she was a five year old. She promptly replied 'Traffic Pulish'. For a second there was silence in the room ....Maa was shocked. That was the last thing she would have wanted her daughter to become. May be she had expected something like a doctor or a pilot. Guess that is the most favorite and popular thing kids say. But 'Traffic Pulish' was the least expected one. 'Traffic Pulish is so powerful ..... he can stand in the middle of the road and with a wave of hand the entire traffic comes to a halt', she explained to Maa. The entire room broke into laughter. Well she really didn't grow up to be one but that was her first aspiration !!

Ok but I thought I was the smarter one !! So like every kid I wanted to become a doctor. My Aunt had also gifted me a plastic medical kit on my birthday. I would stand in front of the mirror with a pink stethoscope hanging around my neck and pretend like I was talking to a patient. But soon I managed to find a scapegoat ... it was Rani, out domestic help. Playing doctor-doctor was my favorite pass time. I would ask Rani to open her mouth. I would check her temperature using the Pink thermometer. I would scribble on pieces of papers with illegible writings and prescribe her medicines.Little did I know that becoming a doc was no child play. Not until I decided to write the medical entrance ...... and sure I failed miserably !!

But like always I had my plan B ready. Failure was never an option for me.

But that was that !! I had almost forgotten about it till I hanged out with a bunch of kids this weekend. 'Sweetie Pie what is that you want to become when you grow up' I asked a cutie. ' Miss Universe' she said batting her eye lids and running her tiny fingers through her silky hair. And there was another brat who screamed ' Fire Fighter'. Another one wanted to become a truck driver. And yes there was a doctor too !!

Ok, now coming to the recipe ... I make this 'Chole Palak' often.I have discovered that Palak tastes good when cooked with any pulses.

Preparation Time - 20 minutes

Serves 2

Ingredients

Boiled Chole/ Garbanzo Beans - 1 Cup (You can soak and pressure cook it with a little salt added or use the tinned ones)

Chopped Spinach/ Palak - 2 cups

Chopped Onions - 1/2 cup

Minced Garlic - 1 tbsp

Minced Ginger - 1 tsp

Tomato - 1 pureed

Garam Masala powder - 1 tsp

Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp (per taste)

Turmeric Powder - 1 pinch

Butter - 1 tsp

Salt per taste

Oil for cooking

Method of Preparation

1 Heat about 1 tbsp of oil in a wok. When warm add ginger to it and fry for a minute. Add the minced garlic and keep stirring it else the garlic will get burnt. Add the finely chopped onions to it and saute till the onion is mushy and there is no raw smell.

2 Add the tomato puree, turmeric and red chili powder and mix well. Saute for 2 minutes.

3 Add the chopped spinach to it and mix well. Cook for 3 minutes.

4 Mix the boiled garbanzo beans/ chole and stir in. Add 1/2 a cup of water.

5 Add garam masala and let the curry simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.

6 Top it with some butter and remove from heat.

Serving Tips

Serve warm with any flat bread or rice

Notes

You may add more spinach if you want.

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