Crispy Chili Chana
Crisped to perfection and glazed with the most gorgeous Asian-inspired sauce, this Crispy Chili Chana with crunchy vegetables and chickpeas is the most delicious appetizer ever!! Packed full of dynamic flavors, it is the perfect bold appetizer to start off a dinner party!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cup chickpeas , canned or boiled
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tbsp rice flour
- 1 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 tsp chilli garlic sauce
- salt to taste
- oil for frying
Sauce
- 2 tbsp oil
- 3/4 tbsp garlic , minced
- 3/4 tbsp ginger , minced
- 1 tbsp celery , finely chopped
- 2 tbsp spring onions white , finely chopped
- 2 tbsp red onions , finely chopped
- 2 dry red chilli
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 tbsp chilli garlic sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp schezwan sauce
- 1 tsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce or honey
- 2 tbsp vegetable stock or water
- 1 tsp corn starch
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Vegetables
- 1/2 cup peppers (mixed colors), diced
- 1/2 cup red onions , chopped
- 3 tbsp spring onions , chopped
Instructions
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Open the cans and empty the chickpeas into a strainer.
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Rinse them with water and let them drain for 1-2 minutes.
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Spread the chickpeas on a kitchen towel for 5 minutes let all the excess water drain out. However, don’t let them dry out.
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Empty the chickpeas into a bowl and coat them with corn starch, rice flour, all purpose flour, chili garlic sauce, and a pinch of salt.
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Now, shallow fry the coated chickpeas until they are golden brown and crispy.
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Set them aside while the sauce is being made.
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In a saucepan on medium heat add oil, dried chilies, ginger, and garlic. Sauté them for 1-2 minutes and celery, tomato paste, and spring onions, and sauté for 2 more minutes.
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Add in the chili sauce, schezwan sauce, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, and sweet chili sauce. Cook for roughly 2-4 minutes on medium heat.
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Gradually add the corn starch into the vegetable stock and make a paste. Then, add this mixture to the saucepan and stir so that no lumps form. Keep stirring until it starts boiling. Your sauce is ready.
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Mix in the fried chickpeas, onions, peppers, and spring onions. Toss them lightly so that the vegetables remain crisp. Serve hot and enjoy this bold appetizer!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- You can also soak the chickpeas overnight and pressure cook them, instead of using canned chickpeas.
- For a party, you can fry the chickpeas and make the sauce a day before. Just bake the chickpeas for 15 minutes at 350F (or air fry) till they are crispy and then toss them with the sauce, peppers and onions before serving.