Fresh Garbanzo Beans Salad

I have used garbanzo beans/ kabuli channa/ channa/chole forever.  I just never ever thougt about where it came from.  I had also never seen fresh garbanzo beans until a few years ago.  My Indian store carries it occasionally and the first time I bought it and tried it out, I loved it!

The beans are so fresh and tasty that it seemed criminal to smother it with too many masalas and competing flavors.  I only make this as a salad so that the flavor of the beans is not lost.  I love opening the pods to find the beans inside - kind of therapeutic, to shell garbanzo bean pods on a weekend afternoon. 

 

Here is what you need:

• 2 cups fresh garbanzo beans (after shelling)
• ½ cup red onion, chopped
• 1 roma tomato, chopped
• 2 green chilies, minced
• ½ tsp. red chili powder
• ½ tsp. coriander powder
• ½ tsp. cumin powder
• salt to taste
• juice of 1 lime
• cilantro for garnish

Here is how I made it:

1. Put the fresh garbanzo beans in a pot with water.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 5 - 8 minutes till the beans are cooked.
2. Drain these and place in a bowl.
3. Mix the remaining ingredients with the beans.

Serve as a salad or a snack, with some sev sprinkled on top.