Description

Easy, one-pot Instant Pot chickpeas in a spicy sauce with brown rice (also known as chana masala) are perfect for a vegetarian or vegan dinner. Pressuring cooking garbanzo beans and brown rice at the same time make this a little-effort meal for the whole family. Gluten-free friendly.

Instructions

For the rice: In a 6 × 3 inch round baking pan, combine the rice, oil, salt, and water. Stir well to combine; set aside. (You do not need to cover.)
For the chickpeas: In a food processor, combine the onion, tomato, garlic, and ginger. Process until finely chopped. You could also do this by hand.
In the Instant Pot, combine the onion mixture, jalapeño, garam masala, chana masala spice blend, salt, turmeric, cayenne, chickpeas, and water. Stir to combine. Place a tall trivet in the pot over the chickpeas. Place the pot with the rice on the trivet.
Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure release valve or point to Sealing (depending on the model). Select MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK and set the pot at HIGH pressure for 30 minutes. At the end of the cooking time, allow the pot to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure by pointing the pressure release handle to Venting (known as a quick release).
Carefully remove the rice. Use the back of a spoon to mash half the chickpeas until thickened. Stir in the tamarind extract (or the substitute).
Serve the chickpeas with the rice. Garnish with cilantro, if using.

Notes

Soaking chickpeas for Instant Pot: Soak 1 cup dry chickpeas/garbanzo beans in 3 to 4 cups very hot water (preferably boiling water) for an hour. The beans will have plumped and absorbed almost all the water in this time. Drain and use as directed. This is what the author did for all the bean recipes in her book. The beans cook consistently with very little breaking. This is a great last-minute method.

Tamarin extract substitute: Combine lemon or lime juice with brown sugar to replace 1/6 of the amount of tamarind concentrate called for in your recipe. For instance, use 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to replace 1 teaspoon of tamarind concentrate.