Amritsari chana masala

When the name of a dish means something to a non-native speaker, you know it is special. Although chickpea curries abound in many regions across India, this famous version hails from Amritsar. The city is best known for its very beautiful Sikh Golden Temple, but also for the truly delicious food. Even the vegetables there have so much flavour because – it is claimed – the local water itself is sweet and tasty. Chickpea curry is the city’s iconic dish, finished with a knob of local white butter, red onions and julienned ginger and served with their famous stuffed bread. It is a fabulous combination… but I can tell you from experience that this curry is equally delightful with lightly buttered brown toast.