Business Fit Magazine November 2018 Issue 1 | Page 48

Spice It Up
Chana
Bhaji:
Ideal for after
a workout
Sarah Ali Choudhury
As someone who is a real foodie and the line of
business I am in, and with my hectic lifestyle of
being a mum to four children I regularly find myself
overeating, putting on weight and finding it difficult
to shed. I have decided to put my food column to
great use and use this as an opportunity to work
alongside my readers to challenge myself to get to
my optimum weight. You can join in too!!
For my article in this issue I am going to
introduce you to a really healthy recipe, my
Chana Bhaji (Chick Peas and also known as
Garbanzo beans). A really quick and easy recipe
that can be eaten ideally after a workout.
Just eating healthy food
isn't enough we also need
to encourage movement
Chick Peas have been used as part of certain
traditional diets for over 7500 years and is one
of the oldest consumed crops in the world. It is
now one of the most popular legumes across
every continent. Chana Bhaji
What’s so great about Chick
Peas? Ingredients
They are high in fibre, they provide healthy
vitamins and minerals including zinc and folate,
they protect against cancer and heart disease,
they provide slow releasing carbohydrates,
they boost digestion and they help with weight
loss.
As a plant-based protein, they are low in
calories and because they also contain starch
they are known as a "good carb".
In my recipe I have used a can of chick peas,
but if you have dried chick peas these can be
soaked overnight prior to cooking because this
makes them more digestible. Although dried
chick peas hold more texture than recooked
varieties they tend to hold the same nutrition
value but make sure you purchase the BPA-
free varieties.
Avoid eating raw chick peas as they are difficult
to digest.
Chick peas are so versatile you can roast
them, add them to salads and soups, they
can be pureed to make delicious and smooth
humous.
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Here is my very own Chana Bhaji recipe. This
recipe was used as part of BBC IPlayer Radio's
Vegetarian week and this particular dish is
also suitable for Vegans. If you want to hear it
being cooked you can search it up on Kitchen
Garden on BBC IPlayer Radio.
and activity.
2 tbsp vegetable oil (or olive oil)
2 x echallion shallots,
2 x garlic gloves, crushed
½ tbsp. coriander powder
½ tbsp. cumin powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder
1 tin of chickpeas
1 green chilli, cut with a single slit
Approx. half a cup of water
½ tsp salt (or to taste)
A small handful of fresh coriander,
washed and chopped
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