This may be my favorite meal to cook and eat now since exploring/rediscovering Pakistani plant based meals.
Kaalay Channay, meaning black chickpeas, are so wholesome and make such a delicious broth. I loved eating this growing up and now it's become a staple and favorite for me!
I thought black chickpeas were as common as white chickpeas (like how you get varieties of lentils and beans) however after chatting to some non South Asian friends I came to realize that they had no idea what these were! After researching I found that black chickpeas are only found in South Asia and in a small region in Italy!
All the more reason to share with you all because honestly it's so darn good, you're missing out if you haven't tried it! Black chickpeas are rich in flavor and are almost nutty in comparison to white chickpeas. And for the meat eaters out there who are trying to introduce more veggie and vegan meals, I'm gonna tell you the flavor is almost meaty and tastes like a lamb curry! I kid you not!
You should be able to find black chickpeas at any South Asian store and make sure to soak them for a few hours before cooking! See the difference below:
I've given two cooking methods for this whether you want to cook it on the hob or in a slow cooker.