go habs go

There is a buzz in the city. You don't even have to be a hockey fan to feel it. Everywhere you turn, you see the signs of a city that has hockey fever. The Montreal Canadiens (aka the habs) haven't played this well since '93 when they last won the cup. The hockey buzz has us all on the edge of our seats wondering if this is the year that they bring the cup home.

So what do you eat during the playoffs?
Something that is simple and easy to eat, yet delicious and healthy.

That's where Channa Chatt comes in.
When my mom went to India a few weeks back, most people would have asked for a sari or the latest bollywood cd but I asked her to bring me back Chatt masala. Chatt masala is a mixture of spices that is widely available in India but slightly harder to find here. It's a special blend of spices that includes mango powder, cloves, black pepper, coriander seed, along other pungent spices. It's a mixture that makes you pucker your lips and lick them all at once.

Channa Chatt
2 cups chick peas
2 big boiled potatoes, peeled and chopped
1-3 green chillies finely chopped
2 tsp ginger finely chopped
1 - 2 medium onions chopped
3 Tbs lemon or lime juice
1 tsp fine sugar
2 Tbs coriander leaves chopped
2 med tomatoes, chopped
Sea Salt to taste
Chat masala to taste - start with about 1 spoon, and add more if you want it spicier.

Mix and refrigerate for 2 – 3 hours. Serve cold.

If you can get your hands on some of this magical powder, I would recommend trying this recipe. It's tasty yet quick, and easy enough to make that you have you have your hands free to cheer on your favourite hockey team.

Everyone's got hockey fever...
go habs go.