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Chole Masala | Punjabi Chole | Chickpea Curry

Chole Masala is a popular North Indian curry made using chickpeas also called garbanzo beans that are simmered in tangy and spicy gravy.
Traditionally chole masala is served with bhature (fried puffed bread) and is one of the most popular Indian dishes that is served across dhabas and restaurants.
This is a vegan, high-protein, fiber-rich and beginner-friendly vegetarian curry.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Soaking Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Easy Dinner Recipes, Easy Lunch Recipes, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Kabuli Chana (White Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans)
  • 1 Onion, finely chopped
  • 1 large Tomato, pureed
  • 7-8 Black Pepper Corns
  • 4 Cloves
  • 1 inch Cinnamon Stick
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 4 Green Cardemon Pods
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
  • 2 Green Chillies, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Ginger-Garlic Paste
  • 2 tablespoons Coriander Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Amchur Powder (Dry Mango Powder)
  • 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Kasuri Methi (Dry Fenugreek Powder)
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons Oil
  • 2 tablespoons Tea Leaves (OR 1 Tea Bag Unflavoured)
  • Water, as required

Method
 

Soaking & Cooking Kabuli Chana (Garbanzo Beans)
  1. Soak 1 cup dry chickpeas (chole) in water for 7-8 hours or overnight.
  2. Once soaked, they double in size. Drain the water and wash the chole (chickpeas) a couple of times.
  3. Transfer the chole (chickpeas) into a pressure cooker bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups of water.
  4. Add whole spices, 7-8 black peppercorns, 1-inch cinnamon stick, 4 cloves, 1 bay leaf and salt.
Brew The Tea
  1. Add 1 cup of water to a pan, add 2 teaspoons of loose tea leaves and let the tea come to a boil. (You can also use 1 tea bag instead of brewing the tea, add the bag to the soaked chole before you pressure cook).
  2. Strain the tea directly into the soaked chole (chickpeas).
  3. Pressure cook for 10-15 whistles or till the chana (beans) is soft and can easily break when pressed between thumb and index finger.
Making Chole Masala Curry
  1. Heat oil in a pan. Add 4 green cardemon pods and cumin seeds. Let cumin seeds sizzle a bit.
  2. Add finely chopped onions and saute for 5 minutes.
  3. Add finely chopped green chillies and a teaspoon of ginger-garlic paste.
  4. Cook onions till they turn golden brown in colour.
  5. Add tomato puree. (You can also add chopped tomatoes instead or canned tomatoes).
  6. Cook this onion-tomato mixture till it leaves oil from the edges.
  7. Add spices, coriander-cumin powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, chole masala powder, amchur powder (dry mango powder) and salt to taste.
  8. Mix well. Add 1/4th cup water to prevent spices from burning.
  9. Add cooked chole (chickpeas).
  10. Add water in which chickpeas were cooked, this gives that nice brown colour to the curry.
  11. Add water as per the consistency you require.
  12. Let the curry come to a boil. Cover and let the curry simmer for 10 minutes on low to medium flame.
  13. Lastly, add a teaspoon of garam masala and a teaspoon of kasuri methi (dry fenugreek powder).
  14. Add finely chopped coriander leaves. While serving squeeze lemon juice and serve hot.
  15. Garnish with ginger julliens & finely chopped green chillies. Serve hot with bhature, butter naan, tandoori roti or jeera rice.

Video

Notes

If you are using canned tomatoes, make sure to add a teaspoon of sugar to balance the tartness from the tomatoes.
I have used chole masala here, in case you do not have chole masala available, add garam masala, dry mango powder (amchur) and dry pomegranate powder (anardana).
This curry can be made without onion and garlic. Use more tomatoes and ginger instead.
Adding tea is optional here but it gives nice colour to the dish.
More Related Recipes
Plant-Based & Vegan Recipes
Curry Recipes
Beginner-Friendly Recipes
Akkha Masoor Dal (Whole Brown Lentil Curry)
Matki Dal (Dew Beans Curry)
Product Links To Buy
Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot
Stove Top
Dry Garbanzo Beans
Canned Garbanzo Beans
Kasuri Methi (Dry Fenugreek Leaves)
Raw Mango Powder (Amchur Powder)
Chana Masala (Chole Masala Powder)
Garam Masala Powder
Red Chilli Powder
Turmeric Powder
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