Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (2024)

by VegeCravings

Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (1)

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Cholealso known asChana Masalais a chickpea dish cooked in a spicy gravy. In this preparation kabuli chana and tomatoes are simmered with a mixture of fried garlic, ginger, onion, green chillies & spices.

Chole or Chana Masala gets its authentic and unique taste from the addition of various Indian spices like cumin, bay leaf, cinnamon, chana masala, garam masala and turmeric.

Chole is originally a Punjabi speciality and is an absolutely decadent treat that is a must-try food both at home as well as in streets all over India particularly north India.

There are many variations and names of chole preparations with subtle differences like Punjabi Chole, Chana Masala, Pindi Chole, Amritsari Chole etc.

It is best enjoyed with poori or bhatura (a puffed and deep fried Indian bread) and also goes well with rice, roti, poori etc. Preparations like chole bhature go very well in small gatherings and kitty parties.

Use of chole is very popular in Indian street food and chaats like aloo tikki. Its appeal increases when served with cut onions, chutneys, pickle etc.

Kabuli chana, also known as white chickpeas or garbanzo beans, is also a protein rich food, making chole an ideal and enjoyable food for lunch box of growing children.

To make Chole at home follow the detailed step by step recipe with photos posted below.

See more related recipes like:

  • Kala Chana Masala– black chickpeas gravy
  • Sookhe Kale Chane– dry black chickpeas curry
  • Rajma Masala– red kidney beans gravy
  • Aloo Choliya– potato & green chickpea curry
  • Chane Ka Khatta– tangy Himachali chickpea curry

Suggested recipe collections :

  • Indian Curry Recipes | List of 36 Indian Vegetarian Gravies
  • Indian Sabzi Recipes | 20 Dry Vegetables | Sookhi Sabji

Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (2)

Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala

Chole is an Indian preparation made with white chickpeas and tomato simmerred in a spicy gravy flavored with special spices.

Recipe Info

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings 6

Category Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Ingredients For Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala

  • 2 Cup White Chickpeas (Safed Chane)
  • 1 Medium Sized Onion
  • 1 Medium Sized Medium Sized Tomato
  • 2-3 Green Chilies
  • 1 Inch Ginger
  • 1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds (Jeera)
  • 2 Laung (Cloves)
  • 2 Inch Dalchini (Cinnamon Stick)
  • 1 Black Cardamom (Badi Elaichi)
  • 3-4 Black Peppercorn (Sabut Kali Mirch)
  • 1 Tej Patta (Bay Leaf)
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Heeng (Asafoetida)
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder (Haldi)
  • 1 Teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
  • 2 Teaspoons Chana Masala
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Amchur (Dry Mango Powder)
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt or to Taste
  • 2 Tablespoon Cooking Oil

Step By Step Instructions for Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala

  • Wash and rinse white chickpeas. Soak them overnight for 7-8 hours. Be sure to add sufficient amount of water as the chickpeas will expand in size when they are soaked.

    2 Cup White Chickpeas (Safed Chane)

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (3)

  • Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add jeera (cumin seeds) and heeng (asafoetida). Also add laung (cloves), dalchini (cinnamon stick), badi elaichi (black cardamom), sabut kali mirch (black peppercorn) and tej patta (bay leaf).

    1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds (Jeera), 2 Laung (Cloves), 1 Black Cardamom (Badi Elaichi), 3-4 Black Peppercorn (Sabut Kali Mirch), 1 Tej Patta (Bay Leaf), 1/4 Teaspoon Heeng (Asafoetida), 2 Tablespoon Cooking Oil, 2 Inch Dalchini (Cinnamon Stick)

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (4)

  • Then add grated ginger, chopped green chilies and finely chopped onion.

    2-3 Green Chilies, 1 Inch Ginger, 1 Medium Sized Onion

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (5)

  • Saute till the onions turn golden brown or translucent.

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (6)

  • Then add chana masala, garam masala, turmeric powder (haldi), red chilli powder, amchur (dry mango powder) and salt. If you do not have amchur, you can replace it with 1 teaspoon Jaljeera or 2 teaspoons tamarind paste or even lemon juice.

    1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder (Haldi), 1 Teaspoon Red Chilli Powder, 2 Teaspoons Chana Masala, 1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala, 1/2 Teaspoon Amchur (Dry Mango Powder), 1 Teaspoon Salt

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (7)

  • Cook for a couple of minutes to roast all the spices.

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (8)

  • Add finely chopped tomato to the tempering.

    1 Medium Sized Medium Sized Tomato

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (9)

  • Saute till the tomatoes are cooked and the gravy starts to leave oil on the sides.

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (10)

  • Add the chickpeas to the cooker along with 3 cups of water and cook on high heat till you get one whistle. Then turn the flame to low and let them cook for around 30 minutes. Open the pressure cooker after all the steam has been released. The consistency should not be too thin but not too dry also. Simmer them for 4-5 minutes to thicken the gravy if it’s too thin. Or add a little water if dry to adjust the consistency.

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (11)

  • Chole are ready. You can garnish them with coriander leaves, chopped or sliced onions and tomatoes and lime wedges. Serve them hot with bhatura or poori

    Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (12)

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Chole Recipe | Punjabi Chana Masala - VegeCravings (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Chhole and chana masala? ›

What is the difference between Chana and Chole? Generally speaking, both the terms Chana and chole mean chickpeas. Chana is a Hindi word and Chole is a Punjabi word & both mean the same. But chana masala is any Indian chickpea curry and chole masala is a dish made in Punjabi style with specific spices.

Why add baking soda to chana masala? ›

Why It Works. Adding baking soda to the onions helps them break down and caramelize faster. Doctoring up store-bought garam masala with additional spices produces a flavor that's both complex and suited to the dish.

How much chole for 4 people? ›

To make a curry for 4 people, you'll typically want to use around 1 to 1.5 cups of dried chickpeas (chana) as a general guideline. However, the exact amount can vary based on the specific recipe and your desired portion size. Keep in mind that dried chickpeas need to be soaked and cooked before using in a curry.

How many people can eat in 1 kg of chole? ›

For 15 to 20 people, one kilogram or a bit more should suffice.

Which is better Kabuli Chana or chana? ›

Black chickpeas are slightly higher in protein and fibre than white chickpeas, and they also contain more iron, folate, and antioxidants. On the other hand, white chickpeas are slightly lower in calories and carbohydrates than black chickpeas, making them a good choice for those who are watching their calorie intake.

Which form of chana is best? ›

Roasted chana is an excellent source of pivotal rudiments that help your body in maintaining healthy bones and precluding a host of conditions. Roasted chana is also a rich source of manganese, folate, phosphorus and copper which has proven benefits for our cardiovascular health.

How to reduce bitterness in chana masala? ›

Easy Ways to Reduce Bitter Taste in Any Food
  1. 1 Balance out bitterness with some fat.
  2. 2 Cover the flavor with sweetness.
  3. 3 Sprinkle some salt over your food.
  4. 4 Try a pinch of baking soda.
  5. 5 Squeeze in some vinegar or lemon juice.
  6. 6 Add some spice to your foods.
  7. 7 Cook with herbs to cut through the bitter taste.
Apr 10, 2024

Can we use baking powder instead of baking soda in chole? ›

Some people like to boil pulses like chana and rajma with a pinch of baking soda. It is better to use baking soda as baking powder will turn them into a mashed substance!

Why soak chickpeas with baking soda? ›

By adding baking soda, you are increasing the pH of the water and making it more alkaline. This helps break down the pectin in the chickpeas which softens their skins better and faster. This is especially important when you are making hummus and want the creamiest consistency possible.

Can chole be cooked without soaking? ›

No, you don't have to soak beans before you cook them. If you forget, you can simply start the cooking process, but expect them to take longer to cook than if you had soaked them first. It can take up to twice the time if you don't soak them first.

How long to soak chole? ›

8 hours is recommended, but I've noticed that within the first hour the chickpeas have swollen to almost their full size. Has anyone soaked for much less than 8 hours, and found that the cooked results were OK? Try soaking in hot water for a few hours.

How do you thicken Chole? ›

Mash some chickpeas with the spoon to thicken the gravy. If you prefer an even thicker gravy, add less water or mash more chickpeas to release the starches.

Is chole heavy to digest? ›

Rajma and chole take longer to digest as well due to certain nutrients like fibre, complex carbohydrates, resistant starch and proteins, which take relatively longer to digest. As per the data from Harvard University, fiber is a type of carbohydrate that your body can't digest easily.

Are chole and chana the same? ›

Chana refers to plain cooked chickpeas, while chole is a specific North Indian dish made by cooking chickpeas with a blend of spices and a tangy gravy. Are chhole and chickpeas same? Yes, chhole and chickpeas are the same. Chhole is the Hindi word used to refer to chickpeas.

What is chole in English? ›

a combining form meaning “bile,” “gall,” used in the formation of compound words: cholesterol.

Is chana dal same as chole? ›

While you can make a dal out of any pulse, typically, the word “dal” only shows up in the name of a pulse if it is a split lentil. For example, chana dal = split chickpeas, whereas if I am referring to whole chickpeas, I would say chana or chole.

Is chana masala the same as chickpea tikka masala? ›

Chana masala is typically simmered on the stove until the chickpeas are tender. In contrast, tikka masala involves marinating and grilling the meat before adding it to the sauce. In terms of flavor, chana masala has a mild, earthy flavor. It is not typically as spicy as tikka masala, which can be hot and spicy.

What is chana masala made of? ›

Chana masala is a North Indian curried dish made with white chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, spices and herbs. 'Chana' is a Hindi word for 'Chickpeas' and 'Masala' here refers to a 'spiced gravy'. So it's nothing but chickpeas simmered in a spicy onion tomato masala.

What is the difference between chole masala and garam masala? ›

First, this mix is spicier than garam masala because it has dried chilis in it. The dry mango powder gives it a hint of sour, fruity taste. Also, garam masala is made with star anise, which gives it licorice notes that this blend doesn't have.

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