Quick CardChana Masala (Punjabi Chole)
8 servings
Cooked Chickpeas
- 475 mldried chickpeas (kabuli chana)
- 945 mlwater, for cooking
- 2black tea bag
- 2 podsblack cardamom pod
- 8 podsgreen cardamom pods
- 2cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece)
- 4whole cloves
- 1 leafsmall bay leaf, fresh
- 710 to 945 mlwater, for soaking
Chole Masala Powder
- 2 to 4dried Kashmiri red chilies, seeded
- 30 mlcoriander seeds
- 10 mlfennel seeds
- 10 mlcumin seeds
- 2 podsblack cardamom pod
- 8 podsgreen cardamom pods
- 1 leafsmall bay leaf, fresh
- 8whole cloves
- 2cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece)
- 8 to 16black peppercorns
- 2mace blade
- 1 mlfreshly grated nutmeg
- 10 to 15 mlamchur (dried mango powder)
Chole Gravy
- 59 mlneutral oil
- 2cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece)
- 4whole cloves
- 4 podsgreen cardamom pods
- 1 leafsmall bay leaf
- 710 mlonions (2 medium), finely chopped
- 2green chili, slit
- 22 to 30 mlginger garlic paste
- 475 mltomatoes (3 medium), finely chopped or pureed
- 5 to 7.5 mlKashmiri chili powder
- 1 mlground turmeric
- 7.5 to 10 mlsalt
- 475 mlwater
- 10 mlkasuri methi, crushed
- extra amchur, only if needed, to taste
Tadka and Garnish
- 30 mlghee
- 4 to 8green chilies, slightly slit
- 2fresh ginger (1 cm piece), cut into thin matchsticks
- 2.5 mlasafoetida (hing)
- 59 mlcoriander leaves, finely chopped
- Cooked Chickpeas Rinse 475 ml dried chickpeas (kabuli chana) well at least three times. Cover with 710 to 945 ml water, for soaking and soak overnight, at least 8 h. Drain and rinse.
- Put the chickpeas in a pressure cooker with 945 ml water, for cooking, 2 black tea bags, 2 pods black cardamom pod, 8 pods green cardamom pods, 2 cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece), 4 whole cloves and 1 leaf small bay leaf, fresh. Cook over medium heat for five or six whistles, or 16 min at high pressure in an Instant Pot.
- When the pressure has dropped, open the lid and discard the tea bag, cinnamon and bay leaf. Keep the cooking liquid.
- Chole Masala Powder While the chickpeas cook, put 2 to 4 dried Kashmiri red chilies, seeded, 30 ml coriander seeds, 10 ml fennel seeds, 10 ml cumin seeds, 2 pods black cardamom pod, 8 pods green cardamom pods, 1 leaf small bay leaf, fresh, 8 whole cloves, 2 cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece), 8 to 16 black peppercorns and 2 mace blades in a dry pan. Roast over low heat, stirring constantly. 3 min to 5 min
- Turn off the heat, stir in 1 ml freshly grated nutmeg and let everything cool. Grind with 10 to 15 ml amchur (dried mango powder) to a fine powder. 5 min
- Chole Gravy Heat 59 ml neutral oil in a heavy pan and add 2 cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece), 4 whole cloves, 4 pods green cardamom pods and 1 leaf small bay leaf. 30 s
- Add 710 ml onions (2 medium) and 2 green chilis and fry over medium heat until golden. 8 min to 12 min
- Stir in 22 to 30 ml ginger garlic paste and fry for about a minute. 1 min
- Add 475 ml tomatoes (3 medium) and cook over medium-high heat until they break down and lose their moisture. Lower the heat and stir in 5 to 7.5 ml Kashmiri chili powder, 1 ml ground turmeric and 7.5 to 10 ml salt. 5 min to 8 min
- Add all of the chole masala powder and saute for 3 min to 4 min.
- Add the cooked chickpeas with their dark cooking liquid and 475 ml water, adding a little more water if needed for a gravy. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then cover and simmer on low heat. 18 min to 20 min
- Stir in 10 ml kasuri methi. Taste and add more salt, extra amchur, only if needed if you want more tang, or garam masala.
- Tadka and Garnish Heat 30 ml ghee in a small pan and fry 4 to 8 green chilies until blistered, using a splatter screen. Add 2 fresh ginger (1 cm piece), turn off the heat and stir in 2.5 ml asafoetida (hing). 1 min to 2 min
- Pour the sizzling tadka over the chole and scatter with 59 ml coriander leaves. Serve with bhatura, puri, naan or basmati rice.
- Safety: green chilies and fresh ginger (1 cm piece) and coriander leaves in oil can grow botulism at room temperature. Keep it in the fridge and use within 4 days. (USDA FSIS)
- Safety: Asafoetida is usually cut with wheat flour; use a certified gluten-free hing if you need the dish gluten free. (The author)