Quick CardChana Masala (Punjabi Chole)
12 servings
Cooked Chickpeas
- 710 mldried chickpeas (kabuli chana)
- 1.42 lwater, for cooking
- 3black tea bag
- 3 podsblack cardamom pod
- 12 podsgreen cardamom pods
- 3cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece)
- 6whole cloves
- 1 ½ leavessmall bay leaf, fresh
- 710 to 945 mlwater, for soaking
Chole Masala Powder
- 3 to 6dried Kashmiri red chilies, seeded
- 44 mlcoriander seeds
- 15 mlfennel seeds
- 15 mlcumin seeds
- 3 podsblack cardamom pod
- 12 podsgreen cardamom pods
- 1 ½ leavessmall bay leaf, fresh
- 12whole cloves
- 3cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece)
- 12 to 24black peppercorns
- 3mace blade
- 2 mlfreshly grated nutmeg
- 15 to 22 mlamchur (dried mango powder)
Chole Gravy
- 89 mlneutral oil
- 3cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece)
- 6whole cloves
- 6 podsgreen cardamom pods
- 1 ½ leavessmall bay leaf
- 1.06 lonions (2 medium), finely chopped
- 3green chili, slit
- 33 to 44 mlginger garlic paste
- 710 mltomatoes (3 medium), finely chopped or pureed
- 7.5 to 11 mlKashmiri chili powder
- 2 mlground turmeric
- 11 to 15 mlsalt
- 710 mlwater
- 15 mlkasuri methi, crushed
- extra amchur, only if needed, to taste
Tadka and Garnish
- 44 mlghee
- 6 to 12green chilies, slightly slit
- 3fresh ginger (1 cm piece), cut into thin matchsticks
- 3.5 mlasafoetida (hing)
- 89 mlcoriander leaves, finely chopped
- Cooked Chickpeas Rinse 710 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 1.42 l water, for cooking, 3 black tea bags, 3 pods black cardamom pod, 12 pods green cardamom pods, 3 cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece), 6 whole cloves and 1 ½ leaves 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 3 to 6 dried Kashmiri red chilies, seeded, 44 ml coriander seeds, 15 ml fennel seeds, 15 ml cumin seeds, 3 pods black cardamom pod, 12 pods green cardamom pods, 1 ½ leaves small bay leaf, fresh, 12 whole cloves, 3 cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece), 12 to 24 black peppercorns and 3 mace blades in a dry pan. Roast over low heat, stirring constantly. 3 min to 5 min
- Turn off the heat, stir in 2 ml freshly grated nutmeg and let everything cool. Grind with 15 to 22 ml amchur (dried mango powder) to a fine powder. 5 min
- Chole Gravy Heat 89 ml neutral oil in a heavy pan and add 3 cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece), 6 whole cloves, 6 pods green cardamom pods and 1 ½ leaves small bay leaf. 30 s
- Add 1.06 l onions (2 medium) and 3 green chilis and fry over medium heat until golden. 8 min to 12 min
- Stir in 33 to 44 ml ginger garlic paste and fry for about a minute. 1 min
- Add 710 ml tomatoes (3 medium) and cook over medium-high heat until they break down and lose their moisture. Lower the heat and stir in 7.5 to 11 ml Kashmiri chili powder, 2 ml ground turmeric and 11 to 15 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 710 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 15 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 44 ml ghee in a small pan and fry 6 to 12 green chilies until blistered, using a splatter screen. Add 3 fresh ginger (1 cm piece), turn off the heat and stir in 3.5 ml asafoetida (hing). 1 min to 2 min
- Pour the sizzling tadka over the chole and scatter with 89 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: Large batch: cool quickly in shallow containers or an ice bath, to below 5 °C within 6 hours, before refrigerating. (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)