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14 Steps

Chana Masala (Punjabi Chole)4 servings

  1. Cooked Chickpeas · Step 1 of 3

    Rinse 235 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.

    chickpeas doubled in size

  2. Cooked Chickpeas · Step 2 of 3

    Put the chickpeas in a pressure cooker with 475 ml water, for cooking, 1 black tea bag, 1 pod black cardamom pod, 4 pods green cardamom pods, 1 cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece), 2 whole cloves and ½ leaf small bay leaf, fresh. Cook over medium heat for five or six whistles, or 16 min at high pressure in an Instant Pot.

  3. Cooked Chickpeas · Step 3 of 3

    When the pressure has dropped, open the lid and discard the tea bag, cinnamon and bay leaf. Keep the cooking liquid.

    a chickpea squashes to a paste when pressed

    if they are at all firm, cook one or two more whistles

  4. Chole Masala Powder · Step 1 of 2

    While the chickpeas cook, put 1 to 2 dried Kashmiri red chilies, seeded, 15 ml coriander seeds, 5 ml fennel seeds, 5 ml cumin seeds, 1 pod black cardamom pod, 4 pods green cardamom pods, ½ leaf small bay leaf, fresh, 4 whole cloves, 1 cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece), 4 to 8 black peppercorns and 1 mace blade in a dry pan. Roast over low heat, stirring constantly.

    coriander seeds a shade darker and very fragrant

    chilies crisp, not blackened

  5. Chole Masala Powder · Step 2 of 2

    Turn off the heat, stir in 0.6 ml freshly grated nutmeg and let everything cool. Grind with 5 to 7.5 ml amchur (dried mango powder) to a fine powder.

  6. Chole Gravy · Step 1 of 7

    Heat 30 ml neutral oil in a heavy pan and add 1 cinnamon stick (2.5 cm piece), 2 whole cloves, 2 pods green cardamom pods and ½ leaf small bay leaf.

    spices sizzle

  7. Chole Gravy · Step 2 of 7

    Add 355 ml onions (2 medium) and 1 green chili and fry over medium heat until golden.

    onions evenly golden

  8. Chole Gravy · Step 3 of 7

    Stir in 11 to 15 ml ginger garlic paste and fry for about a minute.

    raw smell gone

  9. Chole Gravy · Step 4 of 7

    Add 235 ml tomatoes (3 medium) and cook over medium-high heat until they break down and lose their moisture. Lower the heat and stir in 2.5 to 3.5 ml Kashmiri chili powder, 0.6 ml ground turmeric and 3.5 to 5 ml salt.

    tomatoes mushy, no raw tomato smell

  10. Chole Gravy · Step 5 of 7

    Add all of the chole masala powder and saute for 3 min to 4 min.

    masala smells roasted and oil glistens at the edges

  11. Chole Gravy · Step 6 of 7

    Add the cooked chickpeas with their dark cooking liquid and 235 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.

    gravy thickened and clinging to the chickpeas

  12. Chole Gravy · Step 7 of 7

    Stir in 5 ml kasuri methi. Taste and add more salt, extra amchur, only if needed if you want more tang, or garam masala.

  13. Tadka and Garnish · Step 1 of 2

    Heat 15 ml ghee in a small pan and fry 2 to 4 green chilies until blistered, using a splatter screen. Add 1 fresh ginger (1 cm piece), turn off the heat and stir in 1 ml asafoetida (hing).

    chilies blistered and pale in patches

  14. Tadka and Garnish · Step 2 of 2

    Pour the sizzling tadka over the chole and scatter with 30 ml coriander leaves. Serve with bhatura, puri, naan or basmati rice.