Chole masala or Chana masala is a very simple and popular dish from the North Indian cuisine which is typically served with Bhatura but it goes extremely well with roti, poori, vegetable pulav or even with simple jeera rice. Basically, the boiled chick peas is cooked with onion & tomato gravy along with other Indian spices. Canned chick peas can also be used in this preparation.
Preparation time – 10 minutes
Soaking time – 6 to 7 hours or overnight
Cooking time – 45 minutes
Serves – 5 to 6
Ingredients:
Chick peas – 1 cup soaked overnight or 2 cans of canned chick peas
Onions – 2 medium sized finely chopped
Tomatoes – 2 medium sized pureed
Ginger & garlic paste – 2 tsp
Cumin seeds/Jeera – 1/2 tsp
Bay leaves – 3
Cloves – 3
Cinnamon stick – 1/2 inch
Cardamon – 3 pods
Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder – 1 tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Salt – as required
Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp
Oil – 3 tbsp
Coriander leaves/Cilantro – 3 to 4 tbsp chopped
Preparation:
1. Wash and soak the chick peas overnight. Drain the water from the soaked chick peas and add it to the pressure cooker along with 3 cups of water. Pressure cook for 3 to 4 whistles. The boiled chick peas should be nice & soft. Make a puree of 2 medium sized tomatoes and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and bay leaf. When cumin seeds/jeera splutters, add the chopped onions and saute till it turns brown stirring continuously.
3. Then add ginger & garlic paste, fry till the raw smell goes. Keeping the flame on low, add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and mix well. Add in the tomato puree and cook till the oil separates from the mixture.
4. Now add the cooked chick peas, salt as required, garam masala powder along with 1/2 or 1 cup of water. Let it boil on a medium flame for five to ten minutes until the gravy gets thicker. Adjust the salt and consistency accordingly. Finally, garnish with some finely chopped coriander leaves/cilantro, mix well and serve.
Check out other Curry recipes, rice recipes from our blog and Enjoy great food.
Tastes best with Poori, Roti, Bhatura or with Jeera rice!!
