Chole, also known as chana masala, is a popular North Indian dish made with chickpeas and a blend of spices. It’s a flavourful vegetarian dish that’s easy to make and can be enjoyed with rice, naan, or roti. If you’re new to cooking Indian food, chole is a great dish to start with as it requires only a few basic ingredients and can be prepared in under an hour.

To make chole, you will need canned or dried chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, and a few aromatic spices such as cumin, coriander, and garam masala. The key to making a delicious chole is to let the chickpeas and spices simmer for a while so that they absorb all the flavours. With a few tips and tricks, you can make a mouth-watering chole that will impress your family and friends. Read on to learn how to make chole in relaxed English language.

Chole, also known as chana masala, is a popular Indian dish made with chickpeas in a rich and spicy tomato-based sauce. It is a delicious and filling vegetarian option that can be enjoyed on its own or with rice, naan bread or other Indian breads. If you’ve never made chole at home before, fear not – it is surprisingly easy to prepare. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to make this tasty dish in your own kitchen.

Ingredients

Before we get started, let’s run through the ingredients you’ll need to make chole:

  • 2 cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 inch of ginger, grated
  • 1 green chili, finely chopped (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 tablespoon tomato puree
  • 1 cup of water
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of oil (vegetable or canola oil will work)

Instructions

Now that we have all our ingredients at hand, let’s get started with the recipe.

Step 1: Prepare the spices

First, we need to roast and grind our spices. Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add the cumin seeds and coriander seeds. Toast the spices for a minute or two, until they become fragrant. Be careful not to burn them. Once toasted, remove the spices from the heat and let them cool for a few minutes. Once cool, grind them into a fine powder using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.

Step 2: Sauté the onion, garlic, ginger and chili

Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until it becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic, grated ginger and chopped chili (if using) and sauté for another minute or two.

Step 3: Add the spices

Now it’s time to add the ground spices to the pan. Mix well and cook for a minute or two until fragrant.

Step 4: Add the tomato puree

Add a tablespoon of tomato puree to the pan and mix well. Cook for a minute or two until the tomato puree has cooked down and the mixture is well combined.

Step 5: Add the chickpeas

Add the drained and rinsed chickpeas to the pan and stir well until they are coated in the spice mixture.

Step 6: Add water and salt to taste

Add a cup of water and salt to taste. Mix well and bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 7: Simmer

Reduce the heat, cover the pan, and let the mixture simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and the chickpeas are tender.

Step 8: Add garam masala

Add a teaspoon of garam masala to the pan and mix well. Cook for another minute or two.

Step 9: Serving

Now your chole is ready to serve! It can be enjoyed on its own or with rice, naan bread or other Indian breads.

Step 10: Tips and Variations

Here are some tips and variations to make your chole even more delicious:

  • If you like your chole spicy, add more chili to the recipe.
  • If you prefer a creamier texture, add a tablespoon of cream or yogurt to the mixture just before serving.
  • If you’re short on time, you can use canned tomatoes instead of tomato puree.
  • You can also experiment with adding other vegetables to the recipe, such as potatoes or spinach.

Enjoy your homemade chole! It’s a dish that’s packed with flavor and is sure to become a favorite in your household.

Ingredients

To make delicious chole, you need to have specific ingredients listed below:

1. Chickpeas: Typically one of the essential ingredients, chickpeas are the star of the dish. You can either use canned chickpeas or soak dry chickpeas overnight.

2. Tomatoes: For a tangy and flavorful taste, ripe tomatoes are necessary.

3. Onion: You will need onions to add a slightly sweet and savory flavor.

4. Garlic: Garlic is added to infuse a bit of spice and a pungent aroma to the dish.

5. Green chilies: If you want a spicier chole, add green chilies to it.

6. Ginger: Ginger adds a hint of sharpness and tanginess to the dish.

7. Spices: Spices such as cumin seeds, coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and garam masala gives it an aromatic flavor.

8. Oil: Oil is used to cook the ingredients.

9. Water: To cook the dish, a certain amount of water is needed.

10. Salt: To balance the flavors, salt is necessary.

Recipe

Once all your ingredients are ready, follow these easy steps to make a tasty bowl of chole:

1. In a pan or pressure cooker, heat oil over medium heat.

2. Add cumin seeds and let it splutter for a few seconds.

3. Once the cumin seeds start to splutter, add chopped onions and sauté until the onions are translucent.

4. Add chopped ginger and chopped garlic to the pan and cook for a minute until it gives off its aroma.

5. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes turn soft and tender.

6. Add spices such as coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and garam masala, and stir well.

7. Add salt to balance the flavors.

8. Add cooked chickpeas and mix well with the masala.

9. Pour water enough to cover the chickpeas and mix the ingredients.

10. If you are using a pressure cooker, cover the lid and let it cook until the chickpeas are tender. If you’re using a pan, let it cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the chickpeas become soft and tender.

And there you have it – a delicious bowl of chole! Serve it with rice, bhature, or roti and garnish with coriander leaves to enhance its flavor. Enjoy!

Ingredients required to make Chole

Making Chole at home is not a difficult task if you have all the required ingredients. Let’s take a look at what you need to make the perfect and flavorful Chole.

Ingredients Quantity
Chickpeas(Chole) 2 cups
Onion 1 large-sized
Tomato 2 medium-sized
Ginger Garlic Paste 1 tablespoon
Green Chilies 2 – 3 (chopped)
Cumin Seeds 1 teaspoon
Turmeric Powder 1 teaspoon
Coriander Powder 2 teaspoons
Cumin Powder 1 teaspoons
Red Chili Powder 1 teaspoon or as per taste
Garam Masala 1 teaspoon
Salt To taste
Oil 2 tablespoons
Water As required

Procedure to make Chole

Now that you have all the ingredients ready, let’s take a look at the step-by-step procedure to make the perfect Chole.

1. Soak the Chickpeas(Chole) in water:

Take 2 cups of chickpeas and soak them for 6-8 hours or overnight in water. This step is important as it makes the cooking process quicker.

2. Boil the Chickpeas(Chole):

After soaking the chickpeas, drain the water and add them to a pressure cooker. Add 4-5 cups of water, salt, and turmeric powder. Cook for 5-6 whistles or until they are soft.

3. Prepare the masala:

While the chickpeas are boiling, heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle. Add finely chopped onions and sauté till golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste, green chilies and sauté till the raw smell goes away.

4. Add the spices:

Add coriander powder, cumin powder, red chili powder, and garam masala to the pan and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the masala leaves oil.

5. Add the tomatoes:

Add chopped tomatoes and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they turn soft and mushy.

6. Add the boiled Chickpeas(Chole) to the masala:

Now add boiled Chole to the masala and mix well. Add water if required, cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Once done, garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with Bhatura, Puri or steamed rice and enjoy this flavorful and delicious dish with family and friends.

Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy Your Chole!

Now that you know how to make delicious Chole, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Don’t worry if it takes a few tries to perfect your recipe — practice makes perfect! Thank you so much for reading this article and I hope it inspires you to try making Chole at home. Don’t forget to visit us again for more easy and exciting recipes to try out!