• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Rachna cooks logo

  • Home
  • Air fryer Recipes
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Recipes
    • Beginner Recipes
    • Egg
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • appetizers
      • Snacks
      • Soup
      • Salad
    • Breakfast
      • Bread
    • Main course
      • Curry
      • One pot meal
      • Dry vegetable
    • One pot meal
    • Rice Dishes
    • Meat/Seafood
      • Chicken
      • Fish
      • Prawn | Shrimp
    • Festival
      • Diwali
      • Navratri
    • Pickle
    • mango
    • Rotis
      • parathas
    • Spice
    • Desserts
  • Health & Fitness
    • Health
    • Fitness
  • Contact
  • Others
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Air fryer Recipes
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Air fryer Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • Γ—

    Home Β» Indian Β» North Indian Β» Punjabi

    Punjabi Chole | Chickpea Curry

    Published: May 8, 2014 Β· Modified: Aug 10, 2020 by Rachna Β·

    • 13shares
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • WhatsApp
    • Yummly

    I just love Punjabi chole (chickpea curry). I have been having this dark-coloured spicy gravy since childhood and it is my absolute favourite. I remember my mother making it usually by late evening. We would have it as a snack – a bowl of chole topped with chopped onions, green chillies and coriander leaves with a sprinkling of lemon juice along with toasted bread. Then these same chole would be cherished for dinner along with steamed basmati rice. Heavenly!

    This takes a little time to cook but if you have the ingredients ready and at hand, it is quite easy actually. Always make more quantity if everyone in your house loves it. I make half kg. of raw chickpeas into a gravy. Yep, that is a lot of quantity but it is eaten in a jiffy. Here’s my recipe. You can reduce the quantities proportionately if you cook with lesser quantity.

    Punjabi chole

    Ingredients:

    Β½ Kg. raw chickpeas (washed and soaked in adequate water overnight or for at least 8 hours)

    For the ingredients to be put while boiling chickpeas:

    Whole spices: 1 large bay leaf, 10-12 whole black pepper, 5-6 cloves, 2 small cinnamon sticks and 1 tsp. tea leaves (in a muslin cloth or a mesh dispenser)

    Salt to taste (2-3 tsp.)

    For the curry:

    3 medium onions sliced

    2 tsp. ginger paste

    4-5 ripe large tomatoes

    3 green chillies (reduce if you want less heat)

    3 tsp. oil

    3Β tbsp. chole masala ( You can make your own. I bought some from Amritsar, and it is really wonderful)

    3 tsp. coriander powder

    3 tsp. roasted cumin powder

    3 tsp. pomegranate seeds (anardana) powder

    Salt to taste

    For garnish:

    Slivers of ginger, chopped onion, coriander and lemon slices

    Recipe:

    Use a pressure cooker to cook the chickpeas. It is faster and easier. Put in all the ingredients mentioned above for addition while boiling chickpeas tied in a muslin cloth or a mesh dispenser. Put in 3 cups water and cook for 7-8 whistles till the chickpeas are cooked yet retain their shape. Don’t allow them to get mushy. Remove the muslin cloth or mesh dispenser.

    To make the gravy, take oil in a kadhai/wok. Heat it. Now add chopped onions and fry for a bit till they turn golden. Add ginger paste and fry for a couple of minutes more. Now tip in the tomatoes and green chillies and cook till everything is squishy.

    I prefer smooth gravy so I blend this masala. Add this curry paste to the cooked chhole with the dark liquor. Add in all the dry masala powders. Cook and simmer for about 10 minutes. Smash some chickpeas with the back of the ladle to make the gravy thicker.

    Punjabi chole

    Taste and adjust seasoning as per taste. I prefer watery gravy that goes well with steamed basmati rice. If you are having with puris, bhature or naan, you can make it thicker. Enjoy your tangy spicy, absolutelyΒ  delightful Punjabi chole recipe. Garnish with slivered ginger, chopped onion, green chillies and coriander leaves. Serve with lemon slices.

    Do tag #rachnacooks if you make this and share pictures. I would love to know if you tried out this easy recipe.

    Pin this

    punjabi chole

    Subscribe to my monthly newsletter for more such recipes, health, food and fitness tips:
    Click here to join

    Featured pic and Pin pic courtesy Shutterstock

    • 13shares
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • WhatsApp
    • Yummly
    « Jackfruit Biryani
    Tehari Recipe | Vegetable Tahari Recipe | How to make Tahiri »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. janakinagaraj says

      May 08, 2014 at 10:19 pm

      This one am gonna try out soooon.

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 08, 2014 at 10:34 pm

        Hope you like it, Janu :-).

        Reply
    2. janakinagaraj says

      May 08, 2014 at 10:19 pm

      This one am gonna try out soooon.

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 08, 2014 at 10:34 pm

        Hope you like it, Janu :-).

        Reply
    3. priyasachan says

      May 09, 2014 at 7:18 am

      This looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 09, 2014 at 7:32 am

        Thanks, Priya!

        Reply
    4. priyasachan says

      May 09, 2014 at 7:18 am

      This looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 09, 2014 at 7:32 am

        Thanks, Priya!

        Reply
    5. Santulan says

      May 09, 2014 at 10:03 am

      I love drinking the chhole waala paani that is left after you pressure cook the chhole..

      Mom makes wonderful chhole.. We don't get very good chhole where I live, so I binge on Chhole Kulche whenever I go to Jaipur

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 09, 2014 at 10:10 am

        Really? But it makes sense because that paani is so totally yummy. I guess all moms make chhole well. You must try making them yourself. I prefer homemade chhole unless I am in Amritsar :). In Bangalore, there is Anand Sweets which makes authentic chhole puris, Punjabi style. Those are yummy.

        Reply
        • Santulan says

          May 09, 2014 at 10:26 am

          We have a Dera Amtrisari restaurant in Baroda now, and they make pretty good chhole.. I did make chhole once, it was unfortunately not as good as what I am used to eating..

          Reply
          • Rachna says

            May 09, 2014 at 10:28 am

            Learn from mom, na :).

            Reply
    6. Santulan says

      May 09, 2014 at 10:03 am

      I love drinking the chhole waala paani that is left after you pressure cook the chhole..

      Mom makes wonderful chhole.. We don't get very good chhole where I live, so I binge on Chhole Kulche whenever I go to Jaipur

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 09, 2014 at 10:10 am

        Really? But it makes sense because that paani is so totally yummy. I guess all moms make chhole well. You must try making them yourself. I prefer homemade chhole unless I am in Amritsar :). In Bangalore, there is Anand Sweets which makes authentic chhole puris, Punjabi style. Those are yummy.

        Reply
        • Santulan says

          May 09, 2014 at 10:26 am

          We have a Dera Amtrisari restaurant in Baroda now, and they make pretty good chhole.. I did make chhole once, it was unfortunately not as good as what I am used to eating..

          Reply
          • Rachna says

            May 09, 2014 at 10:28 am

            Learn from mom, na :).

            Reply
    7. B K chowla says

      May 09, 2014 at 10:56 am

      Next time in Amritsar,try this at Bhrawan da Dhaba

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 09, 2014 at 12:04 pm

        I did have it at Bhrawan da dhaba. It was yummy!

        Reply
    8. B K chowla says

      May 09, 2014 at 10:56 am

      Next time in Amritsar,try this at Bhrawan da Dhaba

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 09, 2014 at 12:04 pm

        I did have it at Bhrawan da dhaba. It was yummy!

        Reply
    9. nabanita21 says

      May 10, 2014 at 9:40 pm

      I love chhole...It was occasionally made in my house while growing up since ours was a completely Bengali non-veg household...But when I went to study in Gorakhpur I came to know about chhole, rajma, matar dal and kadhi and I fell in love with the dishes...And then ofcourse S...!! I find it really easy to make these provided I have soaked them..never tried the tea for the colour, will do it next time for sure...I make my own garam masala too, grind the ingredients I mean as taught by my mother and that smells really good sprinkled on top ... Again you made me hungry. I'm going to cook it tomorrow πŸ˜€

      Oh and do you have any special tips for UP style Teheri...If yes please share the recipe Rachna...I tried but can never get it right!

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 12, 2014 at 9:15 am

        Great to hear about your experience with chhole, Naba. Sure, I will share my recipe of tahiri on the food blog :).

        Reply
    10. nabanita21 says

      May 10, 2014 at 9:40 pm

      I love chhole...It was occasionally made in my house while growing up since ours was a completely Bengali non-veg household...But when I went to study in Gorakhpur I came to know about chhole, rajma, matar dal and kadhi and I fell in love with the dishes...And then ofcourse S...!! I find it really easy to make these provided I have soaked them..never tried the tea for the colour, will do it next time for sure...I make my own garam masala too, grind the ingredients I mean as taught by my mother and that smells really good sprinkled on top ... Again you made me hungry. I'm going to cook it tomorrow πŸ˜€

      Oh and do you have any special tips for UP style Teheri...If yes please share the recipe Rachna...I tried but can never get it right!

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 12, 2014 at 9:15 am

        Great to hear about your experience with chhole, Naba. Sure, I will share my recipe of tahiri on the food blog :).

        Reply
    11. nabanita21 says

      May 10, 2014 at 9:41 pm

      And then ofcourse S above means for S I learnt how to cook ...hehe πŸ˜€

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 12, 2014 at 9:15 am

        Of course, I got that :-D.

        Reply
    12. nabanita21 says

      May 10, 2014 at 9:41 pm

      And then ofcourse S above means for S I learnt how to cook ...hehe πŸ˜€

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        May 12, 2014 at 9:15 am

        Of course, I got that :-D.

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. A meal with friends! | Rachna cooks says:
      at

      […] Amritsari chhole: Plump, black chickpeas gleefully floating in the aromatic dark smoothness of thick black gravy. The sinful delight was cooked in advance happily soaking in the spicy flavors bursting with nutrition and taste waiting to be tucked into. Garnished with ginger julienne, onion rings, chopped coriander and lemon slices, it was a delectable delight. […]

      Reply
    2. A meal with friends! | Rachna cooks says:
      at

      […] Amritsari chhole: Plump, black chickpeas gleefully floating in the aromatic dark smoothness of thick black gravy. The sinful delight was cooked in advance happily soaking in the spicy flavors bursting with nutrition and taste waiting to be tucked into. Garnished with ginger julienne, onion rings, chopped coriander and lemon slices, it was a delectable delight. […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi and welcome!

    I am Rachna, a Certified Nutritionist and Health Coach. I help you eat healthy. I specialize in healthy recipes especially Air fryer recipes.

    I offer Health and Nutrition Coaching aimed at helping you achieve fat loss, healthy eating habits and more stamina and flexibility.

    More about me β†’

    HEALTHY RECIPES

    • Air fryer Corn on the Cob
    • Air fryer Mushrooms
    • Air fryer Beet Chips
    • Air fryer Chickpeas (Step-by-step Recipe + Video)
    • Air fryer Zucchini No Breading
    • Air fryer Peanuts

    LATEST RECIPES

    • Air fryer Chicken Cutlets
    • Instant Pot Broccoli Soup
    • Mushrooms in Air fryer
    • Air fryer S’mores
    • Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs
    • Instant Pot Popcorn

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    POLICIES

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    NEWSLETTER

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    ABOUT

    • About
    • Contact
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog earns income from affiliate links and ads.

    Copyright Β© Rachna cooks 2022