Punjabi Chole

Step 1

Soak 2 cups of raw chickpeas overnight (or for a minimum of 8 hours) in enough water to cover them. In the morning you should have around 5 cups of chickpeas (they increase in size overnight as they soak). Drain the water in which the chickpeas were soaked.

Step 2

Then transfer the chickpeas to a stovetop pressure cooker and add the whole spices- bay leaves, green cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and black peppercorns. Also add 2 black tea bags (for color), 5 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt. Close the cooker and cook at high heat for 1 to 2 whistles. Then lower the heat to medium and let the chickpeas cook for another 10 minutes or so. Then remove the cooker from heat and let the pressure release naturally. If using an Instant pot, cook on high pressure for 20 minutes and let the pressure release naturally.

Step 3

Once the pressure comes off, remove the tea bags and bay leaves using a pair of tongs. The tea bags are used for color only and don't have an impact on the taste of chole. Set this aside.

Step 4

Heat 1 to 1 & 1/2 tablespoons of oil in a large kadai or pot on medium heat. Add 2 whole cloves and grated onions to the pot. Cook the onions until the raw smell goes away and they are light golden brown in color, this takes around 7 to 8 minutes.

Step 5

Then add the ginger garlic paste and cook until the raw smell goes away, around 2 minutes.

Step 6

Now, add the tomato puree and stir. Cover the pot and cook the tomatoes for around 15 minutes on medium-low heat, stir every 2 to 3 minutes in between. This step of cooking the tomatoes is important.

Step 7

Once the tomatoes are done, add the spices- chole masala, red chili powder, paprika, cumin powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir and cook the spices for a minute or two.

Step 8

Then add the boiled chickpeas, (along with the water in which they were boiled) to the pot and stir until the chickpeas are well combined with the masala. Add an extra 1/2 cup water here and then cover the pan and let the chole simmer on medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Simmering on how heat is what will give this chole so much flavor! Mash some of the chickpeas with the back of your spatula while they are simmering.The gravy will thicken after 30 minutes, so if you prefer more gravy in your chole, add more water than what is mentioned in the recipe.

Step 9

Then for the final step, heat 1 tablespoon of ghee in a small pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the ginger juliennes and fry until the juliennes are golden brown in color but do not burn them. Add the ginger juliennes to the chole, stir and switch off the heat.

Step 10

Add garam masala, kasuri methi and chopped cilantro and serve the chole hot with rice, bhatura, parathas and more!