Perfect recipe for making chole masala/chickpea masala at home with homemade masala. If you don’t want to make homemade chole masala, you can feel free to use store bought chole masala but make sure you the most essential ingredient which is anardana powder (pomegranate powder is included in the readymade masala.  This chickpea curry is very versatiel and can be served with almost everything from rice, naan, rotis, breads etc.

Ingredients for Chole:

Chole/Chickpeas/Garbanzo Beans – 1 Cup (soaked overnight)
Salt – 1 Tsp
Baking soda – ¼ Tsp
Cloves – 4-5
Bay leaf – 1
Cinnamon – 1 inch piece
Tea bag – 1 / 1 tsp tea leaves tied in muslin cloth
Water – 3 Cups + 1 Cup
Onions – 1 finely chopped
Tomatoes – 2 finely chopped or pureed
Ginger Garlic paste – 2 Tbsp
Shahi jeera – 1 Tsp
Hing/Asafoetida – a pinch

Homemade Chole Masala

Coriander-Cumin Powder – 1 Tsp
Garam masala – ½ Tsp
Anardana Powder (Pomegrenate Powder) – ½ Tbsp
Red Chilli Powder – 1 Tbsp
Turmeric Powder – ½ Tsp
Amchur Powder – ¼ Tsp
Kasoori Methi (Dried fenugreek leaves) – ½ Tbsp
Kala Namak (Black salt) – ½ Tsp

For tempering:
Ghee – 2 Tbsp
Ginger – 1 inch cut in juliennes
Green chilli – 2

Method:

1. Soak Chickpeas overnight.
2. Heat a pressure cooker, add soaked chole, 1 tea bag (it gives a nice color to chole), salt, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, bayleaf & 3 cups water.
3. Pressure cook for 2 whistles. Cook for one more whistle if chickpeas are not cooked properly.
4. Mix all the ingredients under homemade chole masala and keep aside.
5. Heat ghee in another pan. Add hing and shahi jeera. As soon as jeera splutters, add finely chopped onions and saute well. Add pureed tomatoes and fry well. Now add the prepared chole masala, stir well. Now add a cup of water, cover & cook until oil separates.
6. Add boiled chole and stir well. Cover & cook for 5-7 minutes.
7. Prepare tempering in another frying pan. Heat ghee, add ginger juliennes and green chillis. Add the tempering to the chole. Stir well.
8. Now add chopped cilantro and chole is ready to be served with rice, bhaturas or phulkas/rotis.

Happy Cooking! ☺