In this recipe, I have used store bought chana masala powder. It came out really well and tasty. We enjoyed it with bhature for our weekend lunch. To make black colored chole, we need to add tea bags or dried amla powder while cooking kabuli chana. Also we have to use Anardhana powder ( Pomegranate seeds powder) , dhania powder, chole masala powder and roasted cumin powder in the masala. I was able to achieve its color to some extent as I used less tea powder. This is one of the easy chole recipe as it has no grinding works. If you are looking for chole recipe with homemade chole masala powder, please check my Punjabi lunch menu post in which I had shared an authentic chole recipe. Soon I will try to make a separate post. I will share the bhatura recipe in this week. Now lets see how to make Chole recipe for Bhatura with step by step pictures and video !

Do check out my easy chana masala using pressure cooker and Chola poori recipe 

Chole Recipe / How to make Chole for Bhatura

Chole recipe – How to make chole for bhatura and puri.

1. Wash and soak Chana overnight or 10 hours in required water.
2. Pressure cook Chana adding tea bags, whole spices and baking soda.
3. Cook for 2 whistles in low flame. Remove the tea bag after its cooked.
4. Heat oil in a kadai. Saute onion adding anardhana till brown. Add tomato,chilli & ginger.
5. Saute till mushy. Add spice powders, cook till oil separates.
6. Lastly add cooked chana with water, simmer gravy for 10 minutes. Serve with bhatura !

METHOD – STEP BY STEP PICTURES

Wash and soak kabuli chana (white chana) for 10 hours or overnight. Chana becomes more than doubled in quantity after its soaked. I got around 2.5 cups. Drain the soaked water. In a pressure cooker base, take soaked chana, baking soda, 2 tea bags or 2 tsp tea powder tied in a thin cotton cloth, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. Add 2.5 to 3 cups of water. Pressure cook in very low flame for 2 to 3 whistles. Chana cooks soft and becomes black in color. Remove and squeeze the tea bag slightly. Discard it. Keep the cooker aside. Heat oil in a kadai. Saute onions till transparent. Add anardhana powder and saute till onions turn brown in color without burning.  Now add finely chopped tomato, ginger and green chilli. Add required salt and saute till tomato becomes mushy Then add red chilli powder, dhania powder, garam masala powder, sugar and cumin powder. Saute till onion separates from the gravy. It takes 5 to 7 minutes. Add the cooked chana along with black water and whole spices added in the cooker. Mix well and add chana masala powder/chole masala powder. Mix well and check for taste. Add more salt & spice powders if needed. Boil the gravy for 10 minutes in medium flame till it comes to desired consistency. I made it thick. You can make it slightly watery if you like. Switch off the flame and serve hot with bhatura or puri. Enjoy !

Note

Addition of tea bags is essential to get black colored chana after cooking. So do not skip it. Adding Anardhana powder is for flavor and to get dark colored chole masala. You can also use store bought chole masala powder instead of chana masala powder. Adjust the quantity of spice powders as per your taste.

Try this easy, yummy Chole masala recipe at home. Enjoy with bhatura !