Punjabi Chhole

Punjabi Chhole is a mouth watering curry prepared with Chhole (garbanzo beans) in aromatic onion-tomato sauce/gravy.. Follow this recipe and I assure you this will be the best Chhole you've had so far :-)

Ingredients:

• 3 - 15 oz. cans of Chhole (garbanzo beans) - rinsed (you can alternatively soak the beans overnight and boil the next day if you don't want to use canned ones)
• 4 tbsp oil
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 1¹/₂ tbsp ginger - grated
• 1¹/₂ tbsp garlic - grated
• 3 large onions - puréed
• 5 large tomatoes - puréed
• 5 tbsp chhole/chana masala (I used MTR)
• 1 tbsp chilli powder
• ¹/₄ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp kasuri methi (crushed between your palms)
• ¹/₂ cup tomato purée from can (optional use if your tomatoes are not very red and tangy)
• Water - as needed (I used about 1/4 cup)
• Salt to taste
• Whole masala
• 1-1¹/₂" cinnamon stick
• 4-5 cloves
• 8-10 black peppercorns
• 3 pods cardamom peeled
• To garnish
• Cilantro - 2 tbsp

Method

• Using a mortar pestle coarsely ground the whole masala
• In a frypan, heat the oil and ghee; add the coarsely ground whole masala and sauté for about 30 sec.
• Add grated ginger and garlic and sauté again for 30 sec.
• Add puréed onion and let it cook covered on medium to medium-low heat until the smell of raw onion disappears (add water if necessary - I like to be frugal with water addition)
• Now add the puréed tomatoes and let it cook covered until the oil separates at the edges
• Now add all the masala and mix well
• Let it simmer for a few minutes - this will ensure the masala flavor is infused in the gravy
• Add Chhole and mix well
• Add this mixture to the pressure cooker (add water if the gravy is less) and pressure cook on medium low flame for 1 whistle. Don't be in a hurry to open the pressure cooker, rather let the pressure release on its own.
• Open the pressure cooker and mix well one last time. Remove to a serving bowl and garnish with cilantro

Serving suggestion:

Chhole is traditionally served with bhature; I however prefer the whole wheat paratha :-)

Enjoy!!