channa masala or chole

Channa Masala or Chole is a famous punjabi vegetarian dish prepared with chickpeas or white kabuli channa.It is served with Big sized pooris called Bhatures and of course it goes well with most of the Indian breads and even with normal bread.It is protein rich and healthy and very tasty.It is a very common dish in our house.I make it quiet ften.We mostly have it with Phulkas or rotis or sometimes with rice or bread when it is left over.My friend recently told me a new tip for making this channa to make it a little more tasty.She asked me to add one tsp Tomato Ketchup and one tsp Sugar to the channa, i tried it and it was so good if you like a little sweetness in the food you can try it out otherwise you can omit the sugar part.I drizzled a little lemon juice on top and had it along with some Onion slices it was so good and yummy!!!!!!

You will Need

• One cup white Kabuli channa
• Two onions
• Two tomatoes(pureed)
• One tbs Oil
• One tsp Cumin Seeds
• One tsp Ginger Garlic paste
• One tsp Cumin Powder
• One tsp Coriander powder
• A pinch of Turmeric powder
• One tsp Red chilli powder
• Half tsp Garam Masala powder
• Half tsp Chole Masala powder
• Half Bay leaf
• Two to three Cloves
• One Black Cardamom
• One tsp Tomato Ketchup
• One tsp Sugar
• Salt to taste
• Coriander Leaves

How to

1.Soak channa overnight or minimum 7-8 hours.

 2.Pressure cook the channa with little salt,two cloves,bay leaf and black cardamom for about 25 minutes.After 3 whistles lower the flame and leave it for 10-15 minutes.

 3.Heat oil in a pan and crackle cumin seeds.

 4.Fry chopped onion till it starts to get brown.Add ginger garlic paste and fry for one more minute.

 5.Add the tomato puree and let it cook for two minutes then add cumin,coriander,red chilli,garam masala powder and salt and cook for two more minutes.

 6.Fry till oil seperates from the gravy then add tomato ketch up and sugar.

7.Remove the whole masalas from the boiled channa and add the channa(keep some boiled channa aside) to the gravy along with the water.

 8.Let it boil.

 9.Mash the boiled channa well and add it to the gravy so that it thickens.

 10.Add chole masala or channa masala and switch off the stove.

 11.Add some chopped coriander leaves.

Enjoy the channa with some pooris or bhaturas or any other Indian bread variety.

Notes

• If you want you can drizzle some lemon juice before serving.It tastes yummy!!!!
• Adjust the quantity of masalas little according to your taste.
• Adding sugar is optional if you like it spicy avoid adding the sugar.
• In typical punjabi chole they add aamchur powder(dry mango powder and anardana Powder)that is pomogranate seeds powder.You can try that too!!!