Amritsari Chole

Amritsari Chole has been my go to dish to have with freshly made soft kulchas. This delicious chole curry has a good mix of traditional Indian spices and flavours that make it an apt curry to serve with your choice of Indian breads. So waiting for what? Here is how to make Amritsari Chole Recipe in a traditional way.

What is Amritsari Chole?

Amritsari Chole are traditional Amritsar style spicy chickpeas or Chole Recipe made using freshly ground chole masala. The curry has a slightly darker hue due to tea bags that are used while boiling the chole. You were wondering about it, right?

Traditionally dry Amla was used to give the typical black colour to the chole but now with not so easy availability, tea bags can be used.

Anytime you’re looking at making a different kind of chole, give this delicious chole recipe a try. Do try out some of the other delicious chole recipes I’ve posted: Methi Chole, Achari Chole, Shahi Chole Masala and a delicious and healthy Palak Chole.

Chickpea or chana is naturally low in fat, high in much needed fibre and rich in vitamins and minerals. Eating chickpeas also helps in weight management, boosting digestion and in managing diabetes.

This popular North Indian curry is the perfect way to include chickpeas in your diet. If you live outside India and dry chickpea isn’t available, you could also make this recipe with canned chana or chickpeas.

The Chana soaks up the flavours of the dish really well, so at the end of it, you’ll be treated to a fabulous broth with the fresh flavours from the spices used. What are you waiting for? Bring the taste and flavours of Amritsari cuisine to your home.

Benefits of eating chickpeas:

– Chickpeas or Garbanzo beans have a nutty taste and texture. And they are packed with a plethora of vitamins, minerals and fiber.
– The amount of protein in chickpeas is quite good and hence it is a great protein supplement for vegetarians.
– Also, if you are vegan then chickpeas should be consumed because it contains plant-based protein. Win-win, right?
– Furthermore, it also keeps your blood sugar levels under control.
– Being full of fibre, Chickpea help in smoother digestion.
– It shield you against chronic ailments like cancer, diabetes and even heart disease.

How to make Amritsari Chole?

The chole has to be soaked in advance to make this recipe. So factor out that time when you decide to try this delicious Amritsari Chole Recipe.

Once the chole has soaked for a few hours, it’s drained and cooked with water, tea bags and salt until it has softened. It is then removed from the heat and kept aside.

The chana masala is then dry roasted until it gives out a tantalizing aroma and is slightly browned. The masala is removed from the pan and allowed to cool. Once done, all the spices are ground to a fine powder.

Some mustard oil is heated in a pan and once the oil is hot, chopped onions are added in and fried till golden brown. To this, chopped ginger, tomato and green chilli are added in and cooked for a few minutes. Then the cooked chole is added in with the water in which it was boiled.

It’s important to mash the chole slightly with a ladle to give it a great texture. Check the consistency and add more salt and water if required. The chana mix is allowed to cook for a few minutes and to this, tamarind paste is added and mixed well.

Finally, it’s garnished with fresh coriander and ginger juliennes. This delicious chole curry is best served hot with Indian breads like kulcha or roti.

How to make Amritsari Chole Masala

Amritsari Chole Masala is a blend of roasted spices which gives a very typical flavour to this chole recipe. You can make a big batch of this chole masala powder and keep using as and when required.

Make sure to roast the spices on low heat so that they are nicely roasted and not burned.

For one batch of Chole Masala, you will need

• 1 and 1/2 tbsp Coriander Seeds
• 1/2 tbsp Cumin Seeds
• 1 tbsp Anardana (Dry Pomegranate Seeds)
• 1/4 tsp Fenugreek Seeds
• 5-6 Dry Red Chillies
• 4-5 Cloves
• 5-6 Black peppercorn
• 1 Black Cardamom
• 1/2 inch Cinnamon

Roast these well until browned and fragrant and then make into a coarse powder. You can double or triple the amount as per needed.

What to serve with Amritsari Chole?

This dish can be served with Kulcha, Bhatura, Naan, Paratha, Poori or Phulka. Jeera rice or plain steamed rice also pairs well with this.

Make sure to serve some vinegar onion and green chillies along.

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How to make Amritsari Chole Step by Step

Wash the Kabuli Chana and soak in 3-4 cups of water for 6-8 hours.

Drain the water and add the chana in a pressure cooker along with 4 cups of water, tea bags and 2 tsp salt.

Pressure cook until chana are softened. Remove the pressure from heat and keep aside.

Dry roast the ingredients for Chole masala until they are slightly browned and fragrant. 

Remove the pan from heat and let the ingredients cool.

Grind the spices to make a fine powder.

Heat mustard oil in a pan.

Once the oil is hot, add onion and fry until golden brown.

Add ginger, tomato and green chilli and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Now add the chole masala, turmeric powder and red chilli powder and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add cooked chana along with the water in which it was boiled. Mash a few chana using the back of a ladle. Adjust the salt and water. Cook for 10-12 minutes on medium heat.

Add tamarind paste and mix well. Cook for another 5-6 minutes. Garnish with fresh coriander and ginger juliennes.

Amritsari Chole Recipe

4.67 from 6 votes

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Amritsari Chole

Amritsari Chole is an authentic punjabi style dark chole recipe which goes well with Bhatura or Kulcha. Here is a traditional recipe to make it.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 170 kcal

Author Neha Mathur

Ingredients

• 1 cup Kabuli Chana
• 1 Black Tea Bag
• 4 tbsp Mustard Oil
• 1 cup Onion Finely Chopped
• 2 tsp Ginger Finely Chopped
• 1 cup Tomato Chopped
• 2 Green Chilli Chopped
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 2 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
• Salt to taste
• 2 tsp Tamarind Paste
• 2 tbsp Fresh Coriander Chopped

For Chole Masala

• 1 and 1/2 tbsp Coriander Seeds
• 1/2 tbsp Cumin Seeds
• 1 tbsp Anardana
• 1/4 tsp Fenugreek Seeds
• 5-6 Dry Red Chilllies
• 4-5 Cloves
• 5-6 Black peppercorn
• 1 Black Cardamom
• 1/2 inch Cinnamon

Instructions

1. Wash the Kabuli Chana and soak in 3-4 cups of water for 6-8 hours.

2. Drain the water and add the chana in a pressure cooker along with 4 cups of water, tea bags and 2 tsp salt.

3. Pressure cook until chana are softened.

4. Remove the pressure from heat and keep aside.

5. Dry roast the ingredients for Chole masala until they are slightly browned and fragrant.

6. Remove the pan from heat and let the ingredients cool.

7. Grind the spices to make a fine powder.

8. Keep the chole masala aside.

9. Heat mustard oil in a pan.

10. Once the oil is hot, add onion and fry until golden brown.

11. Add ginger, tomato and green chilli and cook for 3-4 minutes.

12. Add the chole masala, turmeric powder and red chilli powder and cook for 2-3 minutes. Now add little water if the masala is too dry. 

13. Now add cooked chana along with the water in which it was boiled. Discard he tea bag.

14. Mash a few chana using the back of a ladle.

15. Adjust the salt and water.

16. Cook for 10-12 minutes on medium heat.

17. Add tamarind paste and mix well.

18. Cook for another 5-6 minutes.

19. Garnish with fresh coriander and ginger juliennes.

20. Serve hot with kulcha or Roti.

Recipe Notes

Try to make Chole Masala fresh each time. It gives a fabulous taste to this dish. 

However, if you have made a big batch, store it in an airtight container for up to a month in a cool and dry place.

You can use canned chickpeas to make this curry. Make sure to rinse well before adding in the gravy.

Nutrition Facts

Amritsari Chole

Amount Per Serving

Calories 170 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 73mg3%

Potassium 259mg7%

Carbohydrates 16g5%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 495IU10%

Vitamin C 8.1mg10%

Calcium 55mg6%

Iron 2.4mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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