Chhole

Ingredients

• 1½ cups chickpeas (kabuli chana)
• 1 tbsp tea leaves
• 5-6 dried Indian gooseberry pieces (amla)
• Salt to taste
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 4–6 green chillies, slit  
• 2 medium onions, grated
• 2 tablespoons ginger paste
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste
• 2 tablespoons coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1½ teaspoons red chilli powder
• ½ teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur)
• 1 teaspoon pomegranate seeds, crushed
• 3 medium tomatoes, (pureed)  
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander leaves
• 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
• 3 tablespoons green chutney

• ¼ cup green chutney
• ½ small onion, grated
• Salt to taste
• ¼ teaspoon dry mango powder
• ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder
• ¼ teaspoon sugar

Method 

1. Soak chickpeas in water overnight. Drain. Tie tealeaves and dried Indian gooseberries (amla) in muslin cloth to form a bundle.  Add this bundle to the chickpeas.  Boil with five cups of water and salt till done.  Take out the tea bundle, strain the chick peas and reserve the cooking liquour.
2. Heat oil in a pan.  Add cumin seeds and sauté.  When they begin to change colour, add slit green chillies, grated onion and sauté for eight to ten minutes.
3. When the mixture turns brown, add ginger paste, garlic paste, coriander powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder, dry mango powder and crushed pomegranate seeds.
4. Sauté for four to five minutes. Add fresh tomato puree.  Mix and add boiled chickpeas and salt to taste.  When it comes to a boil lower heat.
5. Add chopped coriander leaves, garam masala powder and mix.  Add a little of the reserved cooking liquour if required to adjust the consistency.  Cover and simmer for fifteen minutes.
6. When done add green chutney.  Mix and serve hot.
7. The typical Amritsari chutney which goes with this preparation is made as following: Take green chutney in a bowl, add grated onion, salt, amchur powder and red chilli powder. Mix with a spoon, dilute with two tablespoons of water and finish with sugar. Mix and serve with Chhole.

Nutrition Info