Pindi Chole Recipe-How to make Pindi Chana

Pindi Chole or Rawal Pindi Chana is a dry dish in which kabuli chana is cooked with tea leaves (tea leaves give the chole the dark color) and flavored with freshly ground spices. It is named Pindi Chana after Rawalpindi the town where it originated. It is easy to cook and is served as a side dish for poori, phulka, kulcha or bhatura. I love to have it even as a snack. Today we will learn how to make Pindi Chana following this easy recipe with step wise pictures.

Pindi Chole Recipe-How to make Pindi Chana

Prep Time : 15 mins (soaking time not included)

Cook Time : 15 mins
Serves: 2
Recipe Category: Side Dish
Recipe Cuisine: Punjabi-Indian
Author:Padhu Sankar

Ingredients needed

White Chick peas/Kabuli Chana -3/4 cup
Tea leaves -2 tsp or tea bags-2

Spice/Masala Powder for pindi chole

   Cumin seeds/Jeera -2 tsp
   Coriander seeds -1 tsp
   Anardana Seeds – 1-2 tsp
   Chilli powder -3/4 tsp
   Garam Masala Powder -1/2 tsp
   Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
   Amchur Powder -1/4 tsp

For the seasoning

   Oil – 2 tbsp
   Ginger -1 inch piece (Slivered)
   Green chilli (slit) -1

Salt or black salt to taste

For Garnishing

   Coriander Leaves
   Sliced Onions
   Lemon wedges

Preparation

Tie tea leaves in a muslin cloth/ thin cotton cloth to form a bundle. Wash and soak chick peas with the tea leaves bundle overnight or for 6-7 hours.

After 6-7 hours, rinse it well, add 3 -3 1/2 cup of water, little salt and pressure cook until soft along with the tea leaf bundle. Once pressure subsides, open the cooker, drain and reserve the liquid. Keep the chana aside. (After opening the cooker, you can leave it for half an hour to get a nice deep color).

Dry roast cumin seeds, coriander seeds and anardana seeds (Dried seeds of pomegranate fruit) separately and powder it together. Mix chilli powder, garam masala powder, amchur powder and turmeric powder with it. Our masala/spice powder for pindi chole is ready.

Method

Heat oil or ghee in a kadai/pan, add slivered ginger, slit green chilli, cooked chana, salt and the spice powder.

Add 1/2 cup of the reserved liquid and cook until on high heat until all the water evaporates.

Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and sliced onions. Squeeze few drops lemon juice if needed and serve as a side dish for poori, phulka or naan.

Note – You can adjust the spices according to your taste.

Check out my

Punjabi Chana Masala

Channa Bhatura Restaurant Style Recipe

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