Chole Channa / Punjabi chole/ Channa Masala

INGREDIENTS

 To Cook Channa

• 1.5 cup Dry Chickpeas
• 2-3 nos Cloves / lavang
• 2 nos Cardamom / Elaichi
• 1 inch Cinnamon / Dalchini

To temper

• 2 tbsp Oil
• 1 tbsp Ghee
• tsp of Cumin Seeds / Jeera
• 1 no Bayleaf / Tejpatta
• 1-2 nos Green Chilli
• 2 medium size Onion
• 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
• 2-3 medium size Tomato

Dry Masala powders

• 1/4 tsp Turmeric / Haldi
• 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
• 2 tsp Chole Masala
• 1 tsp Coriander Powder / Dhania Powder
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder / Jeera Powder
• 1/2 tsp Aamchoor powder
• 1/2 tsp Garam Masala Powder
• 1 tsp Kasoori Methi
• Salt to taste
• Coriander leaves, Chopped
• water

Method

1. Cook the chana into pressure cooker . Add water sufficient enough to cover channa, a pinch of cooking soda , few whole spices ( cloves , elaichi , cinnamon and bay leaf )
2. Add a tea bag , it gives nice deep color to the chana masala. Instead of tea bag , can add a piece of dried amla. Pressure cook for 3-4 whistles on medium flame. The chana should be well cooked , yet should hold shape. When pressed it should be soft.
3. In a kadai , take oil + butter. When it's hot , jeera , bay leaf and slit green chillies. Saute for a min.
4. Add Onion coarse paste / Finely chopped , ginger garlic paste , saute till raw smell goes .
5. Once raw smell from onion has gone , add pureed Tomatoes , salt and saute nicely till tomatoes are nicely cooked and color changes.
6. When onion tomato base is well cooked , starts leaving oil , add all the dry masala one by one. Saute for a minute.
7. Combine all the masala's well and saute them for 1-2 mins . This is how a well sauteed onion tomato base looks like.
8. Now , remove tea bag and add all the cooked choles. Combine everything well.
9. Add some more water , salt if required and simmer for 5-6 mins. Let channa take in all the flavors.Mash few channas , using a ladle. This gives nice texture to the gravy.
10. Once nicely boiled , add chopped coriander leaves.
11. Enjoy hot Punjabi chole with hot poori . Poori chole , what a classic combo.