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4.8 from 57 votes

Chana Pulao (Indian Chickpea Rice)

Chana pulao is a one-pot spiced, fragrant and delish chickpea rice dish made with fragrant basmati rice, melt in the mouth white chickpeas (garbanzo beans or kabuli chana), sharp onions, tangy tomatoes, healthy herbs and bold spices.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 3 to 4
Calories: 526 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

Main ingredients for chana pulao
  • ¾ cup white chickpeas (garbanzo beans or safed chana or kabuli chana or chole)
  • 1 cup heaped basmati rice, 200 grams rice
  • 1 medium to large onion, sliced thinly
  • 1 medium tomato, chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1 pinch garam masala
  • 1 pinch turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
  • 1 pinch saffron strands - optional,
  • ½ teaspoon lemon or lime juice or 1 teaspoon yogurt (curd)
  • 2 tablespoon ghee or oil
  • 1.75 cups water for pressure cooking the rice
  • a few chopped mint leaves for garnish (or coriander keaves)
  • salt as required
Whole spices
  • ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1 black cardamom
  • 2 small green cardamom
  • 2 single thin strand of mace
  • 1 tej patta (indian bay leaf)
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 1 inch cinnamon stick
For the green paste
  • ¾ to 1 inch ginger - chopped
  • 3 to 4 garlic - chopped
  • 1 tablespoon mint leaves - chopped
  • 3 tablespoon Coriander leaves - chopped (cilantro)
  • 1 green chili - chopped
  • ½ to 1 tablespoon water for grinding

Instructions

Preparation
    Cup of Yum
  1. Rinse and soak white chickpeas (chana or chole) overnight or for 8 to 9 hours in enough water.
  2. Drain them well. 
  3. Then add the drained chickpeas to the pressure cooker. Add 3 to 3.5 cups water.
  4. Also add about 1/2 tsp of salt and pressure cook for 12 to 14 whistles or more, till the chickpeas are tender and cooked well.
  5. Drain the cooked chickpeas and keep aside.
  6. Rinse the rice very well in water till the water runs clear of starch.
  7. Then soak the rice in enough water for 30 mins. Strain and keep aside.
  8. Make a smooth paste of the ingredients, mentioned under 'green paste' in a chutney grinder or magic bullet with very little water. Keep this green paste aside
  9. Slice the onion and chop the tomato.
Making chana pulao
  1. In a pressure cooker heat ghee or oil and add all the whole spices – caraway seeds, cardamoms, mace, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf.
  2. Saute the whole garam masala or whole spices for some seconds till fragrant, and then add the sliced onions.
  3. Saute the onions till golden brown.
  4. Now add the green paste and saute till the raw aroma of the ginger-garlic goes away. Add the chopped tomatoes and saute for two minutes.
  5. Next add the turmeric powder, red chili powder and garam masala powder.
  6. Saute the tomatoes for a minute or so and add the basmati rice. Mix well and saute the entire mixture for a minute.
  7. Add the drained cooked chana (chickpeas).
  8. Add the curd or lemon juice, saffron threads and again mix everything well.
  9. Now add 1.75 cups of water.
  10. Season with salt and pressure cook the pulao for 2 to 3 whistles. I pressure cooked for 2 whistles.
  11. When the pressure settles down on its own, then only open the lid of the cooker.
  12. Gently fluff the rice. Garnish with coriander leaves or mint leaves. 
  13. Serve chole pulao hot with raita, pickle, papad or any veg salad.

Nutrition Information

Calories 526kcal (26%) Carbohydrates 89g (30%) Protein 15g (30%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Monounsaturated Fat 2g Cholesterol 22mg (7%) Sodium 856mg (36%) Potassium 700mg (20%) Fiber 12g (48%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 895IU (18%) Vitamin C 15mg (17%) Calcium 107mg (11%) Iron 4.3mg (24%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3to 4

Amount Per Serving

Calories 526

% Daily Value*

Calories 526kcal 26%
Carbohydrates 89g 30%
Protein 15g 30%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 856mg 36%
Potassium 700mg 15%
Fiber 12g 48%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 895IU 18%
Vitamin C 15mg 17%
Calcium 107mg 11%
Iron 4.3mg 24%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.