Lightning fast Chana masala recipe (Chickpea Curry, Punjabi Chole)

User Reviews

5.0

30 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    5 mins

  • Cook Time

    5 mins

  • Total Time

    20 mins

  • Servings

    4 (yield 4½ cups)

  • Calories

    104 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    Indian

Lightning fast Chana masala recipe (Chickpea Curry, Punjabi Chole)

Get ready for a flavor explosion that’ll make you want to draw little faces on all the chickpeas you see forevermore, so you can kiss and marry each and every one!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil sunflower oil, or olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion medium size, finely diced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 green chilies hari mirch, cut into strips, stems discarded
  • 1 cup diced tomato
  • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 4 teaspoons chana masala I like MDH brand
  • 2 teaspoons chickpea flour besan, or gram flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • cup chopped cilantro leaves
  • 2 15 oz. (439 g.)cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup water

Garnish

  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • ¼ cup kasuri methi leaves optional
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Instructions

  1. In a thick-bottomed pot, heat cooking oil over medium heat. 
  2. After 60 seconds, when the oil is hot, add the finely diced yellow onion, grated fresh ginger, and bay leaf. Sauté them together for about 4 minutes, until the onions turn translucent and start to develop a light golden hue.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and strips of green chilies, diced tomatoes, turmeric, Kashmiri red chili powder and chana masala. Cook for another 4-5 minutes until the tomatoes start to wither and break down.
  4. Add the chickpea flour (besan), and stir to ensure no lumps develop. The chickpea flour helps to thicken the curry and intensify the gravy.
  5. Add the salt, cilantro, drained chickpeas, and water, and turn up the heat to high, cooking the chana masala for a few minutes until darkened, thick, and bubbly.
  6. Before serving, sprinkle the Chana Masala with chopped cilantro and kasoori methi leaves (optional) to add a refreshing herbal note to the dish.

Notes

  • Set your Instant Pot to the "Sauté" function. Heat 2 tablespoons of canola oil, sunflower oil, or olive oil in the pot.
  • Sauté the finely diced yellow onion, grated fresh ginger, and bay leaf until the onions turn translucent.
  • Add the minced garlic and strips of green chilies, and cook for a couple of minutes until the garlic becomes aromatic.
  • Stir in the diced tomatoes, turmeric, Kashmiri red chili powder, chana masala spice blend, and chickpea flour. Cook for about 5-6 minutes until the tomatoes soften.
  • Season with 1 teaspoon of salt, and add the drained and rinsed chickpeas.
  • Pour in 1 ¼ cups of water, and give everything a good stir.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid and set it to the "Pressure Cook" mode for 5 minutes.
  • Once done, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes before carefully opening the vent to release any remaining pressure.
  •  
  • Follow the same instructions as the Instant Pot method, using a stovetop pressure cooker.
  • After adding the chickpeas and water, secure the lid on the pressure cooker and bring it to full pressure over medium heat.
  • Once full pressure is reached, reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Allow the pressure to release naturally before opening the pressure cooker.
  • For a milder version, remove the seeds from the green chilies before adding them to the pot. You can also adjust the amount of Kashmiri red chili powder to suit your heat preferences.
  • If you find the Chana Masala is getting too thick, add a splash of water to maintain your desired consistency.
  • If the tomatoes you are using aren't super ripe and flavorful, or are out of season, consider adding fresh lemon juice, or amchur (dried mango powder) and a pinch of jaggery or sugar to the dish to simulate the flavor of better, yummier tomatoes.
  • If you prefer more warming spices, consider stirring in ½ teaspoon garam masala powder into the dish before serving.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 104kcal (5%) Carbohydrates 9g (3%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 7g (11%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 0.03g Sodium 671mg (28%) Potassium 199mg (6%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 231IU (5%) Vitamin C 12mg (13%) Calcium 34mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4(yield 4½ cups)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 104 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 104kcal 5%
Carbohydrates 9g 3%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 7g 11%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 0.03g 2%
Sodium 671mg 28%
Potassium 199mg 4%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 231IU 5%
Vitamin C 12mg 13%
Calcium 34mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

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

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