Pindi Chole also known as Pindi Chana is a tasty curry made by cooking chana with tempered spices in onion, tomato base. Pindi Chole is a great side dish for poori, roti, chapati and other flat breads. Learn to make Pindi Chole with step by step pictures.
I badly wanted to try pindi chana(punjabi chole) as I have tasted it in restaurants and also in ready to eat. I got the ingredients ready and totally forgot about it. Then a sudden urge last month and I finally made this, should I say about the taste…? It was a totally different from the usual chana masala we make. I am sure this will add on to my fav side dishes for roti or even poori.
Jump to:
About Pindi Chole
Pindi Chole originated from Rawalpindi region in Pakistan, Punjab hence the name Pindi. Pindi Chole is a unique side dish as it does not have any gravy, it is a dry side dish unlike other gravies or curries.
Pindi Chole is perfect to pair with poori, batura, roti, chapati etc. This is made using cooked soft tender chickpeas along with spice masala, tempered aromatic spices in onion tomato base.
Though I make the classic chana masala often this curry is my favorite too. It can be used as a wrap for filling or sandwiches too. I love this recipe as it is easy and quick to put together.
Similar Recipes
Pindi Chole Ingredients
- Chana – White chana or kabuli chana or chickpeas is used for this dish.
- Tea powder – You can either use tea bags or tea powder in a small cloth tied to cook chickpeas.
- Anardana seeds – Seeds from pomegranate is grind to a coarse mixture and added.
- Onion, Tomato – This forms the base of this dish.
- Whole spices – Cinnamon, cardamom are used to temper.
- Spice powders – Red chili powder, garam masala powder and amchur powder is used.
- Lemon juice – It adds a tangy taste to pindi chana.
How to make Pindi Chole Step by Step
1.Dry roast cumin and anardana seeds till nice aroma rises, and grind it to a coarse powder, Set aside. Soak chana overnight and pressure cook with enough water along with tea bag, cinnamon and cardamom for 6-7 whistles. Drain water and keep chana aside. Reserve drained water. Heat oil in a pan add onion, ginger garlic paste and green chilies saute till golden brown.
2.Add the tomato puree, roasted powder, red chili powder, garam masala powder and required salt. Saute till raw smell leaves. Then add reserved boiled water.
3.Allow it to boil for few minutes. Once it becomes thick like a semi thick gravy add the cooked chana.
4.Add amchur powder , give a quick stir and let chana absorb the gravy well. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and switch off. Add lemon juice while serving along with onion rings.
Serve hot with phulka / poori.
Expert Tips
- Usually pindi chana is semi dry but if you want more gravy then add 1 more tomato for making the puree.
- Don’t skip amchur powder and anardana seeds they give a great flavor to the curry.
- If you have big cardamom use it, I don’t have, so skipped and used green cardamom itself. The darker color is because of the teabag , it gives a great flavor to the gravy.
- You will get Pomegranate seeds in supermarkets.
Serving and Storage
Pindi Chole can be served with rice, roti etc. This curry keeps well in fridge for 2 days, reheat and serve it.
If you have any more questions about this Pindi Chole Recipe do mail me at [email protected]. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube and Twitter .
Tried this Pindi Chana Recipe ? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.
📖 Recipe Card
Pindi Chole Recipe | Pindi Chana Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup white chana
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
- tomato puree from 2 medium sized tomatoes
- 2 green chilies slitted
- 1 tea bag
- 1/4 inch piece cinnamon
- 1 cardamom
- 3/4 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1 teaspoon amchur powder / dry mango powder
- 1 tablespoon coriander leaves finely chopped
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Dry roast cumin and anardana seeds till nice aroma rises, and grind it to a coarse powder, Set aside. Soak chana overnight and pressure cook with enough water along with tea bag, cinnamon and cardamom for 6-7 whistles. Drain water and keep chana aside. Reserve drained water. Heat oil in a pan add onion, ginger garlic paste and green chilies saute till golden brown.
- Add the tomato puree, roasted powder, red chili powder, garam masala powder and required salt. Saute till raw smell leaves. Then add reserved boiled water.
- Allow it to boil for few minutes. Once it becomes thick like a semi thick gravy add the cooked chana.
- Add amchur powder , give a quick stir and let chana absorb the gravy well. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and switch off. Add lemon juice while serving along with onion rings.
- Serve hot with phulka / poori.
Notes
- Usually pindi chana is semi dry but if you want more gravy then add 1 more tomato for making the puree.
- Don’t skip amchur powder and anardana seeds they give a great flavor to the curry.
- If you have big cardamom use it, I don’t have, so skipped and used green cardamom itself.The darker color is because of the teabag , it gives a great flavor to the gravy.
- You will get Pomegranate seeds in supermarkets.
Nivedhanams Sowmya
Delicious and super tempting!!!! very nicely done..
Sowmya
Prathima Rao
A fav & popular way of relishing chole..Looks too yummm!!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
ramya
Delicious looking chole! Great clicks!
Suja Manoj
Drool worthy,looks so yummy
Priya Suresh
Who can resist to this wonderful and delicious pindi Chole.
Teena Mary
Very tasty looking dish! Tea bag concept is new for me too! Interesting!
Sireesha Puppala
That's awesome liked this a lot
Sona S
looks absolutely delicious and tempting..
Nagalakshmi V
i prefer mine with more gravy the husband absolutely loves this!
uma shankar
yummy can eat it just like that!
Sangeetha Nambi
Super perfect and real soft roti too…
Uma Ramanujam
I prepare it with little more gravy.. Looks very perfect…
Saranya Balaji
super delicious gravy…
Peggy G.
This looks delicious!
JEYASHRI SURESH
Very yummy and delicious one, perfect side for rotis
Nithya
Yummy it looks. I recently bought this pindi channa from the ready food by ashirvad and loved it. Happy to see the recipe here.