Indian Main Courses
Pindi Chole – Chickpea Curry with Whole Spices
Pindi Chole – Chickpea Curry with Whole Spices. Instant Pot or Saucepan. Chickpeas cooked with whole spices then added to…
- Ready 40 minutes
- Serves 4
- Prep 10 minutes
- Cook 30 minutes
When you think there are enough chickpea curries to make, you realize you have to make one more! And that one has to be this Pindi Chole.
Chole means Chickpea Curry and Pindi came from the place (rawalpindi). Pindi Chole has various versions that have evolved over the years. Pindi Chole can be dryish chickpeas with just spices or spices + ginger+garlic, that make up the thick “curry”. More saucy versions often use onion and other ingredients. This is an evolved recipe from cooking variations of these. Amazingly I hadn’t made these in a while, with all the various recipes I was developing for the book and blog. I would make these for when my parents visited, but they prefer less spiced food now and we stick to simple Dals and veggie sides.
Dried Chickpeas are soaked, then cooked in a pressure cooker or saucepan with whole spices such as whole cinnamon stick, green and black cardamom and cloves. The sauce is made up of caramelizing onions, no tomatoes, which is combined with the chickpeas and simmered to make a very flavorful dish. Definitely try this with dried chickpeas. I do have an option to use canned chickpeas, but the flavor doesn’t infuse the chickpeas as much.
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The Chickpea Curry of your dreams or atleast mine! Let me know in the comments if you make this and tag me on Instagram.
More Chickpea Recipes from the blog
- Mango Curry Chickpeas
- Chana Saag – Chickpea Spinach Curry in Instant Pot
- Brown Chickpea Coconut Curry
- Spanish Chickpea Stew
- More Instant Pot Recipes here.
This recipe uses some specific ingredients that you can easily find in an Indian store near you or online on amazon, such as Kala namak (indian sulphur salt which is also used to add eggy flavor in tofu scrambles etc), Chana Masala Spice blend (get this blend for authentic chickpea curry every time!), Amchoor (Dry mango powder adds a sweet sour profile which you can add with a mix of lemon, sugar and kala namak instead), Black cardamom( is large black spice that is very different from the green cardamom. You can use it when making your own garam masala, or just omit it from this recipe). All of these are great additions to your pantry if you make Indian food often and like traditional flavors.
Traditionally the whole spices are tied up in muslin cloth to make a bag and added to the chickpeas, so they are easier to remove later. There are only a few spices, so I generally add them directly. Pindi chole is often served with Kulcha, which is a dough similar to Naan, rolled out to a thin round and deep fried. They are also a great choice to serve over Potato Cutlets (tikki) or make Chaat with.
In other news, my Book has reached the warehouses and is starting to ship! Get your Pre-order in now so you have it on 26th (the release day!) . Also pick up the Pre-order Bonus bundle full of exclusive recipes and Videos! I cannot wait for you all to get it. Thank you So Much for the continuous Support!
Recipe
Pindi Chole - Chickpea Curry with Cinnamon, Cardamom and Caramelized Onion Sauce. Instant Pot or Saucepan
Pindi Chole - Chickpea Curry with Whole Spices. Chickpeas cooked with whole spices then added to a sauce with caramelized onions. Instant Pot or Saucepan. Punjabi Chole Adapted from Rawalpindi style Chole. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Soy-free Recipe
- Serves 4
- Prep 10 minutes
- Cook 30 minutes
- Total 40 minutes
Ingredients
Chickpeas:
- 1 cup dried chickpeas
- 1 cinnamon stick (, 2 inch)
- 2 green cardamoms (, partially cracked open)
- 1 black cardamom (, optional but definitely use it if you can find it)
- 2 cloves
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 tsp kala namak ((Indian sulphur Salt))
- 1 tea bag ((black tea plain), optional)
Sauce:
- 1 tsp oil (, organic safflower)
- 8 cloves garlic
- 1 inch ginger
- 1 medium onion (chopped or minced)
- 2 tsp chana masala or chole masala spice blend (, or use 1.5 tsp garam masala and 1 tsp coriander powder)
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp amchoor (, dry mango powder (adds a sour profile))
- 3/4 tsp salt
- onion, (lemon juice and pepper flakes for garnish)
Instructions
- 1
Soak the chickpeas for atleast an hour or 4 hours. Combine in a pressure cooker(instant Pot) with 2 to 2.5 cups water with the rest of the ingredients under chickpeas. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally. See note for saucepan option
- 2
Blend the garlic, ginger, onion with a few tbsp of water to make puree. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add blended onion ginger garlic. and cook stirring occasionally until golden and onion doesnt smell raw (10 to 13 mins). Alternatively add minced garlic and ginger and cook for a minute, then add finely chopped onion and continue to cook until golden-translucent.
- 3
Add the spices and mix in. Cook for half a minute.
- 4
Add cooked chickpeas with the whole spices, salt,and some of the cooking water or fresh water to the saucepan and simmer covered for 10 to 15 minutes. (alternatively, add the onion mixture and salt to the chickpeas(In Instant pot)). Taste and adjust salt and spice (add more water if needed). Press saute and Simmer for 10 minutes. Add a pinch of sugar to balance if needed.
- 5
Serve garnished with chopped onions, lemon juice, pepper flakes with rice or flatbread or over Potato Cutlets (tikki). Or make a bowl with roasted veggies. You can remove the whole spices before serving. I usually keep them in in the serving container, so they stay with the leftover chickpeas that get stored.
Notes
To sub Amchoor, use a good pinch kala namak and 1 tsp or more lemon juice. To make the Chickpeas in a Saucepan: Soak the dried chickpeas, overnight. Drain well, wash and combine with 3 to 4 cups of water and the spices. Cook partially covered over medium heat for 50 minute sr longer util the chickpeas are tender. Continue with the sauce. To make with Canned chickpeas: Drain the chickpeas, Add the chickpeas and all the whole spices listed under chickpeas, 1/8 tsp kala namak and no tea bag, with 1 cup of water to the simmering sauce at step 4. Cook for 15 minutes or longer. Nutrition is 1 of 4 serves. Does not include rice or other side.
Nutrition
- Calories226 kcal
- Carbohydrates37 g
- Protein10 g
- Fat4 g
- Sodium450 mg
- Potassium501 mg
- Fiber10 g
- Sugar6 g
- Vitamin A35 IU
- Vitamin C5.9 mg
- Calcium78 mg
- Iron3.4 mg
