Pindi Chana, How to make Pindi Chana Masala | Pindi Chole Recipe

pindi chana masala

How to make Pindi Chole Recipe - This is a traditional dish from the North India made from white chickpeas and aromatic fresh spices. Chickpeas cooked with whole spices then added into onion tomato based gravy. This dish is adapted from Rawalpindi before the segment of India and Pakistan happened, henceforth, it is called Pindi Chana.

 Chana implies chickpeas and Pindi word originated from the place(rawalpindi). Pindi chana masala is completely stuffed of proteins. Pindi Chole is best presented with butter naan(homemade) or poori or simple roti or with jeera Rice also. 

 This below picture is actually our lunch, served with simple chapati , kadai paneer as a side dish and guava as a salad.
pindi chole recipe

 I have used homemade spices for making Pindi Chana Masala made from fresh, roasted spices such as jeera, carom seeds, coriander seeds, anardana, cloves, black peppercorns, both green and black .cardamom, cinnamon, fennel seeds etc. You can use market based pindi chana masala too. (it comes in mdh or catch brand) 

 But I believe if you make this authentic way to prepare homemade powder, you will enjoy the dish most rather than market based powder. 
How to make Pindi Chana Masala

 This pindi chana masala recipe is slightly different recipe from punjabi chole masala, check the recipe

 This freshly roasted and powdered homemade masala, made Pindi Chana extremely delicious. I used tea leaves while cooking the chana, the boiled chana had this lovely brown colour and its fragrance.
pindi chole

 Once the chana got cooked up, I simply cooked onions, tomatoes and handmade masala with the chana and pindi chole prepared! To give a tartness to the gravy, I added tamarind pulp as well while chana was getting simmered with different ingredients.  

 Let's start the easiest recipe of homemade Pindi Chana Masala 

 Prep Time : 8 hours 
Cook Time : 30 minutes
Total Time : 8 hours 30 minutes
Servings : 4
Course : Main Course
Cuisine : NorthIndian
Author : Jolly Makkar

 Ingredients :

 Choley / White chickpeas - 1 cup (soaked overnight)
Tea leaves - 2 tsp
Chopped Onion - 1 cup
Chopped Tomato - 1 cup
Ginger - 1 inch piece chopped
Green chili - 2-3  slit into half
Mango Powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Tamarind paste - 2 tbsp
Oil - 4 tbsp
Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

 For the Tea water/decoction

Water - 2 cups
Black Tea Leaves - 2 to 3 tbsp

 Dry roast the below spices till fragrant and slightly black in colour and grind to make a powder

 Jeera - 1 tbsp
Anardana - 1 tbsp
Fennel seeds/Saunf - 1 tsp
Carom seeds/Ajwain - 1/2 tsp
Coriander seeds - 2 tbsp
Cloves - 7-8
Black peppercorns - 12-15
Black cardamom - 2
Green Cardamom - 2
Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
Dry red chilies - 2-3 (optional)

 Preparation Method :

 1. Boil the tea leaves in 2 cups of water. Strain and keep it aside.

 2. Add soaked choley, black tea water, salt and some more water in a pressure cooker and cook till choley are done.

 3. Add oil in a kadai/pan. When the oil is hot enough, add the chopped onions and fry till golden brown.

 4. Add tomato, ginger and green chili and fry for another 2 minutes on high heat.

 5. Add the grounded homemade chana masala. Add turmeric powder, mix well and little water, cook for 3 to 4 minutes. 

 6. Add the cooked choley along with the water. Cook for 10-12 minutes on medium heat. Stir occasionally.

 7. Adjust salt as required. Add tamarind pulp and mix well. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
pindi chana

 You can end number of chickpeas recipes from my blog

 punjabi style kala chana masala
chickpeas avocado salad
kabuli chana 
amritsari style chole

Did you make this recipe?

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7 comments

  1. Sangeeta sethiSeptember 13, 2019 at 2:02 AM

    Fabulous delicious authentic preparation

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hema's MusingsJune 30, 2020 at 6:35 AM

    That looks so inviting, lovely presentation as always can we use ready made chana masala besides home made ?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Superduper kitchenJune 30, 2020 at 7:13 AM

    This is one of my fav. I loved the colour of pindi channa. Though I make at home, I use readymade masala. Loved your homemade masala. Will try it next time with your homemade masala

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mayuri PatelJune 30, 2020 at 12:04 PM

    Homemade spices are the most flavorful and add so much flavour to the dish in which it is added. Pindi Chole looks very inviting. Haven't made it at home, but your recipe is tempting me to try.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Motions and EmotionsJuly 1, 2020 at 1:42 AM

    Pindi chana looks so gorgeous and delicious... Addition of tea leaves gave the perfect color and homemade spices must have contributed to the delicious taste

    ReplyDelete
  6. jayashreeAugust 10, 2020 at 3:54 AM

    Pindi Chana looks so delicious. I love making a batch of fresh masala and adding to it, it tastes awesome.

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete