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    Recipe Index » Dals / Beans

    Pindi Chole (Chana)

    Published: Oct 15, 2020 · Last Modified: Oct 15, 2020 by Kanan Patel / Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Pindi chana served with sliced onion, green chili with text on image for pinterest.

    Pindi chole is one of the easiest chickpea recipes with full of flavors. This is the dry version of chana where boiled chickpeas are coated lightly with spice powder gravy. 

    Pindi chana garnished with sliced onions and slit green chili.
    Jump to:
    • ❤️About This Recipe
    • 🧾Ingredients
    • 👩‍🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions 
    • 💭Expert Tips
    • 🍽 Serving Ideas
    • 📋 Recipe Card

    ❤️About This Recipe

    This dish pindi chana (chole) is named after the town where it is originated, Rawalpindi, Punjab (a region of Pakistan now, used to be a part of India before India-Pakistan partition).

    So this dish is not only popular in Pakistan, but also in the Northern part of India. You may find street vendors selling it or on the menu of some dhabas.

    Some street vendors add paneer or boiled, cubed potatoes in their pindi chole to give it some variation.

    This makes the protein-packed main course when served with Indian bread like poori, bhatura, naan or kulcha.   

    When you have boiled chickpeas (or canned chickpeas) handy, this comes together in just 10 minutes. 

    Yes, it is that quick. There is no onion, tomato used in this dish. So no chopping, grinding required like the gravy version of chole. Here raw onions are served along with the dish, but not added while cooking.

    🧾Ingredients

    Here is the pic of the ingredients used in making pindi chole.

    Ingredients used in pindi chole includes chickpeas, teabag, oil, salt, lime, ginger, garlic and spices.

    Chickpeas: I always prefer to use dry chickpeas. So I wash and soak overnight and the next day I boil in my pressure cooker (in instant pot nowadays). Alternatively, you can use canned chickpeas. If so skip the soaking and boiling step. 

    Teabag: It is added while boiling the chickpeas. So it gives a nice brown tinge to the chana. If you have used a canned one then your chana doesn’t get that tinge. That’s ok, anyways tea bag doesn’t add any flavor here, It’s used just for the color.

    Ginger & Garlic: I most of the time, freshly grate them and use in the recipe. You can use ready-made or homemade ginger garlic paste instead.

    Spice powders: All of them are basic and easily available.

    Lime: I like the taste of lime/lemon juice in this pindi chana. Every household has their version. Some add tamarind paste. While some add amchur. 

    👩‍🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions 

    Soaking, Boiling Chickpeas

    1) Wash the dried chickpeas under running cold water until water runs clear. Or rinse them 2-3 times until the water is not cloudy anymore.

    2) Then soak in enough water (2 inches above) for at least 8 hours or overnight. Did you forget to soak ahead of time? No worries check out my quick soaking method in the notes below.

    3) Now discard the soaking water, take soaked chana and freshwater in the pressure cooker. Add whole spices (cloves, cinnamon, black cardamom) and teabag.

    4) Cover the cooker with the lid, put the weight on and cook for 1 whistle on HIGH + 20 minutes On LOW. Let the pressure go down naturally, then open the lid. Discard the tea bag and spices. Drain the water and keep boiled chana aside.
    - Cook in instant pot: takes about 10-15 minutes (see the details here - Instant pot chickpeas)

    Collage of 4 steps showing soaking chickpeas, soaked overnight, added teabag and spices, boiled chickpeas.

    Making Pindi Chole:

    1) Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add ginger and garlic, saute for a minute or until the raw smell of ginger-garlic goes away.

    2) Then add all the spice powders (red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, anardana powder and garam masala). 

    3) Mix and cook for 30 seconds only. Be careful, do not burn the spices.

    4) Add boiled chana and mix well so all the spices are coated to chana evenly. Lower the heat to lowest and cook for 4-5 minutes. Lastly, add lemon/lime juice, mix and serve.

    Collage of 4 steps showing ginger-garlic in oil, add spice powders, mixed, added chana and mixed.

    💭Expert Tips

    • Quick Soaking Method for chickpeas: Take washed chana and plenty of water in a saucepan. Turn the heat on HIGH and let it come to a boil and then continue boiling for 5 minutes. Then turn off the stove. Cover the pan with the lid and let it rest for 1 hour. When you take a look at chana after 1 hour, they will be the same as overnight soaked.
    • If you are using canned chickpeas, then no need to pressure cook them. But you need to drain the liquid. Skip the teabag. Also, the whole spices we added in the pressure cooker, add those in oil, once you get a nice aroma the spices add ginger garlic and continue.
    • After adding spice powders, if needed lower the heat and stir immediately. Don’t cook the spices for a long time otherwise they get burnt and don’t taste good at all.

    🍽 Serving Ideas

    • This pindi chole is served with raw sliced onions and slit green chili.
    • To make it a meal, serve with poori, bhatura or kulcha. 
    • To keep the meal healthy, this tastes good with phulka roti.
    Pindi chole served in a bowl with garnish of green chili and sliced onions.

    Check Out Other Kabuli Chana Recipes

    • Amritsari chole
    • Chole bhature
    • Chole without onion garlic
    • Instant pot chana masala
    • Chana paneer

    PS Tried this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback! Plus, Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest updates.

    📋 Recipe Card

    Step by Step Photos AboveWant to make it perfect first time? Don't forget to check out Step-by-Step photo instructions and helpful Tips & Tricks !!
    Pindi chana garnished with sliced onions and slit green chili.
    Print Pin

    Pindi Chole (Pindi Chana)

    5 from 1 vote
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    Pindi chole is one of the easiest chickpea recipes with full of flavors. This is the dry version of chana where boiled chickpeas are coated lightly with spice powder gravy.
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Calories: 340kcal
    Servings 2
    Prep Time 8 hours 5 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 8 hours 35 minutes
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml) See details

    Ingredients  

    For Pressure Cooking:

    • ½ cup Dried white chickpeas (Chole or kabuli chana or safed chana)
    • 2 cups Water
    • ½ inch Cinnamon stick
    • 2 Black cardamom
    • 1 Tea bags optional

    For Making Pindi Chole Recipe:

    • 2 tablespoons Oil
    • 1 teaspoon Ginger paste or freshly grated or crushed
    • ½ teaspoon Garlic paste or freshly grated
    • ¾ teaspoon Red chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon Coriander powder
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin powder
    • ½ teaspoon Garam masala or chole masala
    • ½ teaspoon Anardana powder (Dried pomegranate seeds powder)
    • Salt to taste
    • 1 ½ teaspoons Lemon juice
    • 1 Green chili slit, to serve on side or for garnishing
    • ½ of small Red onion Sliced, to serve on side or for garnishing

    Instructions 

    Soaking, Boiling Chickpeas:

    • Wash the dried chickpeas under running cold water until water runs clear. Or rinse them 2-3 times until the water is not cloudy anymore.
    • Then soak in enough water (2 inches above) for at least 8 hours or overnight.
    • Now discard the soaking water, take soaked chana and freshwater in the pressure cooker. Add whole spices (cloves, cinnamon, black cardamom) and teabag.
    • Cover the cooker with the lid, put the weight on and cook for 1 whistle on HIGH + 20 minutes On LOW. Let the pressure go down naturally, then open the lid. Discard the tea bag and spices. Drain the water and keep boiled chana aside.
      - Cook in instant pot: takes about 10-15 minutes (see the details here - Instant pot chickpeas)

    Making Pindi Chana Recipe:

    • Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add ginger and garlic, saute for a minute or until the raw smell of ginger-garlic goes away.
    • Then add all the spice powders (red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, anardana powder and garam masala). Mix and cook for 30 seconds only. Be careful, do not burn the spices.
    • Add boiled chana and mix well so all the spices are coated to chana evenly. Lower the heat to lowest and cook for 4-5 minutes.
    • Lastly, add lemon/lime juice, mix and serve.

    Notes

    Quick Soaking Method for chickpeas: Take washed chana and plenty of water in a saucepan. Turn the heat on HIGH and let it come to a boil and then continue boiling for 5 minutes. Then turn off the stove. Cover the pan with the lid and let it rest for 1 hour. When you take a look at chana after 1 hour, they will be the same as overnight soaked.
    If you are using canned chickpeas, then no need to pressure cook them. But you need to drain the liquid. Skip the teabag. Also, the whole spices we added in the pressure cooker, add those in oil, once you get a nice aroma the spices add ginger garlic and continue.
    After adding spice powders, if needed lower the heat and stir immediately. Don’t cook the spices for a long time otherwise they get burnt and don’t taste good at all.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 695mg | Potassium: 500mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 256IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 4mg
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving
    Did you make this recipe?Snap a pic, mention @spice.up.the.curry or tag #spiceupthecurry. I would love to see.
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    Kanan

    Hi, I'm Kanan Patel. I share easy, delicious vegetarian recipes (mostly Indian) and Eggless baking recipes that you can sure count on!

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