Chole / Chenna Masala

I have had the best chole prepared by my granny. We'll finish half the pot before dinner. And the rest for bhatura... Wow.. Awesome Combo.. Esp with green salad like cucumber onion tomato etc.. Just increases the taste. Anyone can flatter for this dish :)

There are different kinds of preparing chole. This is my version. Do try it and lemme know whether you liked it :)

Serves : 4

Ingredients

• Chenna Masala - 2 cups ( soaked overnight or atleast a min of 6 hrs )
• Red Onion - 1 Big chopped into big cubes
• Tomato - 6 Nos Pureed
• Oil - 6 Spn
• Masala ( Bay leaf , Cinnamon , Cardamom and Clove )
• Ginger and Garlic - 1 large piece and 3 Cloves
• Red Chilly Powder - 2 Spn
• Coriander Powder - 3 Spn
• Cumin Powder - 1/2 Spn
• Chole Masala Powder - 1Spn
• Amchur Powder - 1/4 Spn ( You can replace this by adding the extract of lime at the end )
• Coriander Leaves - For Garnishing
• White onion - Small cup chopped finely for Garnishing

Method

• Pressure cook the chole with some salt ( 4 whistles shud do. U can add tea bags to get the blackish colour )
• In a pan add some oil . Add the masalas
• When ready add ginger , garlic and red onions. Fry till the onions turn slightly brown in colour
• Add red chilly powder , corinader powder , cumin powder and chole masala.
• Fry nicely till the oil seperates out and the masala blends well.
• Turn off the stove and allow the mixture to cool
• Meanwhile prepare the tomato puree
• Once the onion mixture cools grind the same into a smooth paste by adding water
• In a pan add the remaining oil and the grounded mixture
• Stir the mixture well till the raw flavours vanishes
• Once done add the tomato puree
• Mix everything gently and close it with a lid since the gravy splutters everywhere
• Keep stirring occasionally for about 20 min
• Add salt ( watch out ! U have already added salt while cooking the chole ) and amchur powder ( optional )
• Check the taste and add any spices if required at this point of time
• Now if the gravy is too watery, take some cooked chole and mash them nicely
• Add the mashed chole to the gravy and mix it well. Perfect consistency is back ! If not kindly avoid these steps
• Add the cooked chole and close the lid. Let the chole absorb all the flavors
• At last add a pinch of sugar as a final touch
• Turn of the stove and garnish with coriander leaves and white onion
• If you have not added amchur powder squeeze some lime juice on the top

Tasty delicious and juicy Chole Masala is ready to be served with hot Bhaturas or poori or even rotis

Variation : You can add some pudhina(mint) leaves ( if u like the taste of it) while frying the onion and grind it with the onion mixture. You can also add Kasuri methi leaves for an extra taste.