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Indian, Mains, Recipes, Vegan  /  January 13, 2023

Pindi Chole

Pindi chole is a special variation of chole or chana masala in that it doesn’t use any onion, garlic, and tomatoes! This deeply flavorful dish relies on ginger, green chilis, plenty of whole spices, and black tea for its darker color.

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Pindi chole is an Indian chickpea dish with ginger, green chilis, plenty of whole spices, and black tea for its deep, rich flavors!

What is pindi chole?

Chole is my favorite Indian dish andthis has to be one of my favorite ways to eat it. This recipe is my aunt’s recipe and it is so flavorful! Pindi chole originates from Punjab, in a town called Rawalpindi. What distinguishes it from other versions of chole or chana masala is it does not use onion, garlic, or tomato. I know, I know, why would you omit ingredients that give food its aroma? Well, pindi chole highlights flavors from other ingredients. The masala is made with a host of whole spices, so while making your own masala is an extra step, it’s so worth it. It also includes black tea and is cooked in an iron pan to intensify its dark color, which I personally find very appealing!

How to Make Pindi Chole Masala

You can either purchase pindi chole masala or you can make your own. If you don’t have all the ingredients in this masala, don’t worry about it. You may not end up with the exact same flavor I did, but I’m sure it will still taste amazing.

To make the masala, dry roast bay leaves, red chilis, cloves, green cardamom, black cardamom, black pepper, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, star anise, and cinnamon. Then add anardana (pomegranate seed) powder, kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves), and fenugreek seeds. Process in a small processor with kashmiri chili powder, amchur (dried mango powder), and kala namak (black salt).

Pindi chole is an Indian chickpea dish with ginger, green chilis, plenty of whole spices, and black tea for its deep, rich flavors!

How to Make Pindi Chole

Prepare the chickpeas

Soak the chickpeas overnight or for 8 hours to make cook time faster. Then pressure cook with a few whole spices: cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves, black cardamom, black peppercorns, and black tea bags.

Mix ins

In a cast-iron pan if you have one, pour the prepared chickpeas. Mix in the pindi chole masala, thinly sliced ginger and green chilis, and melted vegan butter. The recipe usually uses ghee, but I used butter to make it vegan. Let it sit for 30 minutes before enjoying!

How to serve

With roti, paratha, rice, puri, or bhature! I’ve included my vegan bhature recipe below. Bhature is a fried yogurt-based flatbread. It’s soft and indulgent!

Pindi Chole

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 40 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

Pindi Chole

  • 2 cups dry chickpeas soaked for 8 hours or overnight
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 green cardamoms
  • 1 black cardamom
  • ½ tsp black peppercorns
  • 2 black tea bags *or 2 tbsp loose-leaf tea in muslin cloth
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tbsp salt + more to taste
  • water
  • 6 tbsp pindi chole masala
  • 2 inch ginger, thinly sliced
  • 4 green chilis, halved lengthwise
  • 4 tbsp vegan butter, melted

Bhature

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup plant-based yogurt
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • ¾ cup water or until it comes together
  • ⅓ cup neutral oil for frying

Pindi Chole Masala

  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 dried red chilis
  • 10 cloves
  • ½ tbsp black peppercorns
  • 3 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 2 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 1 star anise
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 6 green cardamom
  • 2 black cardamom
  • 3 tbsp anardana (pomegranate seed) powder
  • 2 tbsp kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
  • ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
  • ½ tbsp kashmiri chili powder
  • 1 tbsp amchur (dried mango powder)
  • 2 tsp kala namak (black salt)

Instructions
 

Pindi Chole

  • To a pressure cooker, add soaked chickpeas, the whole spices, tea bags, baking soda, salt, and enough water to just cover the chickpeas. Pressure cook on medium-high heat for 3-4 whistles. They should be really soft and tender.
  • Take out the larger whole spices and the tea bags. Reserve the dark water in the pressure cooker and put only the chickpeas in a cast-iron pan and let them cool down a little.
  • Add the pindi chole masala, sliced ginger, and green chilis. Rest for 30 minutes. Add most of the reserved water and simmer for 20 minutes on low to medium flame. Lastly, add butter and the rest of the water and let it sit for another 30 minutes…the wait is worth it! Garnish with fresh ginger and cilantro.

Bhature

  • Add all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar to a bowl. Mix to combine.
  • Add yogurt and a little water at a time until it comes together.
  • Fry in neutral oil over medium heat until golden and crisp on both sides.

Pindi Chole Masala

  • Dry roast (no oil) bay leaves, dried red chilis, cloves, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, star anise, and the cinnamon stick for a few minutes over medium heat.
  • Add anardana powder, kasoori methi, and fenugreek seeds and combine with everything for a few minutes.
  • In a spice grinder or small processor, process the spices with kashmiri chili powder, amchur, and kala namak.
Keyword chickpeas, Indian food, Indian recipes

For more variations of chole, check out…

an easier recipe for chana masala

Amritsari chole (similar to pindi chole but fewer spices and includes onion, garlic, and tomatoes!)

Tags

  • chickpeas
  • Indian
  • indian food

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Vegan Methi Matar Malai
Rajma Chawal (Rajma Masala)

1 comment

  • meh
    June 12, 2024

    This looks like an excellent recipe. Thank you for posting.

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Hi there! I’m Anisha. This is where I like to share my favorite plant-forward eats, with joy and flavor being my topmost priorities. When I'm not cooking or photographing my creations, I'm probably running, tuning into a good podcast or book, or doing typical college student stuff. I hope you find something that excites you here!

@upbeetanisha

A few wonderful things I ate at home with my paren A few wonderful things I ate at home with my parents last week!

matar (peas) kachoris with this aloo (potato) sabzi and bhindi (okra)

our fav jackfruit biryani

mushroom matar korma, sarson ka saag (mustard greens), chole, laccha parathas that deserved a close up

makki (corn) ki roti with the same sarson ka saag

dal makhani and a potato scallion sabzi

dessert at this Cambodian place in downtown San Jose (@angkorchef) - jackfruit coconut sticky rice

#indianfood #veganindianfood #homecooking
Good things my window saw lately Soba noodles in Good things my window saw lately

Soba noodles in a shiitake kombu broth that I like to make a lot of and use in different ways for a few days 

Miso mushroom focaccia 

Carrot cake oatmeal for warm winter breakfast 

Chana masala-ish with roasted brussels and cabbage

Khichdi, the ultimate comfort 

My bday cake! Chocolate sweet potato cake from @thekoreanvegan, with orange cream cheese frosting 

Ramen, once again with the broth 

Black bean soyrizo bowl 

Looks like a peanut gochujang stir fry 👍

Rajma rice with baingan (eggplant) bhaja <3

#homecooking #veganfoodshare #plantbasedfood
An epic vegan breakfast sandwich brought to me by An epic vegan breakfast sandwich brought to me by my @toogoodtogo.usa surprise bag at @kitchenmousela! You can use the Too Good To Go app to find restaurants, bakeries, and more near you that offer “surprise bags” of items that may otherwise be wasted at the cost of at least half the price or less. It’s a great way to prevent food waste, get creative with what you get, and try some new spots in your community! I will be revisiting kitchenmouse as well as using the Too Good To Go app to find more gems in my area. Use ANISHA for $5 off your first bag :) #MyTooGoodToGoMoment #ad 

Ok now for the bagel details:
Oyster mushroom ‘bacon’
- 8 oz. oyster mushrooms 
- 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari 
- 1/2 tbsp maple syrup 
- 1 tsp liquid smoke 
- 1 tsp smoked paprika 

In a pan over medium-high heat, place the oyster mushrooms. Now place a heavy object or another pan on top and apply pressure for a few minutes. Flip and repeat on the other side! Then reduce heat and pour the glaze. 

Silken tofu scramble 
- olive oil 
- 1 350g package silken tofu 
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric 
- 1 tsp kala namak/black salt (I didn’t have it in this video but would recommend for a more “eggy” flavor! If not use regular salt)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper 

Add a little oil to a pan over medium heat. Add the tofu and break it down for a few minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, combine for a few minutes, and adjust to taste!
A perfect little day spent using my talents (walki A perfect little day spent using my talents (walking around and eating) in Brooklyn

A&A 
@passionfruit.coffee 
@tofubox.brooklyn 

#nyceats #veganfoodshare #nycvegan #brooklyneats #trinifood #plantbasedfood
Butternut tikka mac!! I wanted to make this for Th Butternut tikka mac!! I wanted to make this for Thanksgiving last year but didn’t get a chance to and figured that it would also be great in winter. And it would also be great without the butternut squash if you just want a basic tikka mac. You make a tikka masala sauce and blend that with the squash, cashews, and plenty of nutritional yeast.

butternut tikka mac
1/3 cup cashews, quick soaked
1 butternut squash, cubed
1 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch ginger, grated
3 medium roma tomatoes, chopped or quartered (sub 1 cup of crushed tomatoes)
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp kashmiri chili powder
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
8 oz. rigatoni or another thick pasta shape of choice, prepared al dente

topping
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp kashmiri chili powder

1. Soak cashews in hot water for at least 15 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 400 F. Bake butternut squash for ~ 25-30 min with a touch of olive oil and salt. Until tender and soft. (I ended up baking an entire squash but using half of it in the sauce since it was large.)
3. Add olive oil to a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 4-5 minutes. Add ginger and garlic. Cook for a few more minutes. Add tomatoes and a big pinch of salt. Allow the tomato juices to mostly evaporate.
4. Add the spices and kasoori methi. and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Remove pan from heat and allow to cool down slightly before blending.
5. Preheat oven to 350 F.
6. Make the panko topping. Add a tsp or so of olive oil to a small pan. Add the panko, black pepper, nutritional yeast, and chili powder. Toast until the panko is golden-brown. 
7. Process the tomato mixture with cashews, half the butternut squash, nutritional yeast, and about a cup of water. Add more water if needed. Process until it’s thick and creamy.
8. In a baking dish, add the pasta, sauce, and breadcrumbs. Bake for 15 min at 350 F!

#veganrecipes #veganuary #indianfusion #fusionfood #plantbased
Shredded tofu quesadillas coming in HOT for nation Shredded tofu quesadillas coming in HOT for national hot sauce day! These are stuffed with crispy shredded tofu and brussels sprouts, and flavored with @tabanero scotch bonnet hot sauce for a fun Caribbean twist. #tabanero #hotsauce #nationalhotsauceday

the recipe
baked shredded tofu
1 14 oz. block of extra firm tofu (pressed for at least 30 minutes to remove any excess liquid)
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp kosher salt or to taste

Preheat oven to 400 F. Shred tofu with a box grater. Toss with the rest of the ingredients. Bake for 15 minutes. Toss and bake for another 5 minutes or so. It should be golden brown and crisp.

the filling
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp grated ginger
8-10 medium brussels sprouts, thinly sliced (or other greens like cabbage, kale, or collard greens)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3 tbsp @tabanero scotch bonnet hot sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
salt to taste
vegan cheese and avocado for quesadillas

- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes minutes, until it starts becoming translucent. Add ginger and garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Add brussels sprouts and cook until softer, about 5 minutes. Then add the tofu.
- Add all spices: cumin, smoked paprika, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Combine well for a minute.
- Now add the hot sauce and soy sauce. Combine well, taste, and adjust to your preference if needed!
- To assemble a quesadilla: take a large tortilla and pile on vegan cheese, the filling, and some more hot sauce. Cook on a pan with a little oil for a few minutes on each side until crisp on both sides! 

#veganuary #plantbasedrecipes #veganlunch #tofurecipes
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