This home made genuine chole masala recipe (also called chana masala or Punjabi chole), tastes like one thing you’d order from a unbelievable Indian restaurant. Protein packed chickpeas are simmered in a spiced onion tomato gravy and garnished with contemporary herbs. It’s wealthy, flavorful and tremendous satisfying, with the right quantity of warmth. It additionally occurs to be wholesome, gluten-free, and naturally vegan too!

This vegan chole masala recipe may be one among my favourite Indian dishes of all time. I’ve made a number of variations of chana masala prior to now, however I by no means felt prefer it was the “good” Punjabi chole recipe … till now!
This one pot meal is excessive in protein, and is prepared in simply 40 minutes when cooked on the stovetop. There are additionally number of choices to serve with this vegan chickpea curry! A few of my favorites embody:
- Grains: You possibly can serve it with white rice, basmati rice, jeera rice, brown rice, and even this strain cooker quinoa for extra complete grains and fiber. For a fancier facet dish, do that vegan biryani.
- Entire Wheat Naan or Entire Wheat Tortillas (and if you will discover it – sprouted wheat tortillas)
- Guyanese Roti or Vegan Naan
- Mango chutney or any favourite chutney for a garnish
- With raita or complete milk greek yogurt (or complete milk plain yogurt) on the facet
- With a facet dish of those Indian greens or cauliflower sabji
This restaurant fashion chole masala recipe tastes identical to conventional chana masala, however one of the best half is it’s tremendous wholesome for you! It doesn’t use any cream or butter, which makes it 100% vegan and gluten free.
It’s wealthy, flavorful, with simply the correct quantity of warmth and spice, and works nice for meal prep or a simple household dinner. I promise, this can change into your new favourite chickpea curry recipe to make!
👩🏽🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Tremendous simple recipe
- One pot meal
- Chickpea vegan curry that’s additionally gluten free
- Wholesome and nutritious
- Protein wealthy
- Genuine chana masala recipe
- Stuffed with heat, flavorful spices
- Nice for the entire household
- Pair together with your favourite sides or take pleasure in all by itself!
- Greatest chole recipe ever!
Newest Recipe Video!
🥘 Components
This Punjabi chole masala recipe is really easy to make! It requires easy substances and a handful of spices, all of which may be discovered at most common grocery shops, on-line, and in Indian grocery shops. Right here’s what you want:

- Olive Oil: Most Punjabi chana masala recipes use ghee, which is simply clarified butter. We selected olive oil as an alternative to make this recipe vegan. Coconut oil would additionally work nicely.
- Onions, Garlic And Ginger: You would additionally use ginger garlic paste as an alternative of the separate minced garlic and ginger.
- Spices: We used cumin seeds, floor coriander, floor cumin, cayenne pepper, floor turmeric, smoked paprika, common paprika, garam masala, and a little bit salt to offer a depth of taste on this Indian chole curry recipe. You may also use a chole spice powder or curry powder in the event you don’t have all of those spices, however the taste of the dish can be barely completely different.
- Tomatoes: We used canned tomatoes as a result of they’re canned once they’re in season and essentially the most ripe, in order that they sometimes have nice taste. You may also use contemporary medium tomatoes in the event you desire. Tomatoes present the bottom of the sauce on this simple chickpea curry with out coconut milk.
- Chickpeas: We used canned chickpeas to avoid wasting on prep time! You may also make this with dry chickpeas, you’ll simply must soak them in a single day first, and I’d advocate strain cooking them earlier than including them to this recipe.
- Lime Juice And Recent Coriander Leaves: Non-obligatory, for garnish, however provides a pleasant tang and acidity to the sauce! A squeeze of lemon juice would additionally work.
🔪 Directions
This easy chickpea curry with no coconut milk is really easy to make and is prepared in simply 40 minutes! Right here’s how you can make chole masala:
Saute Aromatics: Warmth oil in a big pot or dutch oven on excessive warmth. Add cumin seeds and as quickly as they begin popping, add onion, garlic and ginger and sauté over medium-low warmth till caramelized and calmly golden brown, about 5 minutes. Primarily, you need that “uncooked scent” of the onions to vanish and change into barely candy.

Add Spices: Add the coriander, cumin powder, cayenne, turmeric, paprika/smoked paprika, and garam masala.

Add Chickpeas: Cook dinner for one more 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes + juices, scraping up any bits which have caught to the pan. Add the water, garbanzo beans, and salt.

Cook dinner: Convey to a boil, then scale back to simmer and canopy. Cook dinner on low for half-hour, stirring each 5 minutes or so to verify this simple chana masala doesn’t follow the underside of the pot.

Serve these curried chickpeas heat, garnished with some lime or contemporary cilantro!

How To Make Your Personal Home made Chole Masala Powder
If you wish to save time, you may make your personal chana masala powder and retailer it in an hermetic container in your pantry, after which you’ll be able to simply use that spice mix anytime you need to make this simple vegan chickpea curry recipe! Right here is how you can make your personal chole masala powder at residence:
- 3 tablespoons coriander powder
- 1 tablespoon floor cumin
- 1 teaspoon floor cardamom
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon floor cloves
- 2 teaspoons floor cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Cayenne pepper or pink chili powder to style
- Non-obligatory additions: floor turmeric powder, paprika, garam masala
You may also use the equal complete spices, dry roast them, and grind them right into a advantageous powder utilizing a spice grinder in the event you desire!
💭 Professional Suggestions
- Don’t overlook to toast your spices! To be able to get the total taste of this curry chickpea recipe, be sure you toast the cumin seeds earlier than including the onions. While you hear the seeds start to pop within the oil that’s when you already know it’s time so as to add the onion, garlic, and ginger. Make certain to additionally add the opposite spices earlier than including the tomatoes and different substances to offer them a little bit time to roast as nicely.
- For a little bit extra tanginess, add a squeeze of lime juice or a little bit little bit of dry mango powder (amchur powder) to style. You could find amchur powder on the Indian retailer or on-line.
- For a thicker curry, you’ll be able to mash a number of the chickpeas within the tomato onion gravy earlier than serving.
- If you happen to don’t have complete tomatoes canned, you too can use the identical measurement can of diced tomatoes for this simple chole recipe.
- Cook dinner the chickpeas correctly: Cook dinner the chickpeas till they’re tender however not mushy. Overcooked chickpeas will change into too gentle and can lose their texture.
📖 Variations
- Chana Aloo Masala: For a twist on this chole with canned chickpeas, throw in some potatoes and make this right into a chole masala with aloo (or potatoes!)
- Indian Chickpea Coconut Curry: Add 8oz coconut milk to the tomato onion combination because it’s cooking. Garnish with some shredded coconut!
- Chole Bhature: Chole bhature is a Punjabi road meals dish, the place mainly chole curry is served alongside a bhatura (bhature is plural). A bhatura is a puffed Indian bread that’s deep fried and made with leavened dough. You may also serve it with poori, which is a deep fried unleavened bread.
- Add Some Greens: For some additional greens, you’ll be able to add 6 ounces of chopped child spinach to this recipe. You possibly can add them on the final 10 minutes of cooking, and allow them to wilt on their very own whereas this creamy chickpea curry is simmering.
- Make It For Children: Most children will take pleasure in this pindi chole recipe with canned chickpeas. You possibly can serve it to them with some naan, rice, and a scoop of plain, natural complete milk yogurt. Yogurt works particularly nicely in case your youngsters are delicate to spies, because it helps settle down the dish and tames the spice. You would additionally simply in the reduction of on the spices themselves within the dish once you’re making ready it (e.g. use half the amount of every spice listed within the recipe). This dish isn’t overly spicy, however might nonetheless have some distinct flavors for some youngsters.
❓Recipe FAQs
Each chole masala and chana masala originate in North India, and are made with chickpeas and a wide range of Indian spices. The distinction is simply the language – “chana” is a Hindi phrase, and “chole” is a Punjabi phrase. Each phrases imply “chickpeas.” The phrase “masala” merely means a “spice combination”, and when utilized in a recipe title, it means a “spiced gravy” identical to on this dish!
Sure completely! This vegetarian chickpea curry is full of vitamin and makes a really wholesome meal. Right here’s why this recipe is so good for you:
1) Stuffed with coronary heart wholesome plant protein: One serving of chickpeas in curry has 14 grams of plant-based protein.
2) Low-Calorie: 1 cup of conventional chana masala can run you upwards of 400 energy. However this chole masala has solely about 280 energy per serving due to utilizing much less oil and making the tomato based mostly curry sauce wealthy with tons of spices!
3) Excessive Fiber: Chickpeas are excessive in fiber. Fiber helps to decrease ldl cholesterol thus reducing the danger of coronary heart illness. One serving of this wholesome chickpea curry has 13 grams of fiber.
4) Excessive in Nutritional vitamins and Minerals: Chickpeas are a superb supply of potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B-6. The tomatoes on this dish present lycopene (a potent antioxidant), Vitamin C, Potassium, Folate and Vitamin Ok.
Chana masala and tikka masala are each common dishes in Indian delicacies, however they differ in two important methods:
1) Essential Ingredient: A conventional chole chana recipe is made with chickpeas (chana), whereas tikka masala is usually made with meat – normally rooster.
2) Sauce: Chana masala has a tomato-based sauce with spices akin to cumin, coriander, and garam masala. Tikka masala has a creamy sauce with a base of tomato puree, yogurt, and cream, together with spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala.
Primarily, chana curry (masala) is a vegetarian dish made with chickpeas and has a tomato-based sauce, whereas tikka masala is a non-vegetarian dish made with rooster and has a creamy tomato-based sauce.
Not essentially, as a result of historically chana masala is made with ghee, which is clarified butter. Many eating places may substitute olive oil or one other oil for ghee, however you need to ask earlier than ordering it. This chole masala recipe is vegan pleasant, as we use olive oil as an alternative of ghee, and use a base of onion, garlic, ginger, cilantro, chickpeas, and Indian spices, in a wealthy tomato sauce.
Sure you’ll be able to freeze chole masala! This recipe will hold in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days, or within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
To retailer within the fridge: Let the leftover chana masala cool utterly, switch to an hermetic container and place within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
To freeze: Let the garbanzo curry recipe cool, switch to an hermetic freezer secure container or ziptop freezer bag, place within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Reheat within the microwave till warmed by way of.

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📋 Recipe Card
Chole Masala (Punjabi Chole Recipe)
This home made genuine chole masala recipe (also called chana masala or Punjabi chole), tastes like one thing you’d order from a unbelievable Indian restaurant. Protein packed chickpeas are simmered in a spiced onion tomato gravy and garnished with contemporary herbs. It is wealthy, flavorful and tremendous satisfying, with the right quantity of warmth. It additionally occurs to be wholesome, gluten-free, and naturally vegan too!
Servings: 6 servings
Energy: 278kcal
Warmth oil in a big pot on excessive warmth.
Add cumin seeds and as quickly as they begin popping, add onion, garlic and ginger and sauté over medium-low warmth till caramelized, about 5 minutes.
Add the coriander, cumin powder, cayenne, turmeric, paprika/smoked paprika, and garam masala. Cook dinner for one more 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes + juices, scraping up any bits which have caught to the pan.
Add the water, chickpeas and salt.
Convey to a boil, then scale back to simmer and canopy. Cook dinner on low for half-hour, stirring each 5 minutes or so to verify the Chana Masala doesn’t follow the underside of the pot.
- To be able to get the total taste of this chana masala be sure you toast the cumin seeds earlier than including the onions.
- While you hear the seeds start to pop within the oil that’s when you already know it’s time so as to add the onion, garlic, and ginger.
- Warmth the onions on low for five minutes or till they caramelize.
- Add the opposite spices earlier than including the tomatoes and different substances. It will enable the spices to combine collectively for that wealthy full taste.
- If you happen to don’t have complete tomatoes canned, you too can use the identical measurement can of diced tomatoes.
- For some additional greens, you’ll be able to add 6oz chopped child spinach to this recipe. You possibly can add them on the final 10 minutes of cooking, and allow them to wilt on their very own whereas the chana masala is simmering.
- This recipe will hold in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days, or within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
Energy: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 14g | Fats: 8g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Sodium: 985mg | Potassium: 603mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 3g


