Chatpate Chhole

Dear friends, yesterday a dear friend of mine saw my blogsite for the first time and requested me to add Chhole recipe to it. Another site published my article on Splenda translated into French and Italian. I am so glad that more and more people are slowly visiting and liking/linking to my site. This is what helps me keep writing and feel happy that I'm making a difference, even a small difference in somebody else's life!! Chhole is a traditional punjabi curry recipe, and when you go to restaurants, you see it served with Bhatura, which is a big, puffy fried puri(bread) made from all-purpose flour. Today I will share my Punjabi Chhole recipe with you. Hope you like it as much as we do!

Ingredients
Chickpeas - 2 cans
Onion- 1 big, chopped finely
Tomato puree- 1/2 can
Milk - 3-4 tbsp
Spices -Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tsp, green chillies - 2, salt, red chilli powder, dhana-jeeru powder and lemon juice to taste, 2-3 bay leaves, turmeric-1 tsp, cumin seeds, garam masala powder-1 tsp
Oil - 3 tbsp
Chopped coriander to garnish

Method
if you are not using the ready-made chickpeas available in cans, you should soak them in water for at least 2-3 hours, then pressure cook them. Now heat a saucepan, add oil, cumin seeds, chopped green chillies, bay leaves, and ginger-garlic paste and once the seeds and chillies start spluttering, add the onions. Cook till onions turn golden brown. Add the tomato puree and some water to make the curry. Once the tomatoes are cooked and mixed well with the onions, add the turmeric and red-chilly powders, garam masala, salt and dhana-jeeru powder. Slowly add the cooked chick-peas and mix with the gravy. Mash some chickpeas to thicken the gravy and add some milk. Milk not only kills the too-tangy tomato taste, but also makes it smoother and creamier. Cook covered for 10-12 mins, or until the chickpeas are thoroughly cooked and become soft. Add lemon juice if needed, and garnish with onion rings and fresh coriander.

Serve hot with Puris or Bhaturas!!

Tip: You can also add some Everest Chhole masala (available at grocery stores) is you do not have garam masala.

Similar Recipes:
Hariyali Koftas
Spicy Dum Aloo
Malai Kofta Curry