No Onion Garlic Chole

Don't forget to check out the recipe video for more tips & tricks!

No Onion No Garlic Chole Recipe

This hearty and flavorful chole recipe is perfect for festive days, pooja meals, or when you're just craving something comforting without onion or garlic. It’s rich in taste, loaded with spices, and made with pantry staples. Serve it with hot puris or jeera rice!

Ingredients

For Pressure Cooking the Chole:

  • 1 cup white chole (soaked overnight)
  • Water – just enough to cover the chole
  • 1-inch cinnamon stick
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 black tea bag (or tea leaves tied in muslin cloth)

For the Tomato Masala Paste:

  • 4 ripe tomatoes
  • 2 green chillies (adjust to taste)
  • 1-inch piece of ginger

Dry Spice Paste:

  • A pinch of hing (asafoetida)
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
  • 1 tsp dry mango powder (amchur)
  • Lukewarm water – to make a paste

For the Tadka:

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp ghee
  • 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
  • Salt to taste

Method

  1. In a pressure cooker, add soaked chole, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, tea bag, and just enough water to cover. Pressure cook until soft but not mushy.
  2. Remove tea bag and whole spices. Lightly mash a few chole (optional).
  3. Grind tomatoes, green chillies, and ginger into a smooth paste.
  4. Mix dry spices with lukewarm water to make a paste.
  5. Heat oil and ghee in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
  6. Add the spice paste and sauté till aromatic.
  7. Add tomato paste and cook till oil separates. Add salt.
  8. Stir in the chole, sauté to coat. Add reserved chole water and simmer till gravy thickens.

Pro Tip: Serve hot with puris, parathas, or jeera rice for a complete festive meal!

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