What is Punjabi Chole?
Punjabi Chole, Punjabi Chole Masala, or chole is a traditional and my favorite Indian recipe that my grandmother used to make all the time when I was growing up. Chole is chickpeas cooked in a spicy and flavorful gravy. The delicious gravy pairs well with basmati rice, jeera rice, naan and roti.
Why make Punjabi Chole in the Instant Pot
Of course my grandma didn’t have an Instant Pot. She made this Punjabi Chole recipe on a stove top pressure cooker. However, making this in the Instant Pot is just for us! The pressure cooker yields consistently tasty results in far less time than it takes to make this dish on the stove top. New to Instant Pot cooking and nervous about making this in your pressure cooker? Don’t be! This is an easy recipe for even Instant Pot beginners to make. And if you are still not feeling confident about Instant Pot cooking, check out our easy guide to the Instant Pot called Is the Instant Pot Worth It. It breaks down everything you need to know to get you pressure cooking like a pro.
Chole Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for this delicious Instant Pot Chole:
Dried chickpeas - preferably soaked overnight to ease digestion Water Ghee or oil - use oil for vegan option Red onions - you can use yellow or white onions too, if you don’t have red onions. Ginger and garlic paste Fresh tomato puree Salt - to taste Chana masala - don’t substitute this spice blend if you want an authentic flavor
You can also add these following, optional ingredients to add even bolder flavors to your dish:
Bay leaves Cinnamon stick Black cardamom pod Green cardamom pods Cloves Black peppercorns Pomegranate powder - this adds a slight tang to the recipe. Kasuri methi Black Tea bags - the tea bags will give the dark color and deepen the flavor.
For the garnish you can add
onion rings green chilies if you like cilantro ginger juliennes
Unsure of about the spices? We break down what they all are in our Complete Indian Spice Guide.
How to make Chole in Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker
This is super easy and cooks in less than 30 minutes. Here is what you need to do for both the Instant Pot and a stove top pressure cooker (yes, the steps are the same!) :
Garnish with ginger juliennes, pink onion rings, and a green chilli. Serve the chole with Bhatura (fried bread) or rice. You could also pair it with pickled onions and raita (flavored yogurt) or a mango lassi.
Punjabi Chole Pro Tips and Tricks
For the best tasting punjabi chole, you should follow these tips and tricks:
Make sure you soak the chickpeas, especially if you don’t use the Instant Pot. Add as many of the “optional” ingredients you can find or have. They add great extra flavor. I prefer to use a store bought chole masala powder than dry roasting the chole masala at home for better flavors. Don’t forget to remove the tea bags before mashing the peas at the end, you could end up with tea leaves over everything if you don’t remove them! Serve with rice or flat bread to help soak up as much of the gravy as possible. Don’t quick release the pressure, let it come down naturally.
Serving Suggestions
This pairs well with rice, naan, bhature, and several other dishes including:
Dal Makhani Shahi Paneer Matar Paneer Mushroom Masala Dum Aloo Chana Masala Lassi
How to store this Chole Recipe
It is very easy to store once you make it. Allow it to cool to room temperature and place in either one large airtight container or into several smaller containers if you want to send it with your family for an easy lunch. You can store it for about 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the chole if you like. To do this, place it in freezer safe containers when it is cooled to room temperature. Place in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you are ready to serve, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. You can then heat it up in a microwave or on the stove top in a pot over low heat.
Made it? Show us! Upload a photo to Instagram and tag us @dbellyrulesdmind! Start by soaking your chickpeas overnight. Soaking the peas is important in aiding in digestion and helps remove some of the extra starchiness. As you are ready to make the recipe, turn on Saute mode on the Instant Pot or medium-high heat on the stove top and add the ghee or oil. Once the ghee or oil is hot, add the options ingredients (except for the pomegranate powder and tea bags). These ingredients add extra flavor, but you can skip them if you don’t have them on hand. But trust me, adding them makes it that much better! Next, add the ginger garlic paste and stir until fragrant. Then add the onions and sauté until golden brown. When the onions are ready, add the tomato puree and sauté again until the oil starts separating from the sauce Next, add the channa or chole masala spice blend, salt, pomegranate powder and cook for another minute. Finally, add the drained chickpeas, water, and the tea bags. Once they are added, close the lid, seal the vent, and pressure cook for 25 minutes on high pressure followed by a natural pressure release.When the pin drops, carefully open the lid and use a spoon to remove the tea bags. When the tea bags are out of the pot, use a potato masher to mash some of the chickpeas. This will help thicken the sauce some and makes it a bit creamier too. Once you have crushed a few peas, you are ready to serve. Garnish with ginger juliennes, pink onion rings, and a green chilli. Serve the chole with Bhatura (fried bread) or rice. You could also pair it with pickled
Tea Bags Rani Fenugreek Leaves Dried, All Natural (Kasoori Methi) 100g (3.5oz) ~ Gluten Free Ingredients | NON-GMO ~ Vegan Rani Anardana (Pomegranate) Ground, Indian Spice 3.5oz (100g) McCormick Black Peppercorn Grinder, 2.5 oz Rani Cloves Whole (Laung) 3.5oz (100g) Great for Food, Tea, Pomander Balls and Potpourri, Hand Selected, Spice ~ All Natural | NON-GMO | Vegan | Gluten Friendly | Indian Origin Rani Green Cardamom Pods Spice (Hari Elachi) 2oz (56gms) ~ Natural | Vegan | Gluten Free Ingredients | NON-GMO Black Cardamom Pods | Smokey, Dried, Indian Seasoning Spice | 100% Pure | (5 oz.) McCormick Cinnamon Sticks, 8 oz McCormick Gourmet Bay Leaves-2 oz Morton Salt Iodized Sea Salt, 26 oz, 2 pk MDH Chana Masala 100g Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans (Kabuli Chana) ~ All Natural | Vegan | Gluten Free Ingredients | NON-GMO Mealthy MultiPot 9-in-1 Programmable Slow and Pressure Cooker Instant Pot Ultra 6 Qt 10-in-1 Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer
