How to make Punjabi Chole Bhature - Chana Bhatura recipe

Chole Bhature aka Chana Bhatura is a very famous Punjabi dish. This dish is one of the most eaten breakfast/snack in the Northern part of India. It can be also served as a breakfast as well as lunch or dinner. This is one of such dishes which you can find almost everywhere in India. Be it a restaurant, street shops, or roadside eateries, 'Dhaba', chola bhatura would be there.'Chole Bhature' is a hindi phrase, and in that 'Chole' aka 'Chana' is a spicy and tangy chickpea curry. The fried flatbreads are called bhature/bhatura.

How to make Chole Bhature

A) soaking and pressure cooking chickpeas

1. First rinse 1 cup white chickpeas a couple of times in water. Then soak them in enough water overnight or for 7 to 8 hours.

2. Next day they will double in size.

3. Then drain the water.

4. In a 3 litre pressure cooker add the chickpeas. Also add 3 cups water and ¼ teaspoon salt. I have used a pressure cooker but you can also use a pot or pan. The chickpeas will take a lesser time to cook in the pressure cooker than cooking them in a pot. You can also add a pinch or two of baking soda while cooking them. Addition of baking soda is optional.

5. Pressure cook chickpeas for 10 to 12 whistles or for about 15 to 20 minutes or till they are tender and cooked well. Once the pressure settles down on its own then open the lid of pressure cooker and check if the chickpeas are cooked well or not. It is important to cook them till they are soft and have a melt in the mouth texture.

If cooking them in a pan then it can take about an hour or more. Just ensure they are well cooked. Timing to cook chickpeas will depend upon their quality and age.

6. Once done then drain all the water and keep the cooked chickpeas aside.

Making the masala paste

7. chop 1 medium-sized onion, 2 medium-sized tomatoes, 1 green chili, 4 to 5 medium-sized garlic cloves and 1 inch ginger.

8. Add them to a blender jar.

9. Make a fine paste in a grinder or blender. No need to add water while making the paste as the juice of the tomatoes will help in making the paste. keep the jar aside.

Making the chickpea gravy

11. Measure and keep all the ingredients ready for making the gravy.

12. Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons oil in a pan or kadai/wok.

13. Add the following whole garam masala (spices) – 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1 large tej patta (Indian bay leaf), 2 inch cinnamon, 2 to 3 cloves, 2 green cardamoms and 2 to 3 black peppercorns.

14. Fry the whole spices till they are fragrant but don't burn them.

15. Next add the ground masala paste.

16. Mix well.

17. Keep stirring often. Sauté for 8 to 10 minutes or more till the oil starts to leave the sides of the masala paste. The paste will also thicken and become glossy.

18. Stir while sautéing so that the paste does not stick to the pan.

19. Then add all the dry spice powders – ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, ¼ teaspoon red chili powder, 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) and ½ or 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur powder).

20. Mix the spice powders very well and sauté for a minute or two.

21. Then add the cooked chickpeas. Mix well.

24. Add salt as required and stir again. Simmer the gravy on a low to medium flame for 12 to 15 minutes or till the gravy thickens.

25. Don't cover the pan. Stir occasionally. Mash some chickpeas with the back of a spoon. This helps in thickening the gravy.

26 Add 1 slit green chili and 1 teaspoon garam masala powder or chole masala powder. Stir and simmer the gravy for a minute or two. You can keep the consistency from medium to slightly thick to semi dry or dry. If you want a dry consistency then simmer for some more time. Check the seasoning and add more salt or spice powders if required. Garnish with coriander leaves. You can also garnish with some slit green chilies and ginger julienne.

How to make Bhature

Ingredients required

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour (maida)
• ⅓ cup sooji (rava or fine semolina)
• ½ tablespoon oil or ghee
• ½ tablespoon granulated fine sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt or as required
• ¼ or ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup curd (yogurt)

water for kneading as required, oil for deep frying

1. Sieve the maida (all-purpose flour), salt and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Then add the semolina & sugar to the sifted ingredients.

2. Now add the curd (yogurt). With a spoon mix the yogurt with the sifted ingredients.

3. Adding water in parts and at intervals, first mix well and then start kneading. Knead to a smooth and soft dough.

4. Cover the dough with a wet cotton napkin and keep aside for 2 hours.

5. Pinch medium sized balls from the dough. Roll each ball between your palms to a round shape. Keep the dough ball on your work surface and flatten lightly with your fingers. Spread a bit of oil on both sides of the dough ball. Using a rolling pin, roll into an oval or elongated shape. You can also make a round shape.

6. In a kadai or wok, keep oil for deep frying on medium-high flame. Drop the rolled dough in hot oil and it will start puffing within a minute.

7. When the sizzling of the oil stops, turn over and fry the other side. You can flip once or twice for even cooking.

8. When light golden or golden, remove the bhatura and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Serve the Bhatura hot with the chickpea curry.