How to make Punjabi chole bhature- A quick and easy recipe

A classic North Indian breakfast recipe, Chole bhature is the comfort food for many of us. You will find Punjabi chole bhature listed on the menu of most Indian restaurants. But the taste of this homemade dish is unmatchable. This mouth-water dish that everyone relishes, you can now quickly cook at your home, served hot and appetizing. Master the art of making soft bhaturas served with cooked chole in a pool of homely spices.

How to make Punjabi chole: Step by step guide:

Ingredients for chole curry:

Chickpeas: You will require a large size of chickpeas, or you can use canned chickpeas to make chole. Ensure you do not boil canned chickpeas before adding the sauce.

Garlic: Boil sliced garlic cloves with chickpeas. You can add minced garlic and ginger to chickpeas.

Tea bag: Use two black tea bags or tie two tablespoons of loose black tea in one muslin cloth.

Ginger juliennes: Will add a nice flavour and authentic taste to chole curry. 

Green chilies: Use four to five hot green chillies if you do not add red chilli powder. Decrease the amount if you are planning to add some red chilli powder. 

Onion: Use red or yellow onion.

Powdered spices: Powdered spices like turmeric powder, dried mango powder, and salt to taste. You will also need chana masala and coriander powder.

Whole spices: Add aromatic spices to prepare the best-tasting chole at home. Include cumin seeds, pomegranate seeds, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, black cardamom, and star anise in ingredients of chole bhature.  

Tomato puree: Use homemade or store-purchased tomato puree or crushed tomatoes.

Oil: Vegetable oil or butter, or ghee can be used. 

Ingredients for bhature recipe:

All-purpose flour: Use it for an authentic touch. If you do not prefer using it, use a combination of wheat and all-purpose flour. 

Semolina: Add suji or semolina to the dough. It will make the dough pliable and produce a crispy bhatura.

Baking powder: As we did not use yeast in this chole bhature recipe, we will require a raising agent. So baking powder will be the best choice.

Sugar: Sugar will help the dough rise.

Salt: Use acceptable salt or table salt. It will avoid any unpleasant flavours. 

Oil: To make bhaturas soft but flaky, add some fat to the dough. So use oil or ghee. Melted butter can also be used. It is needed to deep fry bhaturas. 

Yogurt: Use plain natural one. Homemade and store purchased anyone can be used.

Warm water: as required

Ingredients for serving the chole bhatura

Onions, lemon wedges, fresh coriander leaves, and pickle

Make chole curry:

Discard the excess water from all soaked chickpeas. Again rinse them with fresh water in the morning. Keep them aside. Add soaked and well-rinsed chickpeas and the tea bags to a pressure cooker. Add enough water, garlic cloves, whole spices, and salt. You can add a pinch of baking soda. It will enhance the cooking process.

Now cover the lid of the pressure cooker on high heat. Wait for four whistles. After that, turn the heat to medium-low. Cook for nearly 10-15 minutes or until they become soft. Allow the pressure to come off before you open the lid ultimately. Let them cool. Open the lid and remove the spices and tea bags. Keep it aside.

Heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan. Keep the heat on medium. Once hot, include some cumin seeds and turmeric powder. Once the seeds begin to crackle, add some ginger. Saute it for one minute.

Then add chopped onions to the pan. Saute till the onions turn golden brown. Add anardana and amchur powder—Cook for five more minutes.

Add the tomato puree. Mix everything thoroughly to let them combine—Cook for ten minutes. Let the raw tomato smell go away. Occasionally keep stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking to the pan.

Once the tomatoes get cooked well, add coriander powder and chana masala powder. Slit green chillies and add them. Mix and cook for some time.

Then add spicy tomato masala or sauce to the cooked chana. Mix well. Check the consistency and add water if needed—Cook for eight minutes on low heat. Once the chole is ready, turn off the heat and keep it aside.

Making Bhature:

• Take a large mixing bowl. Add sifted all-purpose flour and semolina. Mix well and combine. 
• Then add oil, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Mix well by using fingers. Now add yogurt. Remix everything. 
• Once mixed, add enough water. Ensure the water is warm. Knead into a firm dough.
• Once the dough is ready, add two to three drops of oil. Then cover your bowl with a muslin cloth. Keep it aside. Allow it to rise for three to four hours.
• After resting, punch and transfer the dough to the working surface. Divide it into six to eight equal portions. Make use of a rolling pin. Roll out into one oval shape. Repeat it with every dough ball.
• Then heat oil in a pan on high heat. Once the oil becomes hot, slide the rolled bhatura in hot oil. 
• Lightly press the center with a large frying spoon. It will help bhatura to puff up. Deep fry them till the bhaturas puff up. Both sides must be slightly golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to drain the fried bhatura.

Nutrition facts for chole bhature

Have you not heard of the great nutrition of chickpeas? They are an excellent plant-based protein source. They come with high levels of vitamins and minerals, apart from the fiber. Chickpeas are low in calories and glycemic index. So if you have diabetes, chickpeas are a perfect option to include in your diet. Chickpeas improve control of blood sugar, cholesterol, and bowel movement.

Variations of chole bhature recipe

The famous 5 flavours of chole are classic chole, makhni, sweet and chatpate mitthe chatkare, and hot and spicy garlic chole. There are also two varieties of bhaturas, one with the traditional paneer filling and the other with an intriguing achaari filling!

Serving suggestions

Garnish chole with some ginger slices, onions, and coriander. Serve bhature hot with the homemade chole. Add some onions, lemon wedges, and pickles.

Can I microwave the dish?

Yes, before serving, you can reheat the chole in your microwave. But you must serve the bhaturas immediately when they are hot, crispy, and fluffy.

Tips for making perfect Punjabi chole bhature

• If you do not remember to soak chickpeas or you do not have raw chickpeas, then you must swap a cup of raw chickpeas with three cups of canned chickpeas. Never boil canned chickpeas. Just remove the water. Directly add them to the sauce.
• If you use canned chickpeas, remember to increase the cooking time.
• To make bhaturas tasty and crispy, add semolina. It is highly recommended.
• Add pomegranate seeds, which will add a nice flavour to this Punjabi chole recipe.
• You can also add some whole spices to enhance the flavour of the chole.

So on a Sunday afternoon, do not search for Punjabi chole bhature near me and order online. Instead, upgrade the Sunday brunch at your home with this delectable Punjabi chole bhature recipe.