Chole masala is an Indian chickpea curry recipe. For this simple chole recipe, I’m using the fewest ingredients I can. I do add Garam masala and cilantro to this version of chickpea curry; for a super simple version of chole masala, these two ingredients can be optional, but certainly use them if you have them on hand. I’m leaving out the asoefetida and besan (chickpea flour), and also the onion, which I will often cook into a chana masala. Chickpea curry is a delicious Indian staple, and a great introduction to Indian cooking.
what you need to make Chole Masala
1 15oz can CHICKPEAS 1 15oz can DICED TOMATO 3-5 cloves GARLIC finely chopped ½ tsp CUMIN SEEDS 1 tsp CUMIN POWDER ½ tsp TURMERIC POWDER 1 tsp CORIANDER POWDER 1 tsp CHILI POWDER SALT and PEPPER (to taste) ½ tsp GARAM MASALA (optional) fresh chopped CILANTRO (optional) OIL for sautéing Check out current prices for Indian Spices on Amazon.
Chana masala is a great introduction to Indian cooking
how to make Chole Masala
In a skillet, heat oil on medium high heat.
When the oil is heated, add the cumin seeds, stir and allow to simmer for about 20 seconds.
Once the seeds begin to crack, add the finely chopped garlic.
Stir for approx. 1 minute and then add the diced tomatoes. Mix well and allow the tomatoes to bubble. As the tomatoes cook down, you can crush them with your stirrer for a smoother chana massala.
Stir in the chili powder, turmeric, coriander, and cumin powders (or substitute a premade curry mix instead).
Mix in the chickpeas and add ½ can of water.
Bring the dish to a bubble, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and allow cooking for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, the chick peas will be soft. Use a fork or potato masher to smash some of the chick peas, this will help thicken the chana masala.
If desired, add garam masala and then simmer uncovered to the desired consistency, remove and serve.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve with rice or on its own.
Give this easy chole masala recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!
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Let’s cook a complete Indian meal in real time. For this dinner, I’m cooking chana masala, mango curry, and gobi matar. These dishes work well together. All recipes are posted below, but Indian cooking is all about flexibility and taste, so tweak these recipes and make them your own, or follow them exactly, and then experiment at a later time.
Ingredients for Mango Curry Recipe
4 large, very ripe and juicy MANGOES 1 cup YOGURT 1-2 Tbsp CUMIN SEEDS dash of ASAFOETIDA ¼ cup CURRY LEAVES chopped well 4-5 Tbsp GINGER finely chopped 2-3 Tbsp CHICKPEA FLOUR a.k.a. besan 2 Tbsp OIL for cooking SALT to taste
Use super-duper ripe mangoes to make mango curry. The mangoes should be VERY RIPE, soft and juicy. Peel and pit the mangoes and place the fruit in a bowl. Crush the mango until it’s a wet, semi-lumpy mess.
Add in about 1 cup of Greek-style yogurt and mix well. In a large pot, heat oil on medium high heat. Add cumin seeds and asafoetida and cook 30-40 seconds. Add curry leaves, half of the ginger, and chickpea flour. Stir and continue cooking about 2 minutes. Add mango mixture and 1 cup of water and stir well with ingredients in pot.
Bring to a bubble, then reduce the heat, cover and let simmer about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally and add more water to the mango curry as desired. After 10 minutes, add the remaining ginger, cover and let cook another 5 minutes. That’s it! Serve mango curry over rice, and enjoy!
A complete Indian meal with mango curry, chana masala, and gobi matar.
Chana Masala Recipe
Many chana masala (chickpea curry) recipes include onion; sometimes I use onion, sometimes I don’t, it mostly depends on the other dishes I’m serving with the chana masala.
I do often include asafoetida and chick pea flour. If not using besan, just add ½ cup of water instead of 1 cup. The asafoetida is wonderful. It stinks, but ti’s still wonderful. Asafoetida is also called “devil’s dung”, but that’s just when it’s raw, once you toss it into a simmering skillet, it transforms into a sharp, oniony weirdness that will pleasantly remind you of your favorite Indian restaurant.
I’ve only been able to find asafoetida at international food markets, but it’s worth acquiring, especially if you want to make a habit of cooking great Indian dishes at home. If skipping the asafoetida, try adding 1 finely chopped medium-sized onion between the cumin seeds and the tomatoes.
Chana Masala Ingredients: 1 15 oz can CHICKPEAS (or 2 cups) 1 15 oz can DICED TOMATOES (or 2 fresh diced) 1 tsp GARLIC (minced) 1 tsp GINGER (minced) 1 HOT PEPPER (minced) 1-2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL 1 Tbsp CHICK PEA FLOUR (also called besan) 1 tsp CUMIN SEEDS 1 tsp CHILI POWDER 1 tsp GARAM MASALA 1/8 tsp ASAFOETIDA (optional, also called hing) ½ tsp TURMERIC SALT (to taste)
In a skillet, heat oil on medium high heat. When the oil is heated, add the cumin seeds and asafoetida. Stir and allow to simmer for just a few moments. Once the seeds begin to crack, add the chick pea flour and continue stirring. The flour will absorb the oil. Stir for approx. 1 minute and then add the diced tomatoes. Mix well and allow the tomatoes to bubble.
As the tomatoes cook down, you can crush them with your stirrer for a smoother chana massala. Add the minced ginger and garlic and hot pepper. Add the chili powder and turmeric. After the tomatoes have cooked 4-5 minutes, add the chick peas, garam masala, and salt to taste. Mix well and add 1 cup of water. Bring the dish to a bubble, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and allow cooking for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, the chick peas will be soft. Use a fork or potato masher to smash some of the chick peas, this will help thicken the chana masala along with the chick pea flour added earlier. Simmer uncovered to the desired consistency, remove and serve. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve with rice or on its own.
Gobi Matar Recipe
Cauliflower is good and good for you, especially if you curry it up–and this Indian-style cauliflower curry recipe will help.
Ingredients: 1 med CAULIFLOWER (cut into florets) 1 15 oz can DICED TOMATOES (or 2 med tomatoes) 1 8 oz can GREEN PEAS 1/8 tsp ASAFOETIDA (optional, also called Hing) 1 large ONION (chopped) 1 HOT PEPPER (finely chopped) 1 tsp GINGER (finely chopped) 1 Tbsp GARLIC (finely chopped) 1 tsp CHILI POWDER (sub cumin powder for less heat) 1 tsp CUMIN SEEDS ½ tsp TURMERIC POWDER 1 tsp CORIANDER POWDER 1 tsp GARAM MASALA 2-3 Tbsp OLIVE OIL ¼ cup WATER SALT (to taste)
How to Make Indian Gobi Matar
In a skillet, heat olive oil on medium high heat. Add cumin seeds and asafoetida. Seeds will brown and crack quickly. Add onion and stir. Cook 1 minute and then add ginger, garlic, and hot pepper. Continue cooking until onions are soft. Add turmeric, chili, and coriander powder and mix well.
Stir in tomatoes and continue cooking 4-5 minutes. Add salt to taste. As the tomatoes cook down I like to crush them with a spoon. Stir in cauliflower florets. Add water and bring dish to a bubble, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and let cook 4-5 minutes. I say 4-5 minutes, but cook it however long you like…I should say 1-10 minutes.
I don’t want to cook all the nutrients out of the cauliflower, and I like my florets to still have a bit of crunch to them, so I simmer my cauliflower for only a few minutes. When the cauliflower is almost cooked to your liking, add garam masala and green peas. Mix and continue cooking until peas are heated through. And that’s it—your cauliflower and peas will be transformed into something delicious (I know it’s hard to believe, but trust me).
Make these dishes and try them out. The mango curry is a sweet, delicious treat, the chana masala is an Indian foods must, and the gobi matar tastes great and is great for your health. Give Indian cooking a go, and bon appétit!
If you’re new to home cooking, get a bunch of spices, pots and pans, and start experimenting with different recipes. It’s a healthy hobby that will save you money in the long run. Check out current prices for Complete Kitchenware Sets on Amazon as well as Complete Starter Spice Kits. Or go to a thrift store! I’ve found some of my favorite kitchen gear at second-hand stores.
For another Indian favorite, try this Indian spinach recipe called Chole Palak.
Thanks for Watching Our Indian Cooking Videos!
Be sure and sign up for our mailing list to never miss a new cooking video, and also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends, and follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!
If you like what CG and I do, support us on Patreon, or throw a tip in our Paypal Tip Jar We’ll happily enjoy a coffee on the road, or maybe even pay a bill or two!–Thanks! We appreciate all the support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!
We include affiliate links for products on our website, so if you make a purchase after clicking on our links, we may earn a commission which helps us produce more videos and drink more coffee :^) We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program providing a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, so we can make more videos.
A Chana masala recipe with a quinoa twist! It’s already a great tasting chickpea curry, and adding quinoa into the mix will turn this Indian favorite into a complete protein. This dish is easy to prepare and a perfect vegetarian entree.
Ingredients: 15oz can CHICKPEAS 15oz can DICED TOMATOES 1 lg ONION (chopped) ½ cup QUINOA 1 HOT PEPPER (finely chopped) 4-5 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped) ½ cup CILANTRO (chopped) 1 tsp CUMIN SEEDS 1 tsp CUMIN 1 tsp CORIANDER ½ tsp CHILI POWDER ½ tsp TURMERIC 1 tsp GARAM MASALA 2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL 1/8 tsp ASAFOETIDA (optional–really OPTIONAL!!!–don’t NOT make this dish because you don’t have this ingredient.) SALT and PEPPER, to taste 1½ cups WATER Check out current prices for Indian Spices on Amazon.
In a skillet, heat your oil on med. high heat. Add cumin seeds and asafoetida–the asoafoetida (also called “hing”) is OPTIONAL. Stir until seeds brown and crack–this will happen really fast, so don’t walk away from the skillet. Add garlic and continue stirring. Add chopped onions and hot pepper. Saute ingredients for 3-5 minutes. Add turmeric, coriander, cumin, and chili powder. Stir thoroughly into onion mix. Add quinoa and diced tomatoes. Stir and allow skillet to come to a simmer. Add chickpeas (rinsed and drained), salt to taste, and 1½ cups water. Bring skillet to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes (without stirring). After the 15 minutes, stir in the garam masala. Using a fork, smash half the chickpeas in the skillet–this will add a nice texture to the dish. Stir in the chopped cilantro. And that’s it. Chana Masala with a quinoa twist. Hope you like it.
Chana masala is a delicious Indian chickpea curry. It’s easy to make and a great introduction to Indian cooking.
What You Need to Make the Best Chana Masala
1 15 oz can CHICK PEAS (or 2 cups) 1 15 oz can DICED TOMATOES (or 2 fresh diced) 1 tsp GARLIC (minced) 1 tsp GINGER (minced) 1 HOT PEPPER (minced) 1-2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL 1 Tbsp CHICK PEA FLOUR (also called besan) 1 tsp CUMIN SEEDS 1 tsp CHILI POWDER 1 tsp GARAM MASALA 1/8 tsp ASAFOETIDA (optional, also called hing) ½ tsp TUMERIC SALT (to taste) Check out current prices for Indian Spices on Amazon.
Many chana masala recipes include onion, but I think it’s fine with or without; I make so many Indian dishes with onions, it’s nice to have a few that are onion-free if desired. I do include asafoetida (hing) and besan (chick pea flour), but those can be optional, too.
Chana masala is a very flexible dish. If not using besan, just add ½ cup of water instead of 1 cup. The asafoetida is wonderful. It stinks, but it’s still wonderful. It’s also called “devil’s dung”, but that’s just when it’s raw, once you toss it into a simmering skillet, it transforms into a sharp, oniony weirdness that will pleasantly remind you of your favorite Indian restaurant.
I’ve only been able to find asafoetida at international food markets, but it’s worth acquiring—especially if you want to make a habit of cooking great Indian dishes at home. If skipping the asafoetida, try adding 1 finely chopped medium-sized onion between the cumin seeds and the tomatoes. Coriander powder is great in this dish, too. But the way I usually prepare it is like this:
Make chana masala a side dish or your main meal
How to Make a Chana Masala Recipe
In a skillet, heat oil on medium high heat.
When the oil is heated, add the cumin seeds and asafoetida. Stir and allow to simmer for just a few moments.
Once the seeds begin to crack, add the chick pea flour and continue stirring. The flour will absorb the oil.
Stir for approx. 1 minute and then add the diced tomatoes. Mix well and allow the tomatoes to bubble. As the tomatoes cook down, you can crush them with your stirrer for a smoother chana massala.
Stir in the minced ginger and garlic and hot pepper.
Add the chili powder and turmeric.
After the tomatoes have cooked 4-5 minutes, add the chick peas, garam masala, and salt to taste.
Mix well and add 1 cup of water. Bring the dish to a bubble, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and allow cooking for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, the chick peas will be soft. Use a fork or potato masher to smash some of the chick peas, this will help thicken the chana masala along with the chick pea flour added earlier.
Simmer uncovered to the desired consistency, remove and serve.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve with rice or on its own. Give this chana masala recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!
Thanks for checking out the chana masala recipe, and all of our recipes. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list to never miss a new cooking video, and also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends, and follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!
If you like what CG and I do, support us on Patreon, or throw a tip in our Paypal Tip Jar We’ll happily enjoy a coffee on the road, or maybe even pay a bill or two!–Thanks! We appreciate all the support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!
Thanks for watching our Chana Masala recipe
We include affiliate links for products on our website, so if you make a purchase after clicking on our links, we may earn a commission which helps us produce more videos and drink more coffee :^) We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program providing a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, so we can make more videos.
