Amritsari Punjabi Choley

This is a dry Choley Recipes, we have prepared our own chole masala powder and achieved a restaurant quality result. You can obtain the same results as there is no secret except the chole masala,

Ingredients

1. 2 cup of Choley or  Chick Peas ( you can also use the canned Chickpeas, drain the liquid and rinse the chickpeas in a sieve)
2. 1 Onion finely chopped
3. 2 Tomato finely chopped
4. 1 tablespoon Ginger Paste
5. 1 teaspoon Garlic Paste
6. 1  Tej Patta Bayleaf
7. 1 Black Cardamom (Kali Elaichi)
8. 1 Tablespoon Tamarind Paste
9. 1 teaspoon Mango Powder (Amchur)
10. Salt to taste
11. 1 teaspoon butter

Ingredients for Choley  Masala

1. 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
2. 4 Cloves
3. 2 Tablespoon Coriander Seeds
4. Choti Elaichi
   
   
5. 1 Star Anise
6. 10 Black Peppers

Ingredients for Poori

1. 1 Cup Atta.
2. 1 Cup Water. ( Use the water as needed to make a tight dough)
3. Cooking oil for Deep Frying

For Garnishing

1. 1 Onion (sliced) (soaked in Vinegar or Lemon juice)
2. Coriander – finely chopped
   

Preparation

1. Add salt in Water and pressure cook the chick peas. (If not using a pressure cooker then cook in a deep utensil with lots of water and put a lid on top).

Prepare the Chole Masala
Here is the secret of authentic choley which you get in the shops

1. Take a small fry pan
2. Add the Cumin Seeds
3. Add Cloves
4. Add Coriander Seeds
5. Add Choti Elaichi seeds
6. Add Star Anise
7. Add Black Peppers
8. Dry Roast till the Jeera becomes dark and you can smell the aroma and a bit of smoke.
9. Cool it off for 5 minutes and grind it to a powder in a spice grinder.

Prepare the Tamarind Pulp

1. Heat a cup of water and add the Tamarinds in it.
2. After few minutes of soaking, use a form to get the pulp out
3. Strain the pulp to get rid of the pips.

Prepare the Choley

1. Heat the oil in a pan
2. Add Bay Leaf.
3. Add Garlic Paste
4. Once the Garlic paste is cooked add the chopped onions.
5. Cook till onions are golden brown.
6. Add the tomotoes.
7. Stir till the mixture starts leaving the oil.
8. Add Ginger Paste
9. Add Red Chilli Powder
10. Stir Well.
11. Add the boiled Chickpeas.
12. You can add some water from the boiled chick peas also. Remember that these Choley do not have gravy so keep the water to
13. minimum.
14. Cover the pan with the lid and let the Choley cook for 5 minutes.
15. Now add the tamarind pulp.
16. Stir well.
17. Add the Chole Masala and stir for a minute, you would see that the colour of Choley isntantly becomes darkish.
18. Add Amchur(Mango Powder) – Remember that we do not dry roast the Amchur as it gets burnt taste.
19. Stir well to ensure that the Choley are not runny, let it cook further to bring it to the right consistency (Very little gravy).
20. Take it off the heat.
21. Add some butter while serving

Note that if you have added salt during the boiling then there should not be any need to add additional salt while cooking.

Garnish with some Ginger Juliens and coriander leaves.
A spicy chutney is a great accompaniment with it.