Chole Bhature

Chole bhature is a popular North Indian street food consisting of spicy chickpeas cooked in a tomato-based gravy and deep-fried fluffy bread made from refined flour.
The dish is a beloved street food and is served in restaurants and homes across India. The chole is cooked with spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, amchur, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and green chilies. Chole is often garnished with fresh cilantro leaves and served with lemon juice for added freshness. The bhature is made from a dough made from refined flour, yogurt, semolina, baking powder, or baking soda.
The dish is served together, with the hot and spicy chickpeas complementing the soft and fluffy bhature. Side dishes like sliced onions, green chilies, pickles, or yogurt-based side dishes like raita are often added to balance out the flavors.

Here’s a basic recipe to make this delicious dish:

Ingredients:

For Chole (Spicy Chickpeas):

• 2 cups dried chickpeas (soaked overnight)
• 2 medium-sized onions (finely chopped)
• 2 medium-sized tomatoes (pureed)
• 2-3 green chilies (chopped)
• 1-inch ginger (grated)
• 4-5 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur)
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

For Bhature (Fried Bread):

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (maida)
• 1/4 cup semolina (sooji)
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Salt to taste
• Water (as needed for kneading)
• Oil (for deep frying) Instructions:

For Chole:

1. Pressure cook the soaked chickpeas until they are soft and tender.
2. Heat oil in a pan. Now add cumin seeds in the pan and let it crackle.
3. Add chopped onions and sauté until golden brown.
4. Add grated ginger and minced garlic. Sauté for a minute.
5. Add chopped green chilies and sauté for another minute.
6. Add tomato puree and cook until the oil separates from the masala.
7. Add all the dry spices – coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, garam masala, dry mango powder, and salt. Mix well.
8. Add cooked chickpeas along with some water (if needed). Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes.
9. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and keep it aside.

For Bhature:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, semolina, yogurt, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. Knead the mixture into soft dough and leave it aside for 1-2 hours.
3. After resting, divide the dough into small portions and roll them into balls.
4. Roll out each ball into oval or round shapes using a rolling pin.
5. Heat oil in a deep frying pan. Once hot, gently slide the rolled dough into the oil.
6. Fry until it puffs up and turns golden brown on both sides.
7. Remove from oil and drain excess oil on paper towels.
8. Serve hot with the prepared chole.

Enjoy your homemade Chole Bhature!