Homemade chole masala powder step-by-step recipe with photos.
About this recipe
Chole masala or chana masala is Punjabi curry made with chole or chickpeas. A unique and aromatic spice blend is used to make this curry. The chole masala powder is a blend of several spices that are dry-roasted, cooled, and ground into a fine powder.
While chola masala powder is easily available in Indian stores, it does not match the taste of freshly ground masala powder. And let us not forget the unique taste it adds to the dish because you can tweak it as per your taste buds. I have been making chole for years and have used store-bought masala powder in the past to make them. But once I started making them at home, there is no looking back. This recipe here is shared by a Punjabi friend of mine and is definitely a keeper. The best part of this masala powder is that you don't have to add any other spice while making chana masala. Just this aromatic masala powder, onions, and tomatoes simmered with chickpeas will give you the perfect chole ever.
This recipe here gives me approximately 100 grams of masala powder. You may choose to half or double the recipe as per your preference.
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Step by step instructions
1. Gather all the whole spices together
2. Gather the ground spices
3. Dry-roast the red chilli until they puff up and become crispy
4. Dry-roast coriander seeds and cumin seeds until aromatic and golden
5. To this, add green cardamom, seeds of black cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and fennel seeds. Roast for a further 2-3 minute
6. Let the mixture cool down completely
7. Grind into a fine powder
8. Once the whole spices are ground, add the powdered spices to the blender
9. Blend for a few seconds so that everything combines well
Recipe card
Homemade chole masala powder
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 3 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 12-15 Kashmiri red chilli
- 6 green cardamom
- 1 black cardamom (discard skin and use seeds)
- 3 inch cinnamon
- 10 cloves
- 1 teaspoon peppercorn
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (saunf)
- 2 tablespoon amchur
- 1 tablespoon anardana powder
- 1 teaspoon dried ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon black salt
- ½ teaspoon asafoetida (hing)
Instructions
- Heat a pan and dry-roast red chilli until they puff up and become crisp. Set aside
- Next, add coriander seeds and cumin seeds in the same pan. Dry-roast until they are aromatic and golden
- To the same mixture, add green cardamom, seeds of black cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and fennel seeds. Roast for a further 2-3 minute
- Set everything aside and let it cool down completely
- Grind into a fine powder in a blender or mixie
- Once the whole spices are ground, add the powdered spices to the blender (amchur, anardana powder, dried ginger powder, nutmeg powder, turmeric powder, black salt, and hing)
- Blend for a few seconds so that everything combines well
- Store in an air-tight container
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