Chole, which is a North Indian chickpea dish from the Punjab region is  made of chickpeas cooked with onions, garlic and spices. It is one of the most popular dishes among Indians.

Most if not all Indian restaurants have chole on their menu, it’s a staple dish in any Indian restaurant here in America. Most commonly chole is served with a side of batura (deep fried fermented flour tortillas) and a side condiment of raw onions which are put on top and eaten together. When I make chole it is always a treat at our home. Here is a recipe for one version of chole the way I usually make it.

Chole. North Indian Punjabi Spiced Garbanzo Beans
makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 cans garbanzo beans drained and rinsed.
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 2 tsp Garam masala (this is the main spice in traditional chole). Garam masala is a spice mix consisting of over 5 different spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, black and white peppercorns. cloves, cardamom pods, bay leaf, and cumin. You can find garam masala at Whole Foods and Indian grocery stores.
• Salt
• 1/4 tsp chilli powder optional
• Chopped cilantro – about 2 tbsp
• Oil

Directions:

In the instpot heat 2 tbsp oil. Add onions, ginger, and garlic and sauté until tender. Add all the spices – garam masala, coriander powder, chili powder, turmeric powder and mix into the onions and garlic. The aroma of the spices will get released at this time, sauté spices for 5 seconds.

Add rinsed chickpeas, salt, 2 cups water and 1 can tomato sauce and mix everything together and then close the instapot.   Change the setting to high pressure cook for 25 minutes.

When the instapot signals chole is ready,  wait for the pressure to release and the instapot reads lo or off. Chole is ready. Mash few of the chickpeas to thicken the dish if needed. Add chopped cilantro and serve with extra raw onions along with tortillas, rice, or quinoa.