Punjabi Chole Masala

Ingredients

Chickpeas (kabuli chana), soaked overnight 1 1/2 cup Salt to taste Dried Indian gooseberry (amla) 3-4 Tea leaves 2 teaspoons Oil 4 tablespoons Cumin seeds 2 teaspoons Green chillies, slit 2 Tomatoes 4 medium Coriander powder 2 teaspoons Red chilli powder 1 teaspoon Pomegranate seeds (anardana), powdered 1 tablespoon Fresh coriander leaves 2 tablespoons

Method

Take chickpeas in a pressure cooker. Add three cups of water. Tie tea leaves and dried amla in a piece of muslin cloth and add along with salt. Cook under pressure for four to five whistles or until the chickpeas are completely done and tender. Remove the muslin cloth bag. Puree three tomatoes and cut the remaining into one-inch cubes. Roast one teaspoon cumin seeds. Cool and powder. Heat two tablespoons oil in a pan. Add the remaining cumin seeds. When they begin to change colour add slit green chillies and sauté for a minute. Add tomato puree and sauté till oil begins to separate. Add coriander powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder and anardana powder and sauté till oil separates. Add drained chana and mix well. Adjust salt and simmer for five to ten minutes. Take it off the heat. Heat the remaining oil in another pan. Add the tomato cubes and sauté for a minute. Pour this into the chana mixture and keep it covered for five minutes. Serve hot garnished with coriander leaves.