PINDI CHOLAS

Cholas just like daal can be made in a lot of ways.. Every cook has his her own way.. i really like my pindi cholas to look nice and black with tanginess of imli .. there are different ways to achieve nice black cholas..

my friend Preetika suggests soaking the cholas in tea water.. that is boil tea leaves in water and strain. soak the chick peas in this water overnight.. result is dark brown cholas..

another friend and really good home cook Ravi suggests soaking them in amla powder.. i am not sure if you can get amla powder readily in markets.. i make mine by drying amla at home and powdering it fine.. mix a teaspoon powder with water and soak cholas overnight to get a nice tangy black chola..

a simple chola recipe

cholas soaked overnite in either tea or amla water

ginger garlic paste

chole masala

salt

red chilli powder

butter

fine slices of ginger and finely sliced onion for garnish

• boil soaked chanas with salt and some garam masala till soft .
• take a heavy bottom pan and warm butter leaving about a tsp to use later..
• add ginger garlic paste and saute..
• add cholas and mash them slightly with laddle..
• add chole masala and red chilli..
• add some anardana powder or imli water if you want to make it tangy..
• in a seperate pan heat some butter and add it to simmering chola .. it will bubble and stir the cholas once the bubbles die down..
• garnish with thinely slices wedges of giger and onion.. or coriander !!!