PINDI CHOLE/HOW TO MAKE PUNJABI PINDI CHOLE

These are Rawalpindi style semi-dry chickpeas with mild spices and a tangy touch, garnished with coriander leaves. As every regional recipe, there is a reason for this chole recipe to be named as ‘Pindi’ because during Partition of India, a lot of people got displaced  and Punjab province was divided into west and east, the west part being the current Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. ‘Pind’ in Punjabi's means village and hence this simple, characteristic Rawalpindi style chole preparation takes on the name ‘Pindi Chole'.

In this recipe calls for Kabuli chana/ Garbanzo Beans are boiled with tea leaves and whole spices which gives them a rustic flavour.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 CUPS OF DRIED GARBANZO BEANS(SOAKED OVERNIGHT)
• ONION-2 GRATED
• GARLIC-5-6 PODS GRATED
• GINGER-1/2 INCH JULIENNES
• TOMATOES-3-4 GRATED
• SALT
• RED CHILLY POWDER
• TEA BAG
• WHOLE SPICES(CARDAMOM,CINNAMON,BLACK PEPPER, NUTMEG)
• CHOLE MASALA-2 TSP
• CUMIN SEEDS-DRY AND ROASTED
• ANARDANA-1 TSP DRIED AND ROASTED(POMEGRANATE SEEDS)
• CORIANDER LEAVES

PROCEDURE

• Wash and soak the Garbanzo beans /kabuli chole over night in sufficient water.
• Next day prepare the pressure cooker and check the beans, as in all the floated one, any discoloured one please throw them out.
• Add the tea bag and whole spices with sufficient quantity of water to it.
• Give 2 whistles pressure cooker and let it simmer for 15-20 mins.
• Now take a big frying pan and add oil to it, now add grated onion to it.
• Make them golden brown and add the ginger and garlic to it. Saute it properly, now add tomatoes to it and let it simmer.
• Now add the spices to it and keep it on low flame, and wait till the oil floats on the gravy.
• Now take out the tea bag from the pressure cooker and add the chole to the pan.
• Mix them well so that all the spices steeps well into the chole.
• Now cover and cook the chana's well.
• Once done dry roast the cumin seeds and Pomegranate seeds and make a powder of it.Sprinkle the chana's with them and serve it hot.
• These chole can be served with rice or roti but really they taste good with poori or Bhature.
• Enjoy.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

• Chick peas helps in reducing Cholesterol because they have high dietary fiber content.
• The dietary fiber in garbanzo beans also works to increase the weight and size of your stool and soften it.If you have diarrhea, eating a diet high in fiber can help to bulk it up and make it easier to pass. Dietary fiber also helps to prevent hemorrhoids.
• Chickpeas are rich in fiber and are filled with high quality protein. These two nutrients keep you full for longer and hence control hunger. These essential nutrients found in chickpeas make it ideal for weight loss and weight management.
• Chickpeas are loaded with good iron. Iron helps transporting oxygen through the body and is imperative for maintaining a strong immune system and good metabolism.
• Chickpeas benefits are great for women health too. The phytochemicals or saponins in chickpeas, act extremely helpful in the prevention of breast cancer and osteoporosis. It is also great for lowering incidences of hot flushes post menopause.