Chole Ka Bharta
Rustic • Hearty • Comforting
A comforting chickpea dish where cooked chole are gently mashed and simmered with onion, tomato, ginger, garlic and warming Indian spices. Rustic, hearty and full of flavour, this bharta pairs beautifully with roti or paratha for a simple, satisfying meal.
Recipe Details
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Cuisine: Indian
Serves: 1
Nutrition / Macros:
Calories: 194 kcal
Protein: 6 g
Carbs: 26 g
Fat: 6 g
Recipe Highlights
♥ Rustic, lightly mashed chickpea texture
♥ Made with simple everyday ingredients
♥ Full of warm Indian spices
♥ Comforting and satisfying
♥ Perfect with roti or paratha
Ingredients
- Chickpeas — 30 g
- Chopped onion — 50 g
- Chopped tomato — 100 g
- Groundnut oil — 5 g
- Ginger paste — as required
- Garlic paste — as required
- Turmeric powder — as required
- Chilli powder — as required
- Kashmiri red chilli powder — as required
- Cumin powder — as required
- Salt — to taste
- Chopped green chilli — as required
- Coriander leaves — for garnish
- Water — as required
Method
1. Soak & Cook the Chickpeas
Wash the chickpeas and soak them overnight.
The next day, transfer the soaked chickpeas to a pressure cooker and cook until soft. Drain if required and keep aside.
2. Prepare the Masala
Heat the groundnut oil in a wok.
Add the chopped onion and cook until it starts to soften. Add the ginger paste and garlic paste and sauté well.
Add the chopped tomato and cook until it softens and everything begins to come together.
3. Add the Chickpeas & Spices
Add the cooked chickpeas, chopped green chilli, turmeric powder, chilli powder, Kashmiri red chilli powder, cumin powder and salt.
Mix well.
Add a little water and continue cooking until the spices and chickpeas are well combined.
4. Mash the Chickpeas
Cook for another couple of minutes, then lightly mash the chickpeas with a masher.
The texture should remain slightly rustic rather than becoming completely smooth.
Add a little more water if required and cook for another 3–4 minutes.
Mix everything together well and switch off the heat.
5. Serve
Transfer the Chole Ka Bharta to a serving bowl.
Garnish lightly with coriander leaves and serve hot with roti or paratha.
Tip
Mash the chickpeas only lightly so the bharta keeps some texture. Add water gradually while cooking rather than adding too much at once.
Ipshita’s Note
I like this bharta slightly rustic rather than completely smooth. The chickpeas still have some texture, while the onion, tomato and spices come together into a comforting masala that works beautifully with a simple roti or paratha.
