Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (2024)

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Vegan + Healthy + One pot meal + gluten-free !!!!!!!!!! Oh yes definitely sign me up !Today I am excited to share an easy recipe that goes by many names – Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay . This garbanzo bean recipe is vegan & gluten-free too. I love that making beans at home is super easy in a pressure cooker and tastes much better than the canned beans. This Indian style chickpea curry comes together with just 15 minutes of preparation and makes a delicious hassle free one pot meal for busy weeknight. A meal from scratch has never been so easy. It is packed with protein , fiber and all the amazing nutrients that you want in your meal.

Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (1)

I am getting lot of requests for daily meal ideas which require minimal effort and clean up and at the same time are packed with nutrition.

For this recipe I have used my new favorite kitchen gadget – The Instant Pot.

I am even getting requests to do vegetarian Instant Pot recipes too .

Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker . I would say it’s more than a pressure cooker. It’s a multi cooker with great and impressive cooking options which just makes life easier . It’s convenient , will save you $$$ that you spend on outside food and you will eat more home-made and healthy stuff.

Though this post is about the recipe to be cooked in an instant pot and not how to use or what are the advantages of the pot , I can’t stop praising it.

For those who are already using it can tell you how amazing this pot is. And for those who don’t know about it please look up online for details.

Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (2)

Don’t have an instant pot then feel free to make this recipe in your traditional stovetop pressure cooker too.

What I love about chana masala in Instant Pot ?

Everything!!!! I love the fact that I don’t have to boil the beans first and then make the curry later .

I love that you can just dump everything in one pot and a lovely meal is ready in minutes from scratch.

I love that I need not be around stirring the curry . Instead use that time to do something else.

Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (3)

Chana masala , cholay or chickpeas curry whatever you want to call it makes a healthy wholesome option for lunch or dinner. Leftovers can be enjoyed the next day too.

This recipe is vegan and gluten- free .

For extra nutrition I have added lots of spinach to the curry. You may skip it.

This is my 1st Instant Pot recipe on my blog and I promise to do many morein future.

Given below is a step by step pictorial tutorial followed by the recipe.

Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (4)

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Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (6)

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4.64 from 25 votes

Instant Pot spinach chana masala - vegan & gluten-free

Chana masala cooked in instant pot makes a healthy and hassle free dinner option. Its gluten- free and vegan.

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Adjustable Servings -6 people

Calories 233kcal

Author Khushboo

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw chickpeas/ cholay / chana to be soaked
  • 3 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon grated garlic
  • ½ tablespoon grated ginger
  • 1.5 cups water
  • 2 cups fresh tomato puree
  • 1 tablespoon roasted chickpea flour * optional see notes
  • Spices needed
  • 1 green chili finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 2 teaspoon cayenne/ paprika / red mirch powder
  • 1 tablespoon cholay / chana masala

To be added later

  • 2 cups chopped baby spinach
  • Salt to taste
  • Fistful of chopped fresh cilantro
  • Lemon

Instructions

  • Wash chickpeas in a mesh under cold running water for 30 seconds.

  • Now soak chickpeas in 2 cups water.

  • Bring it to a rolling boil and let it boil for good 5 minutes. Switch off the flame , cover it with lid and let it soak for 8-10 hours/ overnight.

  • Next day before cooking drain out all the excess water from soaked chickpeas .

  • Switch on the instant pot on sautee mode . After 3 minutes add in 3 tablespoon cooking oil .

  • Add in the onions and cook for 2 minutes or until translucent .

  • Add in the bay leaf, green chilly , ginger , garlic paste and cook it for 20 seconds .

  • Add in the chana masala , turmeric , chili powder , coriander powder along with 1 tablespoon water to avoid masala to burn.

  • Sautee it for 10 seconds.

  • Add in roasted chickpea flour/ besan and sautee for 10 seconds .

  • Now add in the tomato puree , drained chickpeas and 1.5 cups of water and mix well .

  • Now close the lid and choose 15 minutes on manual mode High pressure.

  • Position the steam release to sealing .

  • After the timer goes off let it naturally cool off for 15 minutes .

  • Carefully vent any steam off after 15 minutes and open the lid.

  • Give it a stir and check for doneness by smashing a chickpea.

  • The chickpea should smash up easily without any resistance.

  • Now put the instant pot on sauté mode again and add in chopped spinach and salt.

  • Mash few chickpeas with back of the spoon for thicker gravy .

  • Let it cook on saute mode for 3 minutes .

  • Switch off the instant pot.

  • The Gravy will thicken eventually after it starts cooling down.

  • Add in chopped coriander and some lemon juice if desired.

  • Taste test, adjust spices if desired and serve warm as a soup , along with roti or over rice/ quinoa .

Notes

I have used roasted chickpea flour/ besan to make the gravy thick .
You can leave it and just smash up few chickpeas later and the gravy will thicken once it starts cooling.
Use garam masala if chana masala unavailable.
You may skip spinach all together.
The spice level of this recipe is 3 on the scale 1-5 , 5 being the hottest .
Adjust seasoning to your spice level .
It's important to soak the beans for 8-10 hours .

If you forget to soak the beans refer to tips below
If using store bought puree , add only 1.5 cups puree and increase water by additional ½ cup.
Leftovers can be enjoyed up to 3 days . Store in refrigerator .
Tastes even better the next day so makes a perfect next day lunch.
Stove top pressure cooking method mentioned below.For more easy Instant Pot recipes - Follow link here.

Nutrition

Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 741mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1405IU | Vitamin C: 14.9mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 4mg

Tried this recipe?Click photo & send it @carveyourcraving or tag #carveyourcraving on Facebook or Instagram to be featured!

I want to try this recipe but totally forgot to soak the beans. Can I still make this chickpea curry with unsoaked beans ?

Yes you can . It will just take a bit longer. Here is what you do – Disregard the water called in the recipe for cooking the chickpea. After adding chickpea to the pot , pour water to cover chickpea plus 3 ” above the chickpea. High pressure MANUAL 35 minutes followed by NPR (Natural Pressure Release. ) It really takes only 5 minutes to soak chickpea so that the cooking time is cut into half. Soak and cook beans whenever possible.

Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (7)

Chana masala in a traditional stove top pressure cooker

Follow instant pot steps from 1-10

Pressure cook on medium up to 5 whistles , then turn down the heat to low and let it cook for 10 minutes.

Switch off the flame and let the cooker cool for 15-20 minutes before opening.

After 15 minutes , carefully release any pressure left by gently pulling up the whistle and open the pressure cooker .

Proceed with spinach as mentioned for instant pot.

Taste test and adjust the spices if needed.

Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (8)

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Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (9)Hope you like this recipe Instant Pot chickpea curry spinach chana masala and do give it a try. I would love to hear from you.

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Some more recipes like this below -

Instant Pot Chana Masala / chickpea curry / cholay recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between cholay and chana masala? ›

Chole recipe's distinguishing factors are a dark-brown curry or gravy, and a slight tangy flavor. Chickpeas are cooked with a Chole masala blend with fresh aromatics and very little tomato. Chana masala, on the other hand, is a tomato-onion-rich gravy, with a reddish-orange curry.

How much chole is enough for 4 people? ›

The amount of chana (chickpeas) you need for curry depends on the recipe and personal preferences. As a general guideline, you might use around 2 to 2.5 cups of cooked chickpeas for a curry serving 4 people. Here's a basic outline: Dry Chickpeas: If you're starting with dry chickpeas, you'll need to soak and cook them.

What's the difference between chickpea tikka masala and chickpea masala? ›

One of the critical differences between chana masala and tikka masala is the main ingredient. Chana masala is made with chickpeas and is usually a vegetarian or vegan dish. In contrast, tikka masala is made with meat. Another key difference is in the preparation method.

Can you make chole without soaking? ›

Originally Answered: can you make chole without soaking overnight ? The answer is YES but it will take a whole lot of time and resources to cook them thoroughly. Cook them in pressure cooker with salt and little baking soda for 45 minutes.

What is chana Cholay in English? ›

Chana is called Chickpea in English & is also called Garbanzo bean, Indian pea, Bengal gram & Chole. Chickpea seed is one high in proton. Chickpea commonly consumed as a snack,main meal & breakfast. Chana masala / Chole masala is most popular dish in India.

Is chole masala and chana masala same? ›

Chana Masala is a popular Indian dish of white chickpeas in a spicy and tangy gravy. In North India, this dish is called 'chole masala,' or simply 'chole'. No matter what you call it, this is a tasty vegetarian curry dish that you should definitely try making yourself!

How much chole do I need for 20 people? ›

How much chole should be prepared for 15 to 20 people? It depends if you have side dishes or any other vegetables along. For 15 to 20 people, one kilogram or a bit more should suffice.

How many cups of chickpeas should I eat a day? ›

You can eat at least one serving (28 grams) of chickpeas per day. However, don't eat more than 70 grams a day since that can cause adverse side effects. If you consume too many chickpeas, some side effects you may get include bloating, nausea, and gas.

How many cups of chickpeas per person? ›

How many chickpeas per person? It depends on whether you eat them alone or in soup, stew, or curry with other ingredients. In general, you should consider about 1/4 cup (50 grams) to 1/3 cup (70 grams) of dried chickpeas per person, which is equivalent to 3/4 cup (130 grams) to 1 cup (170 grams) of cooked chickpeas.

What do Indian people call chickpeas? ›

Chole, a dish of spiced chickpeas (also called chana or chana masala!) originates in the Indian subcontinent but can be found wherever people from the subcontinent went and settled due to colonialism.

What is Indian chickpea called? ›

The two varieties that are widely available in India are Kala Chana, and Kabuli Chana are also known as Bengal gram, garbanzo, garbanzo bean and Egyptian pea. These yummy legumes are also popular as Kondaikadali in Tamil, Senagalu in Telugu, Kadala in Malayalam and Kadale in Kannada.

What are the two types of chickpeas? ›

Two main varieties of chickpeas are the larger round light-colored Kabuli-type, common in the United States, and the smaller dark irregularly shaped Desi-type often used in India and the Middle East.

What happens if you don't pre soak chickpeas? ›

You don't have to soak your chickpeas before cooking, but it makes the beans cook much faster. It can take up to twice the time if you don't soak them first. And soaking may help remove some of the phytic acid found in dry beans which helps to remove some of their gas-producing properties.

How many hours should you soak chole? ›

Place the chickpeas in a large bowl, cover them with enough water, and let them soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. Rinsing:After soaking, rinse the chickpeas thoroughly under cold water. This helps remove any residual compounds released during soaking.

How many hours do we need to soak chole? ›

Pour 3 to 4 cups water and soak them overnight or at least for 8 hours. Longer soaking time helps in better digestion and chole turns out softer. Later drain and rinse them once with fresh water.

Is white chana and chole same? ›

Kabuli Chana is also known as chole or chhole. The desi varieties of chickpeas are small, angular seeds. Chickpeas is a versatile pulse and it is a good idea to stock some at all times. Use it with salads, chaats, subzis, pulaos, or in any other exciting creation.

Is chana dal same as chole? ›

While you can make a dal out of any pulse, typically, the word “dal” only shows up in the name of a pulse if it is a split lentil. For example, chana dal = split chickpeas, whereas if I am referring to whole chickpeas, I would say chana or chole.

What does chole masala taste like? ›

Chana masala is one of those dishes that usually tastes better the second day when the spices are allowed to develop. A good chana masala has a nice balance of garlic, ginger, tomato, coriander, and something sour like raw mango or citrus. If you can get the right sweet and sour mix, you've got it made.

What are the two types of chana? ›

The larger light tan kabuli and variously coloured desi are the two main types of chickpea. They are green when picked early and vary through tan or beige, speckled, dark brown to black. Seventy-five percent of world production is of the smaller desi type.

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