Pindi Chhole Recipe: Spiced Punjabi Chickpea Curry

By Akshara

August 28, 2025

Pindi chhole is a dry-style chickpea curry cooked with bold spices, tea leaves for colour, and minimal gravy. It is robust, flavourful, and typically paired with bhature, puris, or kulchas.

Ingredients

1½ cups chickpeas (soaked overnight) 1 tbsp tea leaves tied in muslin cloth 2 onions (sliced) 1 tomato (chopped) 2 tbsp oil or ghee 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp roasted cumin powder 1 tsp red chilli powder ½ tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp amchur (dry mango powder) Salt to taste Fresh coriander for garnish

Step 1

Pressure cook chickpeas with the tea bag until tender, then discard the tea bag.

Step 2

In a pan, heat oil, add cumin seeds, onions, and ginger-garlic paste, and cook until golden.

Step 3

Add tomato, dry spices, and cook until oil separates.

Step 4

Stir in chickpeas, simmer without much water for a thick consistency, and finish with garam masala and coriander.