Chole kulcha is a popular North Indian street food made with spicy chickpea curry served alongside soft kulchas. This classic combination is loved for its delicious and satisfying taste. In this recipe, you will learn how to make both chole and kulcha at home using simple ingredients and easy methods.
Whether you are craving a street-style meal or planning a hearty lunch, this chole kulcha recipe brings together two delicious components in one complete dish.
Jump to:
- About this recipe and some memories!
- How to make Street Style Chole for Chole Kulcha
- More Chickpea recipes you will love to try!
- How to make Soft Kulcha for Chole Kulcha (Tawa and Baked Method)
- Making Kulchas in Oven and on Tawa
- How to Serve Indian street food chole kulcha
- Tips for Street Style Chole Kulcha
- FAQs
- More Indian Street Food Recipes You'll Love
- Recipe
- PIN This for Later!
About this recipe and some memories!
The memories of this dish dates back to the time when Hubby Dear used to talk about his stay in Delhi and the food he ate there. I particularly remember him recollecting fond memories of Chole Kulchas. The Kulchawala used to come in his cycle with a bag and a Dabba filled with chole and as you buy, he will scoop out the chole and give on the kulcha. The line to get this is always huge and it gets sold off within minutes.
So when I decided to do a theme on Street Food, I selected Chole Kulcha, a popular Delhi Street Food. I read that the soft kulchas taste delicious with the soft spicy chole made with chickpea cooked in a spicy tomato base.
My most favorite dishes to try at home have always been the street food across India. Since Daddy would never allow us to eat off the street vendors, I always recreate those dishes at home.
Right from snacks to biryanis, you can get anything and everything off your street. Street food literally refers to the local food you get to taste off the market streets or the street hawkers.
I particularly wanted to try out the street food available in the famous Delhi Streets. So when I read this particular combo, I had to make it. We had such an enjoyable day, having this for lunch!
How to make Street Style Chole for Chole Kulcha
This chole is slightly spicier and thicker than regular chole, making it perfect for pairing with kulcha.
Step By Step Pictures for making Chole Kulcha
How to make Soft Kulcha for Chole Kulcha (Tawa and Baked Method)
Making Kulchas in Oven and on Tawa
For Baking
Pre-heat the oven to 200C.
Place the tray in the centre of the oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes.
On the tawa
Heat a tawa and cook the kulcha on both sides till down. Douse with butter after removing.
How to Serve Indian street food chole kulcha
As a street food, the kulchawala usually serves hot chole topped with chopped onions, lemon juice, and coriander leaves along with soft kulchas on the side. This combination makes a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Tips for Street Style Chole Kulcha
The chole make for this combination is slightly spicy than the regular one for better flavor
The gravy is always slightly thicker and not watery.
Add raw onions and lemon for authentic taste
Serve kulcha warm for best texture
FAQs
Chole kulcha is a North Indian Street food pairing spicy chickpea curry with soft kulcha bread.
Yes, you can make kulcha on a stovetop or tawa without oven.
Chole kulcha uses soft flatbread, while bhature is deep fried and puffed.
More Indian Street Food Recipes You'll Love
Recipe
Chole Kulcha Recipe (Delhi Street Style Chickpea Curry with Kulcha)
Ingredients
For the Chole
- 1 & 1/2 cups Kabuli Channa / Chickpeas
- 4 cups Water or just enough to cover
To be ground to a smooth paste
- 1 medium Bay Leaf
- 1 Black Cardamom with the outer covering removed
- 2 Cardamom with the covering removed
- 1 inch Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Star Anise
- 4 Cloves
- 4 tsp Coriander Powder I added whole coriander 2 tsp
- 1 tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 4 Tomatoes
- 2 tsp Ginger fresh
- 2 Green Chillies
- 2 tbsp Coriander Leaves
For the Seasoning
- 2 tsp Cooking Oil
- 2 tsp Ghee
- 3/4 tsp Shah Jeera / Black Cumin Seeds
- A pinch Asafoetida / Hing
- Salt to taste
- 2 tsp Chat Masala
- 1 tsp Tamarind soaked in 1 cup water
For the Kulcha
- 4 - 5 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Water lukewarm as required
- 1 tsp Instant Yeast
- 1/2 tsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 3/4 cup Curds / Yogurt
- 2 tbsp Cooking Oil
Instructions
How to make the Chole
- Wash and soak the chickpeas in plenty of water overnight. Change the water a couple of times and pressure cook with enough water for 3 to 4 whistles. Let the pressure fall down before removing the lid.
- In a blender, take all the ingredients listed for paste and blend well. Put in the chopped tomatoes ginger, ginger, green chili and coriander and blend to a smooth puree without using any water.
- In a nonstick pan, heat the cooking oil and ghee. Once the oil is hot, stir in the shahi jeera and after a few seconds, put in the asafoetida. After few minutes, add the ground paste and cook till the oil separates from the tomatoes on medium to low heat, stirring in between about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Put in the cooked chickpeas and the cooking water and cook till the water is reduced and you get a gravy of the required consistency.
- Stir in the chat masala and salt and turn off the heat. Garnish with fresh coriander and green chilies and serve with kulcha.
How to make the Kulcha
- In a wide bowl, take the flour, instant yeast, sugar, salt and slowly add in the lukewarm water. Mix well. Knead to a soft dough.
- Cover and let it rest for atleast an hour or till the dough doubles.
- Once the dough doubles, punch down slowly and divide into equal parts. On a flat surface, roll the dough into a 4" or 5" circle and place it on an oiled baking tray.
For Baking
- Pre-heat the oven to 200C.
- Place the tray in the centre of the oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes.
On the tawa
- Heat a tawa and cook the kulcha on both sides till down. Douse with butter after removing.
Nutrition
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Padma Rekha says
Valli the whole setup is so inviting and specially those Kulchas looking so soft...
Sapana Behl says
Oh my Love this chole kulche .They look so tempting and mouth watering.
Archana Potdar says
Omg I am loving it. Drool drool drool
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
2 in 1 recipe. Great. Its very tempting. Amazing share.
Nalini's Kitchen says
Wow!!!amazing spread Valli,I am drooling over the pictures.The kulcha has come out so good.
Pavani N says
Wow, that is such a yummy combo -- chole and kulcha. My mouth's watering just looking at the pics.
vaishali sabnani says
Wow ! Chola recipe sounds awesome , bookmarking ! This is one of the best on Delhi streets , just waiting to go and enjoy ????
Priya Suresh says
Seriously i feel like inviting myself to your place, this chole kulche is torturing me.
sushma says
Am just loving this dish ,mouth watering here.
Sarita says
What a comfort dish ! It looks great.. Chole and kulcha both looks too yummy:
Chef Mireille says
great classic combo - looks great
Ashwaq Hilal says
Worth the read. I always love Kulcha and it's taste. Lucky for me, I was able to taste such authentic kulcha from Kulcha King. I even got a discount from their special dine-in offer.