Bihari Chole Masala recipe is an easy-to-make side dish for Poori. Serve this Chana masala Bihari Style with parathas, pooris, and rice as well.
Chole Bihari style is different from the regular way I make my Chole Masala. They also use certain spices more in Bihari Cuisine. All my exposure to Bihari cuisine amounts to what my colleague shared. She is a good cook and whenever she gets Chole, she brings Chawal as well. She used to say that they love Chole with Chawal.
Our lunch breaks were the time we took to discuss different dishes in Bihari Cuisine. This Chana Masala Bihari Style is something she makes often. One of the main spices she uses a lot in all her gravies is always bay leaf. We saute the onion till it caramelizes. They grind the tomatoes with other spices before adding them to the gravy. They make the bhuna masala and add the boiled chana finally.
You can serve this for pooris like this Bedai, a dal stuffed poori from Bihar. You can check this Tamatar Aloo ki Sabzi as well. For a different version of chickpeas, try this Pindi Chole.
My friend always spoke about Bhuna Masala, which is essentially the onion and spice masala cooked on low flame for a long time, which gives its typical dark colour and very deep flavour.
I made this Chana Masala as a side dish for the Chana Dal Puri. Biharis are known for their love for Aloo and I had made a Nasta Thali that is enjoyed on a weekend.
Other Chana Recipes you can try!
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Ingredients used in making Bihari Chole Masala
Kabuli Chana is used to make this Chana Masala Bihari Style. As with all chole recipes, we boil the chickpea in the pressure cooker and then cook in the bhuna masala.
Spices used: Bay Leaf, Cloves, Cinnamon are the regular spices used. We also use green chilies and peppercorns for spice.
Other Puri Chana Combo Meals
Recipe
Bihari Chole Masala Recipe ~ Side Dish for Poori
Ingredients
For the Chana
- 250 gms Kabuli Chana
- Salt to taste
For the Chole Masala
- 1.5 cups Onions
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp Kashmiri chili powder
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 4 tsp Cooking Oil
For tempering
- 1 no Bay Leaf
- 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 2 no Green Chilis
For the Paste
- 2 medium Tomatoes
- 4 to 5 cloves Garlic
- 1/2 inch Ginger
- 1/2 tsp Peppercorns
- 2 Cloves
- 1- inch Cinnamon
Instructions
- Wash and soak the Kabuli chana overnight or at least for 8 hours. Change the water a couple of times and pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles. Let the pressure fall down.
For the paste
- Take all the ingredients in a mixer jar, and grind to a smooth paste.
For the Chole Masala
- Heat a nonstick pan with oil, temper with bay leaf, cumin seeds, green chilies. Saute for a couple of minutes.
- Now add finely chopped onions and saute well. Cook for 5 mins on low flame.
- Add the chili powder, salt, and turmeric powder. Continue cooking till the onion is browned.
- Add the ground paste and combine well and let it simmer for 10 mins.
- When the oil comes out, add the boiled chana and continue cooking for another 5 to 7 mins.
- Add butter and serve hot with poori.
Some more Bihari Recipes for you to try!
- Chana Dal Bihari Style | Dal with Chana Dal Step by Step Recipe | Simple Bihari Thali
- Saffron Vegetable Biryani | Zafrani Sabzi Biryani | Step by Step Recipe | Simple Bihari Thali
- Thekua ~ Khajur Recipe ~ Bihari Special | How to make Thekua Step By Step Recipe | Indian Cooking Challenge for November
- Litti Chokha ~ A to Z Indian Breakfast Dishes
- Sattu ka Paratha, Baingan ka Bharta from Bihar
- Chawal ki kheer | Bihari Style Rice Kheer
- Gobi Matar Masala | Gobi Matar Curry | Cauliflower Peas Curry
- Bedai | Dal Stuffed Pooris from Bihar
Rajani says
So many different methods to making these dishes! It’s always good to have friends who love cooking and are ready to share the recipes with us, right 🙂
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Chole is such a versatile recipe and love seeing all the different techniques to make it. I love how this has a different blend of spices and also that it is simpler to make.
Radha says
This channa looks very flavorful and delicious with limited spices when compared to regular chole. I am going to try this right away.
NARMADHA says
Bihari chole looks so tempting and delicious and love the freshly grounded chole masala which makes it more flavorful.