Chole' Chawal

Chole Chawal is a typical North Indian street food with rice and chickpeas which makes a perfect delicious , healthy meal .

My maternal uncles house was in a busy market area called Karol Bagh . This was the most popular shopping area in those days . The market was always crowded with both big and narrow lanes . One could spot hawkers at every two minutes . It is unbelievable , but true . From rich to poor everyone would crowd up these hawkers and eat their favourite food . Perfect place to Explore the Flavours of Street Food .

Most of my wedding shopping was done in this market , and every time we went it was a must to eat a bit of this and a bit of that ! If it would be lunch time we normally had Punjabi Kadhi Chawal , Sarso ka Saag with Makki ki Roti or Chole Chawal.

There are many Chole walas in the market but this one in Gaffar market of Karol Bagh is one of the best . His stuff sells like hot cakes . The rice is made with some peas and tiny cubes of paneer. It is beautifully decorated with tomatoes , chillies , paneer etc. The interesting part of this dish is that the vendor fills a plate with rice , tops with Chole and then tops with some spicy spinach. The spinach is topped with a slice of cottage cheese and some freshly made mango or carrot pickle , depending on the season .

One achieves a great sense of satisfaction after eating this protein rich bowl.a street food bowl with chilly on the higher side..low oil, fresh green spicy spinach which gives you the feel and flavor of chutney, the crunchy onions, the tangy mango pickle to bite in between and to bite into the paneer piece if you get that sharp chilly taste..wow..can you absorb the flavors?

Chole' Chawal

 

Chole’ Chawal

Rice

11/2 cup rice
1 big cardamom
2 small cardamom
1-2 bay leaves
1 tsp sugar
Salt to taste

 

Chole

1 /2 cup chick peas , soaked overnight
3-4 dried gooseberry
2 tea bags
Salt to taste
4 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp roasted cumin seed powder
2 green chilly, slit into two
3 medium tomatoes , puréed
1 tomato, chopped
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp red chilly powder
1 tsp pomegranate powder
Fresh coriander leaves

Spicy Spinach

1 medium bunch spinach, chopped and blanched
1 tbsp ghee
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 green chilly , paste
1/4 tsp ginger paste
Salt to taste
Milk or cream to adjust consistency

Other Ingredients

Rectangular pieces of cottage cheese sprinkled with salt , turmeric and chilly

Sliced onion

Mango Pickle

 

Method

Rice

Heat 1 tbsp oil.
Add the bay leaves and cardamoms .
Add sugar and let it dissolve , roast till we get a amber color .
Add 3 cups water.
Let boil , add salt .
Add rice and cook till 80% done .
Add the boiled peas , cover and cook on slow flame till done .

Chole’

Pressure cook the chickpeas with tea bags , gooseberry tied in muslin cloth and salt for 4-5 whistles or until completely done .
Remove the tea bags and gooseberries.
Purée three tomatoes and chop one tomato .
Heat oil and add cumin seeds.
As soon as they splutter add the slit green chilly.
Next add the puréed tomatoes, sauté till oil separates.
Add coriander powder , roasted cumin powder , red chilly and pomegranate powder.
Add salt according to the tomatoes and spices.
Add the drained channa and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Temper with chopped tomatoes and red chilly powder.
Garnish with coriander.

Spicy Spinach

Purée the blanched spinach.
Heat ghee add cumin seeds.
Once they splutter add the ginger chilly paste.
Immediately add the puréed spinach.
Add salt.
Mix well , adding cream or milk to adjust the consistency of the spinach .
The consistency should be that of chutney.

Serving the dish

Fill up a plate with rice .
Pour a ladle ful of channa on top.
Pour a heaped tablespoon of spicy spinach.
Place a slice of paneer.
Place a slice or two of mango pickle .

You could serve some pickled onions with this Chole Chawal.

Chole Chawal.

 

Here is what I have been posting under Explore the Flavors

A – Agre ka Bhalla

B – Bhungra Bateta

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5 from 1 vote

Chole' Chawal

Chole Chawal is a typical North Indian street food with rice and chickpeas which makes a perfect delicious meal .
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Indian Cuisine
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 7 hours

Ingredients

Rice

  • 11/2 cup rice
  • 1 big cardamom
  • 2 small cardamom
  • 1-2 leaves bay
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Salt to taste
  • Method
  • tbsp Heat 1oil.
  • leaves Add the bayand cardamoms .
  • Add sugar and let it dissolve roast till we get a amber color .
  • cups Add 3water.
  • Let boil add salt .
  • Add rice and cook till 80% done .
  • Add the boiled peas cover and cook on slow flame till done .

Chole

  • 1 /2 cup chick peas soaked overnight
  • 3-4 dried gooseberry
  • 2 tea bags
  • Salt to taste
  • 4 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp roasted cumin seed powder
  • 2 green chilly slit into two
  • 3 medium tomatoes puréed
  • 1 tomato chopped
  • 2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp red chilly powder
  • 1 tsp pomegranate powder
  • Fresh coriander leaves

Spicy Spinach

  • 1 medium bunch spinach chopped and blanched
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 green chilly paste
  • 1/4 tsp ginger paste
  • Salt to taste
  • Milk or cream to adjust consistency

Instructions

Rice

  • Heat 1 tbsp oil.
  • Add the bay leaves and cardamoms .
  • Add sugar and let it dissolve , roast till we get a amber color .
  • Add 3 cups water.
  • Let boil , add salt .
  • Add rice and cook till 80% done .
  • Add the boiled peas , cover and cook on slow flame till done .

Chole'

  • Pressure cook the chickpeas with tea bags , gooseberry tied in muslin cloth and salt for 4-5 whistles or until completely done .
  • Remove the tea bags and gooseberries.
  • Purée three tomatoes and chop one tomato .
  • Heat oil and add cumin seeds.
  • As soon as they splutter add the slit green chilly.
  • Next add the puréed tomatoes, sauté till oil separates.
  • Add coriander powder , roasted cumin powder , red chilly and pomegranate powder.
  • Add salt according to the tomatoes and spices.
  • Add the drained channa and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Temper with chopped tomatoes and red chilly powder.
  • Garnish with coriander.

Spicy Spinach

  • Purée the blanched spinach.
  • Heat ghee add cumin seeds.
  • Once they splutter add the ginger chilly paste.
  • Immediately add the puréed spinach.
  • Add salt.
  • Mix well , adding cream or milk to adjust the consistency of the spinach .
  • The consistency should be that of chutney.

Serving the dish

  • Fill up a plate with rice .
  • Pour a ladle ful of channa on top.
  • Pour a heaped tablespoon of spicy spinach.
  • Place a slice of paneer.
  • Place a slice or two of mango pickle .
  • You could serve some pickled onions with this Chole Chawal.

19 thoughts on “C – Chole’ Chawal , street food from Delhi”

  1. Chole Chawal sounds like a complete meal and also healthy street food i guess !!! I’m so in love with those cute stove setup , where do you get all these props??

    1. Thank you Sandhiya. That little stove is a pick from one of the temples we visited in some village. All the desi props that I collect are from rural areas.

  2. Love your whole street food set up pic Vaishali. Like you said, this is such a wholesome and nutritious dish – can’t believe that there are such street food served anywhere. Thanks to you we get to know about them. I’m in love with this Chole Chawal — I’m definitely going to try this real soon.

  3. Omg such an amazing looking chole chawal , Hawkers make the best tasting food for the soul isn’t it. I love spicy chawal with channa this looks just my kind of food .. I would love to enjoy it any time .. That is interesting to know this is served as street food .. you are an encyclopedia of street foods di 🙂 Another wonderful recipe from you street food series di !!

  4. That is stunning picture composition. Love the ingredients. Surprised to see that gooseberries are added to chole. Amazing combination there. Bookmarked

  5. We would always eat the chole chawal fro Gaffar whenever we would go to Karolbagh. You have exactly replicated the dish and the best part of the dish which I loved the most is the fresh mango pickle.

  6. Your explanation makes me drool here. Love chole chawal as is and when you add those condiments I cannot say no. I can happily wipe the entire bowl clean.

  7. Everyday you come up with some ultimate chaat foods, none can beat u. And that chole chawal is torturing me, how delicious its looks. Simply delicious and love that set up.

  8. Vaishali, I am going to be writing a long comment. You literally took me on a trip to the era when I grew up in Northern India. Trip to Karol Bagh was a must and I used to be looking around with wide eyes at all the vendors and the crowd. Wish I had this much interest in eating as I have now. I used to be a typical child and not want to do anything with food. Now I am realizing how much I missed out. I need to revisit those places and get the cravings out. Second, your props are just out of the world…..I am going back and forth still eyeing those. So proud of your passion to food. Third and the last, the recipe looks amazing. Love how the layers are placed on top of each other and each and every layer has its own unique flavor.

  9. Chole chawal sounds fantastic Vaishali, whether it really tastes as good as you say, your description of the whole place makes it such a lovely experience!..what a lovely setup too..I am so loving your little stove!

  10. I went to do my daughter’s shopping in Karol Bagh and Chandi Chowk. Had tikkis at Chandi Chowk but didn’t try anything in Karol Bagh. I think next trip should just go to Delhi for the street food. What a delicious chatpatta filling dish. A complete meal.

  11. Total comfort food for delhiites & a very interesting addition sautéed spinach there .. I prefer Puri Chole but might try ur combo esp with the palak side sometime soon

  12. That description of the choke Chawal in the last paragraph oh my god! You made me drool! That plate looks totally divine! Such a blessing to grow up in such a foodie heaven!! I m definitely trying this!!

  13. 5 stars
    Wow ! The chole chawal looks delicious , the whole set up and description makes you drool . A visit to this market has now become a must . Very interesting set up .

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