Chole (spiced chickpeas)
Mallika Basu's chickpeas with pomegranate and tamarind are cooked in tea, marrying fruity, bitter and warm in a recipe that is festive and a quick fix. Traditionally, dry chickpeas are soaked and bubbled in a strong cuppa to darken them with lots of ground dry pomegranate to add zing. Store-cupboard staples step in to deliver a similar effect in this version without compromising on taste.
- Serves4
- CourseSide
- Prepare10 mins
- Cook5 mins
- Total time15 mins
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp oil
- 1 large bay leaf
- 4 green cardamom pods
- 5 cm piece cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 5 cm piece ginger, peeled and finely grated, plus julienned, to serve
- 1 green chilli, chopped
- 2 tbsp ground coriander
- 2 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Chaat Masala
- 1 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Garam Masala
- 125ml strong tea
- 2 x 400g cans chickpeas, drained
- 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 1 tbsp tamarind paste
- Sprinkle Cooks’ Ingredients Amchoor (optional)
- Green chilli strips, to serve
Method
- Warm the oil over a medium-high heat in a wok or sauté pan, then add the bay and whole spices. As they sizzle, mix in the ginger and chilli until they start taking on colour. 
- Stir through the coriander, and chaat and garam masala for a minute so they become fragrant, adding a dash of hot water, if needed, to loosen them from the base of the pan. Pour in the tea and stir, then bring to a bubble and add the chickpeas. 
- Stir through the molasses and the tamarind, adding rock salt and amchoor (if using) to taste. This dish should have a bit of liquid in it, but without a curry or an actual sauce. Serve with ginger and green chilli scattered on top. 
Nutritional
Typical values per serving when made using specific products in recipe
| Energy | 1,235kJ/ 296kcals | 
|---|---|
| Fat | 15g | 
| Saturated Fat | 2.1g | 
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 
| Sugars | 5.9g | 
| Fibre | 9.8g | 
| Protein | 1g | 
| Salt | 8.1g |