An easy chana masala recipe that is hearty and made with a tomato and onion gravy and flavored with a chana masala powder. This satisfying dish is vegan and is great served with rice or warm naan.

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One of the first Indian dishes I learned how to make was chana masala, also known as chole. I learned how to make it because my sister knew how to make it, and I copied everything she did (except that she became a doctor and I did not!).

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Ingredients for Chana Masala
How to Make Chana Masala
Why Do You Temper Spices?
More Vegetarian Indian Recipes
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What is Chana Masala authentically known as Chole? Chana masala is a South Asian dish that varies within each region. I personally have adapted mine to keep it kid-friendly. The spice level on this is mild (depending on your tolerance), and my kids absolutely love it. Chana masala is basically a chickpea masala recipe in a tangy tomato and onion gravy mixed with spices and masala powder with chickpeas.

Ingredients for Chana Masala

Canned chickpeas. I am all about convenience in this phase of my life. There is no shame in using canned beans for your recipes. I like to use no salt added to decrease my sodium intake.
Onions and tomato gravy. I blend these separately in a blender like this one. If I’m in a time crunch, I also like to add ginger and garlic to the onions to blend.
Garlic and ginger. If I don’t blend this with the onions, I will fine-grind this in a chopper.
Masala & Seasonings: You can buy Indian masalas at any Indian grocery store. Many other grocery stores now carry basics.
- I like to use MDH chana masala or Badshah Chana masala powder with this one. The Badshah one is slightly spicier for my kids, so I stick to the MDH. If you don’t have this, you can use garam masala, which can now be found at most grocery stores. Don’t have any of those options? You can add some cardamom, black pepper, and a pinch of cinnamon for added flavor to your recipe.
- Turmeric. This is essential to enhance the flavor of the dish.
- Jaggery. This is optional. Adding sweetness to a dish enhances the flavors and brings the recipe together. You can opt to use brown sugar or regular sugar or omit it altogether.
- Salt to taste. This varies per recipe depending on which powder you use, as the masalas are already seasoned with salt. I recommend starting with half a teaspoon and then increasing it when the dish is complete.
- Cumin seeds. I temper these with the oil at the beginning to release the properties of the seeds. If you don't have cumin seeds, you can use cumin powder.

chickpea curry in a serving bowl garnished with cilantro

How to Make Chana Masala

Heat oil in a medium pan. Temper the cumin seeds until they pop and are fragrant (See the following section on why we temper seeds).
Add garlic and ginger. Then add the onions and cook until they begin to brown, about 4-5 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook until the water starts to absorb and it becomes a gravy-like consistency, about 5 minutes.
Mix in the chana masala powder (or garam masala), turmeric, jaggery (if using), and salt. Combine well.
Add the drained chickpeas and fenugreek leaves, cover the lid, and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If you prefer a heavier liquid, I recommend adding about ¼-1/2 cup water and letting it simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and serve with warm basmati rice or fresh naan.

Why Do You Temper Spices?

You are welcome to use powder for the flavor. However, tempering is the way to unlock the spices' healing properties. Many South Asian cuisines temper seeds and spices. Tempering can be done at the beginning or the end of your dish, depending on the dish. The significance behind the tempering is that when these ingredients are added to hot oil, the spices' natural oils and healing properties are released. It gives you the most important properties of the spices and adds extra flavor to the dish!

chole in a bowl garnished with cilantro and side of onions

Serve this with warm naan or basmati rice. Shruthi at Urban Farmie has a great Traditional Naan recipe as well as a Jeera Rice recipe that will go wonderfully with this! I also like to serve with samosas and chutney as a samosa chaat. Or wrap it in a paratha and make a Kathi roll with the chana masala as the filling. My favorite side to go with chana masala recipe is Cucumber Raita. This chole dish can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also prep this in advance and use it with your meal prep throughout the week.

More Vegetarian Indian Recipes

chana masala served in a bowl topped with cilantro

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5 from 11 votes