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Red and Green Palak Chhole

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 2 cans garbanzo beans rinsed well
  • 1 can of tomato puree
  • 1 med onion chopped
  • 1 red pepper sliced
  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1/2 cinnamon stick
  • 3-4 cloves
  • 3 cardamom pods
  • 3-4 peppercorns
  • red chili powder
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • salt to taste
  • cilantro
  • kasoori methi optional
  • Half a bag of fresh baby spinach chopped

Instructions

  • Add a little bit of vegetable oil to a pot, I used a cast iron skillet which gets very hot, but leaves the food very flavorful. Add the dry spices to the oil (cinnamon, cardamom, peppercorn, clove) and allow it to heat.
  • Add onions once oil is hot and saute for a few minutes. 
  • Add 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste and saute until onions are translucent. Add 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1-2 tsp red chili powder and salt
  • Add 1 red pepper, sliced.
  • Add tomato puree and another tsp of oil and cook well. You can optionally add 1 tsp of ghee, or clarified butter for flavor. 
  • Cook this gravy well,  for around 10 minutes stirring occasionally and adding water when needed so it does not burn. Add 1 to2 tsp of red chilli powder and salt.
  • Tomato puree gives a nice gravy, but can get a bit acidic. To reduce the acidity, add a tsp or so of sugar. 
  • Once the gravy is well cooked, add 2 cups of water and chickpeas and simmer on low for about 20 minutes. The longer you cook beans, the more flavorful they become. 
  • When this has thickened, add in the finely chopped fresh spinach. Stir and remove from flame. You can optionally add 1 pinch of kasoori methi for seasoning at this point.
  • Garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve with basmati rice!