Craving chole bhature? Make it at home
Time: 40 minutes. Serves 3. Type: Veg. Rough home cost: Rs 30 to 55 a serving (an estimate that changes with city, season and brand).
Why you crave it
Chole bhature is heavy, spicy and fried, the kind of meal you crave on a lazy weekend morning. The craving is for the thick, tangy chole as much as the puffed bread. A cooker makes the chole easy, and a tawa kulcha avoids deep frying.
Before you order: take the 20 minute pause
A craving usually peaks and fades. Start the craving timer and rate the urge. If it is still strong after twenty minutes, this recipe is a better answer than a delivery order, and you will have a hot meal ready in about the same time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
- 1 tea bag or 1 tsp tea leaves tied in a cloth (for the dark colour)
- 2 onions and 2 tomatoes, pureed
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 2 tsp chole masala, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, salt
- 3 tbsp oil
- For the kulcha: 1 cup maida, 2 tbsp curd, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt
Method
- Cook the soaked chickpeas with the tea bag, salt and 3 cups water for 5 to 6 whistles. Remove the tea bag.
- Heat oil, fry the onion puree until golden, add ginger garlic paste, then the tomato puree and spices. Cook until the oil separates.
- Add the chickpeas with their water, mash a few and simmer for 15 minutes.
- For the kulcha, knead the maida with curd, baking powder, salt and a little water into a soft dough. Rest for 30 minutes if you can.
- Roll into thick rounds and cook on a hot tawa with a little oil until puffed and brown spotted.
What this costs compared with delivery
The home cost above is a rough range for the ingredients, based on typical retail prices. Delivery apps add fees, taxes and often a tip on top of the dish price. To see what your own habit costs over a year, use the food delivery cost calculator, or compare one meal in the delivery vs home cooking calculator.
Common questions
Can I use canned chickpeas?
Yes. Skip the soaking and pressure cook for 2 whistles with the tea bag to absorb flavour.
Is the kulcha the same as bhatura?
No. Bhatura is deep fried. Kulcha on the tawa is quicker and uses much less oil.
More craving swaps
- Craving paneer butter masala? Restaurant-style paneer butter masala
- Craving masala dosa? Instant rava dosa with potato masala
- Craving kathi roll and shawarma wraps? Egg or paneer kathi roll on a tawa
- All craving swaps
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