• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • ABOUT

Swasthi's Recipes

Home >> Recipes >> Dal Recipes

Dry chana recipe | How to make dry chole recipe

By swasthi , on January 14, 2020, 23 Comments, Jump to Recipe

Dry chana is a delicious stir fried dish made with chickpeas, spices & herbs. It goes very well with rice or chapathi. I usually make this delicious Restaurant style chana masala which is our family favorite. But when I am short of time, this dry chana comes to my rescue. Chickpeas (chana) are considered to be a health food due to their low glycemic index and high fiber content. They also reduce the cardiovascular risk and keep the digestive tract healthy.

dry chana recipe

The way we cook the chana makes a lot of difference. Chickpeas must always be soaked well for at least 8 hrs in lot of water to prevent bloating and to enhance the absorption of the nutrients.

Advertisement

Soaked chickpeas can also be frozen and used up whenever needed. They must be used up within a month else they lose the taste. Whenever needed rinse well, pressure cook them with very little water for 1 to 2 whistles or boil them till soft using a pinch of baking soda and turmeric.

Pressure cooked ones turn out to be soft and mouth melting.

I usually make this dry chana to go with the plain rice, ghee & some sliced onions, cucumber and carrots.

For more similar recipes, you may check this
Chana paneer
Chana sundal
Punjabi chole
Chana chaat

How to make dry chana recipe

1. Wash and soak chana over night in lot of water.

soaking kabuli channa to make dry chana 01

2. Drain off the water and add them to a cooker or pot. Add water just enough to immerse them. Add 1 pinch soda-bi-carbonate (optional), turmeric (optional) and cook until soft or pressure cook for 1 whistle. If you skip soda, chickpeas will take longer. So pressure cook for 6 to 7 whistles.

pressure cooking channa to make dry chana 02

3. Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and mustard seeds (optional). When they splutter add green chili, hing and curry leaves. Add ginger garlic paste and fry until the raw smell goes off just for a minute or two.

seasoning with cumin for dry chana recipe

4. Add cooked chana, red chili powder, turmeric, salt and garam masala. I also added a bit of kitchen king masala. Saute everything well for a minute.

addition of chickpeas, spice powder for dry chana recipe

5.  Pour little water or the stock left after cooking channa. Cook for a while for the masala to coat the chana well. Add coriander leaves.

addition of stock to make dry chana recipe
Advertisement

Dry chana or sukhe chole is ready to serve with rice. You can add a tsp of olive oil or ghee for health benefits just before serving.

dry chana recipe

Advertisement

Dry chana recipe

Dry chana is one of the basic recipe made with chickpeas in a south Indian style. It can be served with rice or roti.
Pin Recipe Print Recipe

For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings3
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )

  • 2 cups chickpeas (cooked, or 1 cup dry chana)
  • ½ tsp red chili powder (adjust to taste)
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 pinch asafoetida hing
  • 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 green chili slit or chopped
  • ⅛ tsp turmeric (or as needed)
  • ½ tsp mustard seeds optional
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
  • 1 tbsp oil or ghee
  • ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp garam masala or kitchen king masala
Advertisement

Instructions

Cooking chana

  • Soak chana overnight or 8 hours. Drain and rinse them well.
  • Add them to a pressure cooker or pot along with turmeric. To cook them faster, you can also add a pinch of soda-bi-carbonate. This is optional.
  • If using pressure cooker, pour 1 cup water. If not using soda, pressure cook for 6 to 8 whistles on a medium heat. With soda, pressure cook just for 1 to 2 whistles. If cooking in a pot, start with 2 cups water. Add more if needed as you cook them.
  • They are ready when they are completely cooked, soft and tender. Chana should not be al dente but should be soft enough yet hold their shape.

Making dry chana

  • Heat the pan with oil, add mustard, jeera, chili, curry leaves & hing. Let them splutter.
  • Add ginger garlic paste and saute quickly to remove the raw smell. Add the cooked channa.
  • Add garam masala, salt, turmeric and red chili powder. Mix well. Saute for a minute. Any left over water from the cooked chickpeas can be poured and evaporated.
  • Taste test and add more spices and salt to your taste. Transfer dry chana to a serving bowl. Squeeze some lemon juice and serve as a side.
Advertisement

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Dry chana recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 231 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Sodium 75mg3%
Potassium 318mg9%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 165IU3%
Vitamin C 9.9mg12%
Calcium 54mg5%
Iron 3.5mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

WhatsApp
Share
Pin
Reddit
Tweet
Email
FOR MORE RECIPES

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.


WhatsApp
Share
Pin
Reddit
Tweet
Email

Related Posts

Advertisement

FEATURED RECIPES

Breakfast Recipes

Upma recipe (r…

upma recipe

Cake Recipes

Banana cake re…

banana cake recipe

Breakfast Recipes

Aloo paratha r…

aloo paratha

vegetarian

Paneer recipes…

paneer recipes

Dal Recipes

Dal makhani (S…

dal makhani recipe

Rice Recipes

Veg biryani re…

veg biryani

Advertisement

POPULAR RECIPES

Idli recipe (S…

soft idli

Samosa recipe …

samosa

Pav bhaji reci…

pav bhaji

Eggless chocol…

eggless chocolate cake

Palak paneer r…

palak paneer

Rajma recipe |…

rajma

Advertisement

Paneer butter …

paneer butter masala

Kadai paneer r…

kadai paneer

Paneer tikka r…

paneer tikka

Advertisement

About swasthi

I’m Swasthi shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthis recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills.
Read more..

Reader Interactions

Share Your Comments & Feedback: Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Advertisement
  2. Sandy says

    September 28, 2020

    5 stars
    Thank you Swasthi for another great recipe. I used the kitchen king masala. Made it to go with your paneer makhni and vegetable biryani recipes. Yum.

    For the chana dish, do you use the powder for the mustard or jeera or seeds?

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      September 29, 2020

      Welcome Sandy
      Thank you! I use mustard seeds and jeera seeds. I have updated it.

      Reply
  3. Garima says

    August 2, 2020

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this quick and easy recipe. Can we freeze them after cooking for later use?

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      August 3, 2020

      Hi Garima
      I think I am late. Yes you can freeze them

      Reply
  4. Rashmimaruthi says

    August 1, 2019

    Thank u very much dear friend. Really ur receipes are very useful n very easy to prepare delicious items. My children love to eat by it’s aroma before enter to kitchen. Thanks a lot.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      August 3, 2019

      Dear Rashmi,
      You are welcome. So happy to know your children love the food. Thanks for the comment.
      Have a great Weekend!
      🙂

      Reply
  5. anitha says

    December 1, 2018

    Thanks i realy enjoyed,it is very useful for me.kindly send vegeterian recipe to my mail

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      December 1, 2018

      Hi Anitha
      You are welcome. Yes I will register your mail id for free subscription. Please confirm it when you receive the mail.

      Reply
  6. Asghar says

    June 2, 2017

    5 stars
    Thanks for sharing this easy and simple recipe. Chana Masala turned out perfect. God Bless.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      June 9, 2017

      Welcome Asghar
      Glad to know you liked it
      Thanks for trying

      Reply
  7. Pratibha says

    March 18, 2017

    5 stars
    Its very useful

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      March 18, 2017

      Thanks

      Reply
  8. Advertisement
  9. Jayeeta Nandi says

    August 1, 2016

    5 stars
    This website is brilliant. Waiting for more recipes. 🙂

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      August 3, 2016

      Thanks Jayeeta
      Will surely keep posting

      Reply
  10. anousha says

    July 4, 2016

    5 stars
    very tasty and yummy

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      July 4, 2016

      Thank you

      Reply
  11. Remya says

    February 17, 2016

    5 stars
    Chana Masala is a Nice Recipe…….We tried it and felt good…………Thank u……………:)

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      February 18, 2016

      Welcome Remya
      Happy to know you liked it. Thanks for the feedback

      Reply
  12. Sameer says

    October 26, 2015

    5 stars
    Just made this. Was looking for a chana recipe sans tomato. Totally worked. I recommend using mustard powder instead of seeds because by the time the oil gets hot enough to pop the seeds, it is too hot for the ginger-garlic paste.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      October 26, 2015

      Thanks for the feedback Sameer .
      Yes i agree.
      will try that way next time

      Reply
  13. Alessandra says

    January 3, 2013

    How lovely, thank you, I love Indian food and I am vegetarian, I will try this one!<br /><br />Ciao<br />Alessandra

    Reply
  14. Advertisement
  15. Nidhi@whats cooking mom says

    January 3, 2013

    A hot favorite of mine. your photos are superb.

    Reply
  16. PT says

    June 19, 2012

    i love channa masala.. tastes good with bhature or poori..

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Advertisement

DIWALI RECIPES

JALEBI RECIPE
RASGULLA RECIPE
RASMALAI RECIPE
GULAB JAMUN
BESAN LADOO
KAJU KATLI
RAVA LADDU
Advertisement

CATEGORIES

DINNER RECIPES
SANDWICH RECIPES
BREAKFAST RECIPES
RICE RECIPES
CHUTNEY RECIPES
SNACKS RECIPES
SWEETS RECIPES

Follow me on social media

Facebook

Like

Instagram

Follow

Pinterest

Follow

Twitter

Follow
Advertisement

HEALTH CORNER

RAGI RECIPES
OATS RECIPES
MILLET RECIPES

Advertisement
Advertisement

© 2012 - 2020 - Swasthi's Recipes. The content is copyrighted to SWASTHI'S and may not be reproduced in any form.