White ChickPeas curry (Punjabi Chole)

White ChickPeas are a good  source of fiber, chickpeas (garbanzo beans) can help lower cholesterol. Garbanzo beans are an extremely-low-fat, complete protein food.

This dish goes well with Puri, Bread, Bhatura, Paratha, Chapati & Rice.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups white chickpeas (chole)
2 Tbsp oil
2 bay leaves
2 green cardamom pods (choti elaichi)
2 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 black cardamom pod (moti elaichi)
2 tsp pomegranate seeds powder
2 tsp Chole masala
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp corainder powder
1 tsp red chili powder
2 large size onion chopped fine
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup coriander leaves for garnishing
salt to taste
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp green chili paste
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tea bag or 2 tsp tea powder
pinch of asofetida (hing powder)

METHOD

• Wash the chickpeas & soak them overnight for atleast 6 hrs.
• Do not drain the water when boiling. Boil with same water & add more if required.
• When boiling the chickpeas(chole) add one tea bag in pressure cooker. if you dont have tea bag you can boil tea powder in 1 cup water, seive the tea water and add to chickpeas when boiling. This gives dark brown color to chickpeas. 
• Then add salt and keep the cooker containg chole on stove for boiling.
• Let it be on stove for about 30 minutes.Give it 2 whistles in pressure cooker on high flame.
• Then let it be on low flame and then again  give 2 whistles on high flame.
• Then turn off the heat. Keep it aside.
• Now take a Pan. Heat oil in it.
• Add hing,cumin seeds, ginger, garlic, & green chili paste. Let it fry for 30 seconds.
• Then add chopped onion , bay leaves & salt. Let the onion fry for 7 minutes till golden brown.
• Then add pomegranate seeds powder. let it fry for 2 minutes.
• Add chole masala & red chili powder.
• Now turn off the heat and keep this aside.
• Take all spices green cardomom,black cardamom,cinnamon sticks & cloves.Crush it little bit in a mixer. 
• Take a Pan & heat about 2 cups water in it & let it boil. Add the crushed spices to boiling water.
• Let it heat for about 5 minutes.
• Then seive the water containing spices & keep aside.
• Now take the Pan that contains fried onions.Put on stove and on the heat.
• Add to this boiled chickpeas and water containing all spices.
• Mix well. Add some more salt if required. Add more water if required depending on the consistency of curry you want. Its better to add some more water as Chickpeas absorb lot of water. If you dont add the curry dries off fast.
• Let this cook for 20 minutes & then turn off the heat.
• Add lemon juice & garnish with coriander (cilantro) leaves.
• And the Chole is ready to served with bhatura ,puri , rice or any Bread of your choice.