Chole Bhature

My earliest memories of Chole Bhature is of the one I ate at a popular eatery in Mumbai Known as "Cream Centre". On enquiring, I was told that the chick peas and spices were simmered together for hours resulting in a dish that a large number of Mumbaites relish even today! My version of chole is however, ready in minutes and is as delicious. I have also added tea leaves, which impart a dark brown colour to the chick peas which usually comes from simmering chick peas in an iron pot. I enjoy eating hot chole with tikkis, bhaturas, kulcha or simply topped on a slice of bread. Crisp, yet spongy bhaturas are used to mop up the chole. Traditionally bhatura dough was made using leavening agents like soda, curds and leaving it for hours to ferment before they could be rolled out and deep fried. This recipe of bhature is one that uses mashed potatoes to soften up the bhaturas. Moreover, also these bhaturas do not turn rubbery and chewy when they are eaten cold.

Preparation Time : 45 mins.
Cooking Time : 1 hour.
Serves 4.

Ingredients
For the chole
1 cup kabuli chana (white chick peas), soaked overnight
1 tea bag or tsp tea leaves , tied in a muslin cloth (optional)
1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
1 onion, finely chopped
12 mm (1/2") piece of ginger (adrak), grated
2 cloves of garlic (lehsun), grated
2 tsp chole masala
2 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp dried mango powder (amchur)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1 tbsp coriander (dhania) powder
1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) powder
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

For the bhature
1/2 cup plain flour (maida)
1/2 cup potatoes, boiled and grated
1 1/2 tsp oil
salt to taste
oil for deep-frying

For serving
1 onion, sliced
4 lemon wedges

Method
For the chole
Pressure cook the Kabuli chana with the tea bag for 3 whistles until they are soft . Drain and keep aside. Discard the tea bag.
Heat the oil in a pan, add the cumin seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the onion, ginger and garlic and sauté till the onion is golden brown.
Add the chole masala, chilli powder, amchur, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin seed powder and salt and sauté for another minute.
Add the Kabuli chana and 1 cup of water and mix well. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Keep aside

For the bhature
Combine the flour, potato, 1½ teaspoons of oil and salt and knead into a firm dough without using any water.
Knead the dough very well till it is smooth
Cover with a wet muslin cloth and rest the dough for 10 minutes
Divide the dough into 4 equal parts and roll out into circles of 125 mm. (5") diameter.
Deep fry in hot oil till the bhaturas puff up and both sides are golden brown.
Serve hot with the chole, sliced onion and lemon wedges.

Tips
While frying the bhature, press the centre lightly with a frying spoon so as to help it to puff up.
Chole masala is a blend of spices which is readily available at most grocery stores.