Chole Kulcha | How to make Chole Kulche ~ Delhi Street Food ~ Simple Delicious Food Recipes

We are starting the last week of BM#62, with Street food as the theme. I love Street food and especially the chaats. Even though I love street food, I haven't actually indulged in those much. My exposure has confined to the tours we have taken and not in my own city.

Street food literally refers to the local food you get to taste off the market streets or the street hawkers. Right from snacks to biryanis, you can get anything and everything off your street. I was keen on Chats and while reading about it, I realized I have completely ignored the other street food one might get.

I was particular in finding out the street food available in the famous Delhi Streets. I had a gala time when I had visited some years ago. I particularly remember Hubby dear recollecting fond remembers of Chole Kulchas that get sold by the cycle. The Kulchawala will come in his cycle with a bag and a dabba filled with chole and as you buy, he will scoop out the chole and give on the kulcha. It used to get sold within mintues and if you are late you will not get anything.

Though I have quite few Kulcha recipes along with too many chana recipes, this particular combo pulled me to try my hand at it. WE had such an enjoyable day, having this for lunch!

Though the defination of Kulchas have evolved over years, one can't deny these taste awesome!

How to make Tawa Kulchas
Amritsari Kulcha
Onion Kulchas
Stuffed Paneer Kulcha
Aloo Anardana Kulcha

Chole Kulcha

For the Chole

Ingredients Needed:

Chickpeas or Kabuli Channa - 1 1/2 cups

Water - 4 cups or just enough to cover

To be ground to a smooth paste-

Bay leaf - 1 medium

Black cardamom, with the outer covering removed 1

Green cardamom pods, with the covering removed2

Cinnamon stick 1” piece

Black pepper 1/2 tsp

Star anise - 1

Cloves - 4

Coriander seed powder - 4 tsp ( I added whole coriander 2 tsp)

Cumin seed powder 1 tsp

Red chili powder 1 tsp

Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp

Tomatoes 4

Fresh ginger 2 tsp

Green chilies 2

Fresh coriander or cilantro 2 tbsp

For the seasoning-

Oil + ghee - 4 tsp

Shahi jeera or black cumin seeds - 3/4 tsp

Asafetida powder / Hing a pinch

Salt to taste

Chat masala - 2 tsp

Tamarind, soaked in 1 cup water - 1 tsp

How to make the Chole:

Wash and soak the chickpeas in plenty of water overnight. Change water couple of times and pressure cook with enough water for 3 to 4 whistles. Let the pressure fall down before removing the lid.

In a blender put in all the spices and the spice powders and blend to a coarse powder. Put in the chopped tomatoes ginger, ginger, green chili and coriander and blend to a smooth puree without using any water.

In a non stick pan, heat the oil, ghee and once the oil is hot, stir in the shahi jeera and after a few seconds, put in the asafetida. Then you need to add the spiced tomato puree and cook till the oil separates from the tomatoes on medium low heat, stirring in between, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Put in the cooked chickpeas and the cooking water and cook till the water is reduced and you get a gravy of the required consistency.

Stir in the chat masala and salt and turn off the heat. Garnish with fresh coriander and chilies and serve with kulcha

For the Kulcha

Ingredients Needed:

All purposer flour - 4 to 5 cups

lukewarm water as required (1 cup or more)

Instant yeast - 1 tsp

Sugar - 1/2 tsp

Salt - 1 tsp

Curds / Yogurt - 3/4 cup

Oil - 2 tbsp

How to make the Kulcha

In a wide bowl, take the flour, instant yeast, sugar, salt and slowly add in the lukewarm water. Mix well. Knead to a soft dough.

Cover and let it rest for atleat an hour or till the dough doubles.

Once the dough doubles, punch down slowly and divide into equal parts. On a flat surface, roll the dough into a 4” or 5” circle and place it on an oiled baking tray.

For baking:

Pre heat the oven to 200C

Place the tray in the centre of the oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes.

On the tawa:

Heat a tawa and cook the kulcha on both sides till down. Douse with butter after removing.