Chole Kulche we enjoyed this delicious Delhi style Chole Kulche during our Blogging Marathon trip to Delhi.
An extremely famous Street food the name is a misnomer as there are no cholay or chickpeas in this dish.
The main ingredient is Vatana/dried white peas. The cholay is oil-free and the accompaniment is Indian Kulcha Naan bread.
Thanks to Sonia Gupta for hosting the #BreadBakers Theme "Flat Bread with Yeast or Starter" I am doing the impossible. Making Kulcha!! Will wonders ever cease???
Kulcha or Kulche a type of mildly leavened flatbread, a Punjabi dish, invented as a local version of the naan.
To make a kulcha you will need Maida/APF, water, a pinch of salt and a leavening agent, which can be yeast or old kulcha dough.
The mixture is mixed by hand to make a very tight dough that is covered with a wet cloth and left to stand for an hour or so in a warm place.
The dough has slightly risen, this dough is pummelled again by hand and then rolled out using a rolling pin into a flat, round shape.
Then transferred and baked in the tandoor, an earthen clay oven until done. Often then brushed with butter or ghee and served with any Indian curry.
Variations:
- You can use with milk or yoghurt also in place of water to make your dough.
- The modern kulcha is stuffed the stuffing can range from paneer (cottage cheese), potatoes, onion and other vegetables.
- Amritsar, a city in Punjab, is famous for its Amritsari kulchas or Amritsari naan where many of these varieties are available.
- In Hyderabad, India, kulcha is also referred to as naan or sheermaal.
Without much ado let us get down to making our Kulcha dough first as the dough need to rise, as the dough rises make the chole.
Let me first tell you that I am not the best person to roll flatbreads out, I make maps. I am sure you will do a better job than me. But still, I will try and make these kulchas yet again and post better pictures.
On the day I was making these kulchas we had no power so I have used the skillet to make them. It was only after I finished I realised I could have used my cooker without the lid. Anyway, this will teach me to keep calm and not run around like a headless chicken at the first sign of things not going my way.
The chole is very easy to make and can be eaten plain without the kulche. The main ingredients for Delhi style chole are white peas, onions, tomatoes, ginger, coriander leaves, chaat masala, jeera powder, garam masala, lemon juice and black salt or pink salt and regular salt to taste.
Street food in Delhi is amazing one of the best food is Aloo Tikki Chaat~Union Territory Delhi.
I have copied this Cholay Kuchla recipe from here totally.
Chole Kulcha Delhi Style
To Make Kulche:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups maida/ APF
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- salt to taste
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon curds/yoghurt
- ¼ cup warm water
- ½ cup dhania/coriander leaves chopped
- Butter to brush on top
Method:
- In a bowl, mix together maida, yeast, salt, sugar,1 tablespoon oil, yoghurt. Mix well.
- Add a little warm water a tablespoon at a time and mix well bring the dough together and knead into a sticky and soft dough.
- Apply the rest of the oil and cover the dough with a cloth.
- Keep it in a warm place for 1 hour or until the dough is double in size.
- Line a baking tray with Parchment paper.
- Preheat the oven to 475 F/ 220 C.
- Knead the dough for few minutes.
- Make equal sized balls (I made 7 balls).
- Use some dry flour and roll the balls in an oval. (I made them round not wanting to test my rolling skills).
- With a clean cloth, apply some water on the top of the Kulcha.
- Spread some chopped coriander leaves on top.(l used on a few)
- Transfer to the oven and bake for about 10 minutes.
- You can also cook the kulcha on the tawa or skillet on low flame until the kulcha has brown spots on it.
- Turn and cook on the other side again until it gets brown spots.
- Brush with butter9I have not used here)
- Serve hot with Chole.
To Make the Delhi Style Chole:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white dried peas
- 1 onion chopped fine
- 2 tomatoes chopped
- 2 green chillies chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger chopped
- 2 tablespoon dhania/coriander leaves chopped
- 1 teaspoon jeera/cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala
- 1 teaspoon garam masala(I used rasam masala)
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon pink salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Method:
- Soak the dried peas overnight or at least for 4 hours in warm water.
- Transfer to a pressure cooker, add 3 cups of water, a pinch of salt, and mix well.
- Pressure cook for 2 whistles, they should not be overcooked but must be soft.
- Let the pressure come down naturally and cool the peas.
- If there is too much water remove and reserve it to use in dal.
- Mix all the ingredients and serve immediately with paratha or kulcha.
- You can also eat them like my daughter ate, she ate them plain, with more lemon juice.
Chole Kulcha Delhi Style
Ingredients
To Make Kulche:
- 2 cups maida/ APF
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- Salt to Taste
- 2 tablespoon Oil
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 2 tablespoon Curds/yoghurt
- ¼ cup warm water
- ½ cup dhania/ coriander leaves chopped
- Butter to brush on top
To Make the Delhi Style Chole:
- 1 cup white dried peas
- 1 onion chopped fine
- 2 tomatoes chopped
- 2 green chillies chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger chopped
- 2 tablespoon dhania/ coriander leaves chopped
- 1 teaspoon Jeera/ cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon Chaat masala
- 1 teaspoon garam masala I used rasam masala
- Salt to Taste
- 1 teaspoon Red Chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon pink salt
- 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
Instructions
To make Kulcha:
- In a bowl, mix together maida, yeast, salt, sugar,1 tablespoon oil, yoghurt. Mix well.
- Add a little warm water a tablespoon at a time and mix well bring the dough together and knead into a sticky and soft dough.
- Apply the rest of the oil and cover the dough with a cloth.
- Keep it in a warm place for 1 hour or until the dough is double in size.
- Line a baking tray with Parchment paper.
- Preheat the oven to 475 F/ 220 C.
- Knead the dough for few minutes.
- Make equal sized balls (I made 7 balls).
- Use some dry flour and roll the balls in an oval. (I made them round not wanting to test my rolling skills).
- With a clean cloth, apply some water on the top of the Kulcha.
- Spread some chopped coriander leaves on top.(l used on a few)
- Transfer to the oven and bake for about 10 minutes.
- You can also cook the kulcha on the tawa or skillet on low flame until the kulcha has brown spots on it.
- Turn and cook on the other side again until it gets brown spots.
- Brush with butter9I have not used here)
- Serve hot with Chole.
To make Chole:
- Soak the dried peas overnight or at least for 4 hours in warm water.
- Transfer to a pressure cooker, add 3 cups of water, a pinch of salt, and mix well.
- Pressure cook for 2 whistles, they should not be overcooked but must be soft.
- Let the pressure come down naturally and cool the peas.
- If there is too much water remove and reserve it to use in dal.
- Mix all the ingredients and serve immediately with paratha or kulcha.
- You can also eat them like my daughter ate them plain, with more lemon juice.
Wendy says
This sounds amazing Archana. Thanks for sharing.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Wendy.
Karen says
This looks delicious! I am so enjoying this month's flatbreads with yeast and learning about the different food traditions.
ArchanaPotdar says
True Karen this sharing definitely widenens our outlook.
Jagruti says
What? Oil-free? chole kulcha! Sounds so delicious and I must prepare this recipe as daughter asks me to use less oil in my cooking 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
LOL both of us had the same reaction. What no oil??
Wendy says
I love this salad on a bread idea. YUM
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Wendy.
Soma Mukherjee says
Looking at this matar kulche post I am suddenly feeling so hungry after lunch, lovely recipe.
ArchanaPotdar says
Aww, such a beautiful compliment.Thanks dear.
Shobha Keshwani says
Delicious chole and kulchas... my favourite.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Shobha.
Renu says
Delicious and irresistible. I want to have one now...
ArchanaPotdar says
Please help yourself the screen will replenish itself. 😀
Aruna says
You are taking the guilt out of enjoying this traditional favourite!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Sujata Roy says
Chhole kulchey name itself sufficient to drool. And you made the chhole oil free. Awesome share. Loved it. Thanks for the well explained recipe.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sujata.
Priya Suresh says
Omg, this chole kulcha is seriously a fabulous dish, my mouth is just watering here. Healthy and delicious.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, dear.
Jolly says
WoW really oil free, this is our in-house favourite recipe. The most popular street food in Delhi . Simple ,delicious and filling dish.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
sapana says
I love chole kulche and you have made it perfectly Archana. This is one sinful combo that no one can beat.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sapana.
Jayashree says
Love that kulcha and healthy chole. I can binge on that salad.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Padma Veeranki says
I'm drooling looking at the bowl of chole kulcha...Yummy share!!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Vidya Narayan says
Firstly I appreciate your honest confession about the rotis looking like maps. However, In this case, it doesn't Bhaturas are anyways not entirely round in shape. Some prepare it oval, some very small and some perfect round. Taste should be good and thats what matters and I am sure looking at the lovely chhole and kulcha, your entire family must have loved the meal.
ArchanaPotdar says
LOL Vidya one look at the kulcha and you know Australia! Must have been making up for all the classes spent in the corridor as Miss did not like my maps! 😀
But we loved them. Thanks and that is all that matters.
Uma Srinivas says
Mouthwatering kulcha. I love to have these with creamy vegan gravy. Chole sounds good too 🙂 Awesome recipe!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Uma.
Priya Satheesh says
This looks tasty and yummy ! Lovely share !
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Jyoti Babel says
Ah.. such a mouthwatering dish! cant go wrong with this combination!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Pavani says
Oh my this is such an inviting and delicious combo Archana. Chole with dried peas sounds amazing. Paired with kulcha, this must have been a treat to eat.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Pavani!
Mayuri Patel says
What a wonderful street food item and filling too. The chole being oil free is what I like. Kulchas look so soft and fluffy.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thank you, Mayuri.
Priya Vj says
Chole and kulcha look fabulous. I am eyeing the chole more than the kulchas. The vatana has held the shape so beautifully and has not turned mushy.. yum yum yum !!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Seema says
Chole kulche sounds wonderful with the dilli style. I will follow your recipe as we are trying to create food memories.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 thanks.
Preethi Prasad says
Delhi style Chole kulche looks super tempting . Forget the shape when the taste is so awesome. I enjoyed it during my last visit to Delhi. I am sure your family must have loved it.
ArchanaPotdar says
Hugs to you, Preethi.
Kalyani says
takes me back to Dilli work days where the street side vendor used to serve these matar kulcha piping hot as early as 8 am in the morning, almost like south indians eating idlis at that time !
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 agree and it is delicious too.
Mayuri Patel says
Like this chole recipe which uses dried peas. Have some cooked ones in the freezer and you've given me an idea what to prepare for dinner. Doable as the kulche dough needs only about an hour of resting.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 enjoy.
Neha says
Archana, your stories are the same as ours. Each and every day is not our best day. Sometimes we are in a fiasco, sometimes in daze. You have so humbly put it across in this post, that it touches our hearts. How true! As for the Chole Kulcha, who dare deny its majesty. This is a hit at all times. I love this baked version of kulcha.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Neha for your kind words.
Seema Sriram says
I have had dilli wale kulche at a frieds place and by god! they were a memory made for life. I am so glad you posted this recipe, now I can try my hand at it.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Seema do try and enjoy.
Kalyani says
Your recipe of Dilli Style Chole Kulche took me right back to my work days, when we used to chomp this for breakfast before heading to office in Delhi... the combo of chole &kulche on a wet winter, morning is something I would love to experience again...
ArchanaPotdar says
😀