Preparation: wash and soak chhole overnight. Discard water and pressure cook with 250 ml fresh water and 1 tsp salt till maximum 8 whistles on medium heat. They must not get mushy, yet soft enough when pressed after cooking.
Soak red chillies in water for at least 30 minutes and make paste. Roast spice mix on very slow heat, while continuously stirring, till they leave aroma. Grind into fine paste when they cool down.
Prepare onion, tomatoes, ginger and chillies. Heat oil in a pan on medium to low heat. Fry onions till they are translucent and tender. Add ginger and fry for a minute or till it leaves raw smell. Add tomatoes and a bit of salt (consider the amount added in chickpeas while boiling). Fry till they get tender and oil starts to ooz.
Add the green chillies, grinded spice mix, chilli powder, garam masala and the chilli paste. Combine everything well and fry till the mixure gets pulpy, most of the moisture is evaporated and much oil is seen around it (as in pic 3). Stir frequently during the process.
Add boiled chick peas along with its broth. Stir. You may add a little more water to adjust consistency. Taste the gravy ALONG With CHICKPEAS and adjust salt/chilli. You may also ad amchur at this point if required. Cover and simmer on low heat for roughly 8-10 minutes or until you get the right consistency and the oil floats on the top.
Serve hot with Bhature and onion slices.
