Pressure Cooker Chole Recipe | One Pot Cooking Recipes

I hope all of you are doing great,staying home and staying safe.

I'm really enjoying the time spent with my husband and child.Except for the piling housework every minute of the day,for me it's just like any other day.I badly miss my house help Selvi though,always smiling and so gentle with Arjun.Picking after his toys,asking me to let it go when I insist he doesn't scatter his toys around and hiding from me when he spills something by quickly mopping up after him.

I can see through her son's Whatsapp status that she's whipping up a storm for her family and I feel so happy about that.Isn't it what we all are doing?Trying to keep our family happy by doing whatever we can during these trying times.I find so many people posting about how not to post food pictures during these times because so many are going hungry and so many are without food.

I disagree totally.Let us all do what makes us happy.Of course,let's do our bit for those who don't have any help but that shouldn't stop us from doing what we feel like.Our emotional state of mind has gone for a toss,so whatever keeps you happy,do it!

I made these Chole with plans to serve it with Bhatura.But deep frying in this already hot climate didn't sound appealing at all and I paired it with our humble chapathi/roti.It tasted delicious and I made our season's first Mango Milkshake to go with it---Nirvana :)

Pressure Cooker Chole Recipe
Recipe courtesy Kabita's Kitchen

Ingredients

Kabuli Channa - 1 cup,washed and soaked overnight or for 6-8 hours
Onion - 3 medium,chopped
Ginger - 1" piece,chopped
Garlic - 6-8 cloves
Tomato - 2 medium,chopped
Oil - 2 tbsp
Jeera - 1/2 tsp
Whole Garam Masala - 2 bay leaf,4 cloves,2 cardamom,1' piece Cinnamon
Red chilly powder - 1 tsp
Haldi - 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Chole Masala - 1 1/2 tsp
Roasted Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp {I didn't have this,so skipped}
Water - 2 cups (I boiled the water and added 1 tsp tea to it,let it boil.Strained and used this water to cook the chole.This gives it a deep brown colour without any aftertaste of tea.You could skip this step and use plain water or use one tea bag if you have)
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves to garnish

Method

Make a paste of onions,garlic and ginger.Puree the tomatoes.Reserve.
In a pressure cooker add oil and splutter jeera along with the whole garam masala.
Add red chilly powder and haldi and simmer the flame.Cover and cook for a minute.
Add the onion+ginger+garlic paste and saute well.Cover and cook for a minute.
Now mix in the rest of the spice powders - coriander,garam masala and chole masala.Mix well and cook for a minute.
Add the tomato puree and mix well.Cook for a minute or two.
Now add the soaked and drained channa,tea water(or plain water),salt to taste.
Cover with the pressure cooker lid and cook on medium flame for 5-7 whistles.
Let the pressure settle down completely before you open.Check if the channa is cooked well.If not cook for another 3-5 whistles.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot :)

Step by Step Pictorial

Make a paste of onions,garlic and ginger.Puree the tomatoes.Reserve.

In a pressure cooker add oil and splutter 

jeera along with the whole garam masala.

Add red chilly powder and haldi and simmer the flame.Cover and cook for a minute.

Add the onion+ginger+garlic paste and saute well.Cover and cook for a minute.

Now mix in the rest of the spice powders - coriander,garam masala and chole masala.Mix well and cook for a minute.

Add the tomato puree and mix well.Cook for a minute or two.

Now add the soaked and drained channa,

tea water(or plain water),

salt to taste.
Cover with the pressure cooker lid and cook on medium flame for 5-7 whistles.

Let the pressure settle down completely before you open.Check if the channa is cooked well.If not cook for another 3-5 whistles.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot :)

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Rice Cooker Vegetable Pulao

I remember reading an interview in a magazine of Virat Kohli where he talks about his journey of weight loss and fitness.One thing which I noticed was how he said his favorite meal was Naan and Butter chicken and it's been few years since he had it last.I was appalled and silently admired his willpower,but at the same time I asked myself if ever I would be able to give up something similar,say Naan and Paneer Butter Masala.

I have tried to do that a couple of times and failed miserably.One of my favorite weekend indulgence was a home-delivery from our favorite restaurant close by.The order is the same-Butter Naan,Paneer Butter Masala and Veg Fried Rice.I usually have it for at least two meals and whoa,the satisfaction :) But I haven't had it since last two months now,that is a big achievement for me if you ask.

I would be lying if I said I didn't miss it.I do,badly so.But I decided that whenever that craving strikes,I'll make a homemade version.Less oil,less calories and the added advantage of it being made at home,fresh.I quickly whip up a Rice cooker vegetable pulao with loads of vegetables and a Pressure Cooker Paneer Butter Masala.Happy Tummy :)

If you have a rice cooker,this Pulao gets done in a jiffy.If you don't,worry not,I make the same thing in a Pressure cooker too.Same procedure and I cook it for exactly ONE whistle.So let's get going :))

Rice Cooker Vegetable Pulao

Ingredients

Basmati Rice - 1 1/2 cups
Ghee/Oil - 2 tbsp
Cashewnuts- 5-6,halved
Bay leaf -1
Cardamom -2
Cloves - 2
Cinnamon - 1/2' stick

Onion - 1 medium,thinly sliced

Green chilly - 1

Carrot - 1 big,chopped
Green peas - 1/4 cup
Baby corn - 3-4,sliced
Beans - 4-5,sliced
Capsicum - 1/4 cup,chopped
Kasoori Methi - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Water - 3 cups
Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp,chopped

Method

Wash the rice well till water runs clear and soak for about 15-20 minutes.
In a pan{I directly cook in the rice cooker pan,if you don't,do this in a different pan and then transfer to the rice cooker pan after cooking}add ghee/oil and the whole garam masala and cashew nuts.Saute till the cashew turn golden.
Add onion and green chilly and saute till the onions start changing colour.
Mix in all the vegetables{except capsicum} and saute for 2-3 minutes.
Add garam masala,drained rice and give a good mix.
Now mix in salt to taste,water and mix well.
Switch on the rice cooker on the COOK mode.
Meanwhile in a small tadka pan add a bit of oil/ghee and saute capsicum for a minute.Mix in the kasoori methi and switch off the pan.
Once the cooker shuts down,open the lid and add the capsicum and fluff with a fork.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with some raita or Paneer Butter Masala.

Step by Step Pictorial

Wash the rice well till water runs clear and soak for about 15-20 minutes.

In a pan{I directly cook in the rice cooker pan,if you don't,do this in a different pan and then transfer to the rice cooker pan after cooking}add ghee/oil and the whole garam masala and cashew nuts.Saute till the cashew turn golden.

Add onion and green chilly and saute till the onions start changing colour.

Mix in all the vegetables{except capsicum} and saute for 2-3 minutes.

Add garam masala,

drained rice and 

give a good mix.

Now mix in salt to taste,

water and mix well.

Switch on the rice cooker on the COOK mode.

Meanwhile in a small tadka pan add a bit of oil/ghee and saute capsicum for a minute.

Mix in the kasoori methi and switch off the pan.

Once the cooker shuts down,open the lid 

and add the capsicum and fluff with a fork.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with some raita or Paneer Butter Masala.

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Khichdi / Masala Khichdi / Vegetable Khichdi | One pot Rice meals

Khichdi is something I make at home at least once in a week,sometimes more.It was Arjun's first solid food.Initially I made it without any spices for him but now I just make one batch,for us as well as for him.I couldn't believe such a simple dish created such a furore of being called the National dish by some while some argued it is not.There is no doubt about one thing however,and that is the taste!

It packs in flavor as well as nutrition since it is a one pot meal consisting of rice,dals and vegetables.You could completely customize it according to your taste.Don't like rice?Add millets!Don't like vegetables?Make it plain!Or add vegetables of your choice!!Don't like spices?It tastes good with just a tadka of ghee and jeera!

Served warm with a dollop of ghee on top,this absolutely tastes divine.You need to eat it to believe it :)

Khichdi / Masala Khichdi / Vegetable Khichdi

Ingredients

Raw rice - 1/2 cup
Dal - 1/4 cup (I used a mixof Toor dal,Moong dal and Masoor dal)
Onion -1 small,chopped
Tomato - 1/2 medium sized tomato,chopped
Capsicum - 1/2 of a small capsicum,chopped
Carrot - 1 small,chopped
Beans - 4-5,chopped
Pumpkin - about roughly 1 cup,chopped
Water-3 cups

For the tadka

Oil+ghee - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Jeera - 1/4 tsp
Whole peppercorns - about 5-6
Curry leaves- a few
Hing - a pinch
Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp(optional)
Haldi - 1/4 tsp
Chilly powder - 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/4 tsp
Garam masala - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method

Wash and soak together rice and the dals for about 30-45 minutes.
In a pressure cooker add oil/ghee and splutter mustard seeds and jeera.Add in the peppercorns and curry leaves.
Now add the hing and chopped onions and saute for a minute.
Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute or till the raw smell of the paste disappears.
Now add tomato and the vegetables and give a good mix.
Time to add the spice powders - haldi,chilly,coriander and garam masala.
Give it a good mix.
Add the drained rice and dal mix and add salt to taste.
Add water and check for seasoning.Close the cooker and cook for 2-3 whistles on high and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Switch off the flame and let the pressure settle down.
Open and mix well.If you feel it is watery,simmer for a few minutes more and if you feel it is dry add hot water till it reaches the consistency of your choice.
Add ghee and close the cooker and let the flavors infuse.
Serve warm with some more ghee :)

Step by Step Pictorial

Wash and soak together rice and the dals for about 30-45 minutes.

Wash and chop the vegetables.

In a pressure cooker add oil/ghee and 

splutter mustard seeds and 

jeera.

Add in the peppercorns and 

curry leaves.

Now add the hing and 

chopped onions and saute for a minute.

Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute or till the raw smell of the paste disappears.

Now add tomato and the 

vegetables and give a good mix.
Time to add the spice powders - 

haldi,

chilly,

coriander and 

garam masala.

Give it a good mix.

Add the drained rice and dal mix and 

add salt to taste.

Add water and check for seasoning.Close the cooker and cook for 2-3 whistles on high and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Switch off the flame and let the pressure settle down.

Open and mix well.If you feel it is watery,simmer for a few minutes more and if you feel it is dry add hot water till it reaches the consistency of your choice.

Add ghee and close the cooker and let the flavors infuse.
Serve warm with some more ghee :)

Here's a small video :)

Notes

• The spice powders can be added more/less according to your taste palettes.Since I am serving this to Arjun as well,I keep it to the bare minimum.
• You can add any vegetables of your choice,I sometimes add only carrots and beans or only potatoes or then a medley of vegetables like I've used here.
• The water quantity is approximate.You may need less or more depending on the amount of vegetables you add or depending on the cooking time.Like I said,once you open the cooker you could add more water or simmer and cook till the Khichdi reaches the consistency of your choice.

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