Chole Bhature is one of the tempting and flavourful dishes from the Punjabi Cuisine. ‘Chole Bhature’ is a Hindi phrase, and in that ‘Chole’ is a spicy and tangy chickpea curry and the fried flat breads are called bhature/bhatura. The combination of both is known as ‘Chole Bhature’.
This dish is one of the most eaten breakfast/snacks in the Northern part of India. Every single thought about this dish makes me nostalgic and takes me through the memory lane. Whenever I go to India, the first dish I eat is Chole Bhature.
Chole Bhatura evokes lot of amazing memories in my mind. My college in India was near a popular place called Bengali Market in Delhi. My friends, Rasneet and Vasu and I would often (at least twice a week) walk to Bengali Market to eat chole bhature at Nathu’s. In those days there was no air conditioning at Nathu’s and we would sit under the fans, in 40C heat eating chole bhature in a full service restaurant sweating like mad. Many a times we had to queue in the heat, but it was worth the wait. The bhature were crisp on the outside, soft inside and had a satisfying doughy taste. And when you break off a piece of bhatura and scoop up the chole with it … that’s when the real magic happens! Some onion and pickle with it and you are in heaven!
Everyone in my family enjoys the way I make chole. Infact it is one of those dishes that my Bhabie (sister in law) uses my exact recipe too. My friend Deepan absolutely loves when I make chole bhature for her. She would often ask me to make the chola masala for her to give it the exact taste as mine. A small bag of chola masala puts a smile on her face and I treasure that moment!
Chole goes well with Bhature, Jeera Rice, Palak Paneer, Plain Naan, Chilli Garlic Naan or Onion Coriander Roti.
