Instant pot Chana masala with potato - an one pot recipe, no separate cooking of chickpeas required. A hearty Indian Chickpea potato curry with onion, tomato and spices. Step by step pictures for beginners, stove top version included.
Perfect to prepare in bulk in an Instant pot for get togethers or for weekends, where you can relax, with minimal attention.
Check out my other version Stove top pressure cooker chole and Bhatura recipe in this website.
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About Aloo Chana Masala
This Instant pot Aloo chana masala is a North Indian style curry made with chickpeas (chana) and potato (aloo) in an unique spicy tomato, coriander gravy. The Instant pot pressure cooks everything together in one pot, so the chickpeas absorb the masala and the flavors are best incorporated along with potatoes, without long simmering.
I have this recipe from my early days of blogging from my friend Sangeeta's contribution, but updated now with Instant pot version.
Aloo Chana Masala Ingredients
Here are the ingredients needed to make Aloo chana masala.
- Chana - Chickpeas is the main ingredient of chana masala
- Potato - For extra delicious results and a homogeneous texture.
- Onion - Forms the base
- Tomato - Adds tang and base for the gravy
- Coriander leaves - For flavor, unique taste
- Ginger - Aids digestion, to balance the gastric nature of chana
- Green chilies - To add spice
- Red chili powder - For heat
- Coriander seeds powder - Enhances flavor
- Chana masala powder - You can use garam masala too
- Cumin seeds - For digestion and flavor
- Biryani leaf - Gives a subtle flavor overall
Please check out my recipe card below for quantities
Step by step photos
Wash & soak ¾ cup chana overnight. Next day, wash it, drain from water, proceed with the recipe.
- Place ¼ cup coriander leaves, 2 cubed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon ginger, 3 green chilies in a blender.
2. Grind to a paste without adding any water.
3. In saute mode, High, add 3 tablespoon oil and once hot, splutter 1 teaspoon cumin seeds along with biryani leaf. Then add 2 finely chopped onion.
4. Saute with little salt until its golden brown.
5. Add the ground tomato coriander masala paste and 1 teaspoon mild chilli powder, 2 teaspoon coriander powder and 1 teaspoon chana masala powder or garam masala powder.
6. Saute well until oil oozes and raw smell of the masala goes off. Keep stirring scraping the bottom to avoid burnt warning.
7. Then add 2 cups water, soaked chana, 1 cubed potato.
8. Choose Bean chili mode and cook for 20 mins in High pressure. Let the pressure release naturally (can take upto 15-18 mins).
9. Smash few pieces of potato and few chana and mix well.
10. Press saute and let it boil for 10 minutes.
11. Make sure to mix once or twice in between to avoid burnt warning.
12. Once the gravy is homogenous, reaches the desired consistency, cancel saute and chana masala is ready to serve.
Serve Aloo chana masala with Bhatura. You can pair it with raw onion, a wedge of lime and some fried green chilies.
Top tips
Soaking chana overnight is a must since we are pressure cooking altogether.
Cook the masala until the raw smell goes off. Otherwise the dish would not turn out as expected.
You can do the same in regular pressure cooker. I suggest to cook the chana prior for 3 whistles and then again 5 whistles while cooking with the masala.
Scroll down for stove top method and a quick Bhatura recipe from my friend Sangeeta.
My notes
My friend from whom I learnt adds garam masala only and do not buy specific masalas for each dish like chana masala or pav bhaji masala, yet it turns out good.
The consistency can be adjusted according to your preference. Simmer longer if you want it thick, shorter when you want gravy.
Recipe card
Instant Pot Chana masala with Potato
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Chana Chickpeas
- 2 Onions finely chopped
- 1 Potato Large
- 2 teaspoon Coriander seeds powder
- 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder Adjust according to your spice level as there's also green chilli
- 1 teaspoon Chana masala powder or Garam masala powder
- Salt
To temper
- 3 tablespoon Oil
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1 Biryani leaf
To grind
- 2 Tomato
- 3 Green chilli
- 1 tablespoon Ginger chopped
- ¼ cup Coriander leaves (two plants, roots cut off)
Instructions
- Wash & soak ¾ cup chana overnight. Next day, wash it, drain from water, proceed with the recipe.
- Place ¼ cup coriander leaves, 2 cubed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon ginger, 3 green chilies in a blender.
- Grind to a paste without adding any water.
- In saute mode, High, add 3 tablespoon oil and once hot, splutter 1 teaspoon cumin seeds along with biryani leaf. Then add 2 finely chopped onion.
- Saute with little salt until its golden brown.
- Add the ground tomato coriander masala paste and 1 teaspoon mild chilli powder, 2 teaspoon coriander powder and 1 teaspoon chana masala powder or garam masala powder.
- Saute well until oil oozes and raw smell of the masala goes off. Keep stirring scraping the bottom to avoid burnt warning.
- Then add 2 cups water, soaked chana, 1 cubed potato.
- Choose Bean chili mode and cook for 20 mins in High pressure. Let the pressure release naturally (can take upto 15-18 mins).
- Smash few pieces of potato and few chana and mix well.
- Press saute and let it boil for 10 minutes.
- Make sure to mix once or twice in between to avoid burnt warning.
- Once the gravy is homogenous, reaches the desired consistency, cancel saute and chana masala is ready to serve.
Stove top method
A recipe contribution from my friend Sangeeta. Both turns out really tasty. Chana masala recipe without garlic but very flavorful. This is also similar to aloo bhindi gravy. Potato adds taste and texture to the gravy, thickens the gravy too. At times I just give it a whistle instead of boiling the gravy. Just make sure to watch out the water content.
I love chana masala to be served with fresh cut onion, fried green chilli or green chilli pickle.
1. Soak Chana overnight.
2. Boil chana in cooker adding Little salt until soft.
3. In a pan add oil,fry bay leaf,add the onions,fry till light brown
4.Now add the mashed potato and mix well.
5. Add the tomato mixture and the masala powders. Mix till it leaves oil.
6. Add the boiled chana. mix well
7. Add water (u can also add the water in which we boiled chana) according to the consistency required
8. Boil the chana for 10 mints in low flame.
9.Serve with batura.
Quick bhatura
Maida - 2 cups
Wheat flour - 1 hand
Curd - 2 tbsp
Salt,water - As needed
Method:
- Knead the dough and set aside for min 15 mins. Knead again and divide the dough.
- Roll into desired size, bit thicker than our normal pooris and fry the baturas in hot oil.
- Serve with channa masala!
Nags says
will surely send in something. happy new year 🙂
Anonymous says
will definitey send and entry...
have a great year ahead!
Priya says
Nice event, will try to send something too...Enjoy hosting dear...
Bhatura looks fluffy n soft, would love to have them rite now...delicious!!
Srivalli says
Thanks for hosting Raji...Wish you a happy new year!
Viki Xavier. says
Nice event and the poori with channa looks drooling.
sowmya says
already have a paneer microwve dish in my blog..will try something new for the event..
sowmya says
Btw. happy new year!!!
Laavanya says
Hey .. congrats hosting your first event Raks... Channa Bhatura is my favorite.. looks great.
Wishing you a very happy new year.
Mandira says
that looks delicious.
happy new year to you and your family! Looking forward to many delicious posts in 2009
Cham says
That is a great start:) Lovely choice... Let is see what I can whip up for u! Happy New Year!
anudivya says
Congrats on your first event! I will try to send in something too... Happy New Year!
TBC says
Best wishes to you and your family for a joyous and peaceful 2009.
Happy New Year!
TBC says
Best wishes to you and your family for a joyous and peaceful 2009.
Happy New Year!
Yasmeen says
Happy hosting.Have a wonderful and healthy new year:)
LG says
Nice theme for the event. Will be back in S'Pore by next week. Will try to participate. Happy New Year to you and family 🙂
Daily Meals says
Channa Bhatura look mouth watering...Happy new year 2009!
Kitchen Flavours says
Happy Hosting! Happy New Year and yummy recipe.
Adlak's tiny world says
Glad to note abt yr Event... Nice Event on right time (New yrs new event...) Congrats and count me in...
rekhas kitchen says
nice theam will try some HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AnD yOUR FAMiLY
vidhas says
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vibaas says
Nice selection for MEC. Have to wear my thinking cap now 😉
Wish you a very happy new year RAKS. Channa batura looks soo tempting.
Mahimaa's kitchen says
Wish you and your family a very happy New Year!
nice event.. unfortunately i have stopped using micro 🙁
sra says
Happy New Year!
Uma says
Wishing you and your family a wonderful New Year 2009!
vidhas says
Great event Raji. Channa bhatura looks tempting. My all time favourite. I am in for your event.
jeyashrisuresh says
channa battura looks so nice.my daughter loves it. i made it once at home.will try ur version too.
Maya says
Happy New Year to you..Will keep ur event in mind and make something..
Jaishree says
congrats hosting your first event. Channa batura looks soo tempting...
Dibs says
Wish you a very Happy New Year! Great to see you are hosting an event. Microwave does not fit our theme of traditional, but will surely participate from my second blog!!
Premyscakes says
Looks soo.. yummy. Wish u a very happy new year.
AnuSriram says
That looks delicious! Count me in for the event!
priar's, says
Hi,
nice event will surely send my recipe.
gr8 dish my fave too..
NAVAL LANGA says
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If you like reading short stories and paintings, then a visit to my blogs would be an interesting one for you.
Naval Langa
SHORT STORIES by NAVAL LANGA
PAINTINGS GALLERIES
Another Interesting Blog
LIFESTYLE AND RELATIONSHIP
aquadaze says
Hi, i love the detailed instructions and pix in your blog. Will try to send something in for this event. Do visit my new blog sometime - I blog from sg as well 🙂
Uj says
Bhatura looks soft and yummy... 🙂 Happy new year dear
Gita's Kitchen says
Wish You a very Happy New Year 🙂 The channa bhatura looks very delicious, love the color and fluffiness of the bhatura...
Sanghi says
Happy new year!! Lovely recipe..!!
Do check my new blog at http://www.sanghi-worldfoodtreat.blogspot.com and leave ur comments.
Asha says
Hi Raks, happy new year to you too! Poori-Chana..slurp!!:))
My daughter loved Paneer, let me see if I can squeeze in one for you. MW Paneer dishes are hard to find but enjoy the event.
Sharmi says
its long since I made baturas! feel like eating if someone can make them for me! feel really lazy these days!
Shama Nagarajan says
fluffy soft batura...lovely recipe
Malar Gandhi says
Oh please, come on...this makes me hungry!
SpicyTasty says
we are up for the competition. Happy New Year and the Batura looks yummy.
Andhra Flavors says
nice event, will try to send something.
Seena says
hey RAJ, how r u? happy new year to you!
Haven't had bf yet, so drooling , drooling looking at the pictures.. 🙂
Rathna says
Nice event. Will try to send something.
Channa Batura looks really tempting.
Sumathi says
Happy Hosting.. Will surely send in my entry..
Sunshinemom says
Let's see whether I do something paneery! It is rare but sometimes I make it for the kids:). Chana bhatura looks superb, Raks!
Neha says
Happy hosting, ;ll try to send something...