How To Make Black Chole – Use Dry Amla or Tea Leaves

If you are reading this article, there are high chances that you are looking to make the Kabuli Chana in black color i.e. change their color to black.
If this is not the reason that brought you here, my best guess is that you are looking for the recipe of cooking the actual Black Chane.
Is it? Then you can simply jump on the recipe link that I just gave. Else, you have reached the right place and can continue with your adventure…

There are normally two most popular ways of turning the Kabuli chana black in a food-ist and proper way.
There are off-course food colors available in the market but that is not what we want to do as they might have non-healthy side effects..

How To Make Black Chole In Words

1. Use Dry Amla (Recommended)

   

   Make black Chole with dry Amla

   Using Amla to turn Kabuli Chana black is an effective and recommended method. It does serve more than one purpose though, of adding the required sourness in the recipe along with black color.
   The process is pretty simple as evident from the steps in the picture. Here is the process in words for you:

   1. Soak Kabuli Chana/White Chana in water overnight or about 7-8 hours. the chole should be completely sub-merged in water.
   2. Next morning or after 7-8 hours, drain the water.
   3. Now, the Chole are ready to be boiled. Add 2-3 tsp of Salt or as per your taste.
   4. Add 8 Dry Amla pieces along with fresh water at this time to completely sub-merge the Chole.
   5. Close the pressure cooker lid and bring them to boil. After 2 whistles, turn the stove to low flame and let them boil for about 35 minutes.
   6. After 30 minutes of cooking, switch off the stove. Let the steam go off on its own. Open the lid once the steam is gone.
   7. Remove the Amla pieces and you would see the new color of Chole. They would look considerably black than their original color.
   8. That’s it. You are done. You can now add tadka and enjoy the black Chole.
   9. You can find the complete recipe video of black chole made with dry Amla here.

1. Use Tea Leaves (or Black tea)

   

   Make black Chole with tea leaves or Black tea
   1. Take enough amount of water that can completely sub-merge the Chole in a tea pan. Add 2 Tbsp of tea leaves and bring it a boil on high flame.
   2. Once boiled, Sieve the tea leaves and add this tea water (technically Black tea) to the Chole.
   3. Cover it with a lid and let it sit overnight or about 7-8 hours.
   4. Next morning or after 7-8 hours, drain the tea water and replace it with fresh tap water. Boil the chole now.
   5. Close the pressure cooker lid and bring them to boil. After 2 whistles, turn the stove to low flame and let them boil for about 35 minutes.
   6. After 35 minutes of cooking, switch off the stove. Let the steam go off on its own. Open the lid once the steam is gone.
   7. You would see the new color of Chole. They would look considerably black than their original color. That’s it. You are done. You can now add tadka and enjoy the black Chole.
   8. You can find the recipe video of black chole made with tea leaves here.

Let us know if you know of any other option in the comments and we would certainly like to try it in our kitchen.