This is a vegetarian recipe without onion and garlic. One of my friend observes fasting for “Karthika Masam” (An auspicious month which starts the day after diwali ) during which he does pooja in the morning , fasts until he goes to temple in the evening and has only vegetarian light meals without onion and garlic. A common family friends of us planned for a weekend gathering and the lady had a challenge to cook a gravy curry without “onion and garlic” which goes with poori. I took it over and made “Aloo Chole” , replacing onion with boiled and mashed potato which gave it a thick gravy consistency .

Ingredients

1. Chanaa~Chick peas~Garbanzo beans –  2 cup(cooked)
2. Aloo~Potato –  2 no
3. Tomato  – 1 small
4. Ginger –   1 tsp
5. Chilli powder   – 1  ½ tsp(adjust to your taste)
6. Coriander powder –  1 tsp
7. Cumin powder  1 tsp
8. Garam masala powder    1 tsp
9. Anardana powder – 1 tsp
10. Finely chopped cilantro  – to garnish
11. Salt –    to taste
12. oil  –  2 tbsp
13. Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
14. Aam choor powder or Tamarind paste – 1 tsp

Method

1. Wash the chole under running water and soak them overnight.
2. Next day pressure cook the chole with 4 cups of water and little bit of salt.
3. Drain the boiled chole and reserve its water aside.
4. Boil potatoes and chop them. 
5. Heat the oil in a pan. Add  cumin seeds when they splutter, add curry leaves, ginger and tomato, one after other.
6. Add  red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, salt and turmeric powder.
7. On medium heat saute until the tomatoes are mushy and oil separates from them.
8. Add the boiled  potatoes, fry them for a minute and add chole.
9. Mix well, adjust salt and spice levels.Cover the pan and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes on low heat.
10. Add anardana, garam masala powder and aam chur or tamarind paste.
11. Add the reserved water in which chole were boiled and cook for  another 5 to 6 minutes.
12. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot with Roti or Puri

Note:

• You can use store bought Chole masala instead of anardana powder and garam masala.