Instant Pot Chole Masala (Punjabi Chole-Chickpea Curry)

What Is Chole Masala?

Chole Masala (also known as chana masala) is a popular North Indian curry made with chickpeas cooked in a spiced onion and tomato gravy. It’s known for its bold, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor profile.

Traditionally served with bhatura, naan, or jeera rice, it’s a staple comfort food in many Indian households.

Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Chole Masala

• One-pot convenience – Less cleanup, more flavor
• Authentic taste – Deep, layered spices without complicated steps
• Meal-prep friendly – Tastes even better the next day
• Vegan & gluten-free – Naturally healthy and satisfying
• Flexible – Works with soaked or canned chickpeas

This dish hits that perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and savory that makes it incredibly addictive.

Ingredients

The exact measurements and details are in recipe card. Here's the ingredients with little more details.

• Chickpeas: or garbanzo beans or chole are the main ingredient. You rinse and soak them in water for at least 4-6 hours, preferably overnight for perfectly melt in mouth texture.
• Gravy : The onion, garlic, ginger and tomato are sauté in oil to make a base gravy. I like to use San Marzano Tomato Paste to add extra red color and tangy sweet taste. These tomatoes tend to be sweeter and less acidic.
• Herbs and Spices : Chana Masala - Chole Masala powder is a spice blend used in this curry. As a substitute, you can use garam masala. A mix of whole spices and ground spices adds top notch flavors to this recipe. Dried fenugreek leaves or Kasoori Methi adds authentic Indian flavor to this scrumptious curry. If you don't have it readily available, simply skip it.
• Dry Mango Powder ( amchur) adds a wonderful tangy taste to the chole. If you don't have dry mango powder or amchur, substitute it with 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
• Oil or ghee, salt, pepper and paprika ( chili powder) are rest of the ingredients

Easy Shortcuts

Work smarter not harder my friends !! Seriously though, here are my few tips to make this Indian Chickpea Curry in a hurry.

• If you forget to soak chickpeas, use canned chickpeas. Drain and rinse the canned chickpeas before using. Cooking time gets reduced to 10 minutes.
• Use store brought Chole Masala. I prefer to use Everest Brand Chole Masala.
• Use Marinara Sauce. Instead of cutting and sautéing onion, tomato and ginger garlic in oil, use marinara sauce. It gives deep red color with tangy taste.

Why Instant Pot Works So Well

The Instant Pot mimics traditional pressure cooking, allowing chickpeas to become soft and absorb spices deeply in less time.

Instead of simmering for hours, you get the same comforting, slow-cooked flavor in under an hour.

Tips for the Best Chole Masala

If you want your recipe to stand out (and honestly taste better than the restaurant take out), pay attention to these:

1. Don’t Skip Proper Sautéing

This is where flavor builds. Undercooked onions = flat curry.

2. Use Chole Masala Blend

It contains multiple spices like cumin, coriander, cardamom, and more, giving the dish its signature taste.

3. Add Tang at the End

Amchur or lemon juice brightens everything.

4. Let It Rest

Chole tastes better after sitting—flavors deepen over time.

Storage & Meal Prep

• Refrigerator: Keeps well for 3–4 days
• Freezer: Store up to 2 months
• Meal prep tip: Make a double batch—it reheats beautifully

In fact, chole masala is often made in large batches because it holds flavor so well.

Our Popular Instant Pot Indian Curry Recipes

Do you like Indian Food? We have compiled some delicious and easy to prepare Indian Instant Pot Recipes on our website. Do check it out. Some more easy Indian meal ideas you might want to try:

• Matar Chaat - Yellow Peas Curry
• Dum Aloo
• Shahi Paneer Curry
• Lobia Masala - Black Eyed Peas Curry
• Rajma Masala - Kidney Beans Curry
• Palak Paneer - Spinach and Cheese Curry
• Jackfruit Coconut Curry

Can I use canned chickpeas?

Yes. Reduce cooking time significantly to avoid mushy texture.

Why is my chole watery?

Let it simmer on sauté mode after cooking to thicken.

Can I skip soaking?

You can, but soaking improves texture and digestion.

Is this healthy?

Absolutely. Chickpeas are high in protein and fiber, making this dish both filling and nutritious.

What is in Chole Masala?

Turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, fennel seeds, mint leaves, black and green cardamom, mace, cassia leaf and few other herbs are blended together. It brings amazing flavors and unique taste to this recipe.

This Instant Pot Chole Masala is one of those recipes you’ll keep coming back to. It’s simple enough for beginners but delivers restaurant-quality flavor every time.

If your goal is to create a reliable, comforting, and deeply flavorful Indian meal without spending hours cooking—this is it. Make it once, and it’ll likely become a regular in your kitchen.