
Instant Pot Chana Masala
A one-pot Punjabi chickpea curry made in the Instant Pot. Comforting, medium-spiced and perfect with rice or roti.
Method
- 1
Drain soaked chickpeas and rinse well.
- 2
Turn Instant Pot to sauté mode and heat oil.
- 3
Add cumin, ajwain, bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves and cook until fragrant.
- 4
Add onion and sauté until softened.
- 5
Add ginger, garlic and green chillies and cook briefly.
- 6
Add tomatoes and cook until soft and pulpy.
- 7
Stir in turmeric and chilli powder.
- 8
Add chickpeas, salt and water and scrape the bottom of the pot.
- 9
Pressure cook on high for 30 minutes, then natural release 12–15 minutes.
- 10
Switch to sauté mode and simmer to thicken.
- 11
Mash a few chickpeas to thicken the gravy.
- 12
Stir in garam masala and amchur (or lemon juice).
- 13
Garnish with coriander and serve.
Ingredients
- •1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
- •3 tbsp neutral oil
- •1 tsp cumin seeds
- •1 tsp ajwain (optional)
- •1 bay leaf
- •1 inch cinnamon stick
- •2 black cardamom pods
- •6 cloves
- •1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- •2 tsp chopped ginger
- •2 tsp chopped garlic
- •2–3 green chillies, slit
- •1 cup chopped tomatoes
- •1/2 tsp turmeric
- •1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
- •Salt to taste
- •3 cups water
- •1 tsp garam masala
- •1 tsp amchur (or lemon juice)
- •Fresh coriander to garnish
Notes
- •Mash chickpeas to thicken the gravy naturally.
- •Add more chilli powder or green chillies for extra heat.
- •This tastes even better the next day.

