Chole Tikka

Chole Tikka or Chickpeas Tikka is an easy to make, spicy and flavorful appetizer that is perfect for entertaining guests at parties, or during holidays or any type of gatherings. This dish takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

Chickpeas are my favorite among beans / lentils and I regularly prepare different recipes using it. This weekend I decided to make chole tikka masala for lunch with steamed basmati rice. I started making chole tikkas first by marinating boiled (canned) chickpeas for few minutes and then roasting them on stove top. This tikka by itself tasted so good that I could not stop eating it. I also served a small portion of it to my husband and he requested me for more. He immediately asked me to do some more and post this on my blog as appetizer so that my readers could prepare this for holiday season which is right around the corner.

I was very happy to do another batch because the recipe was simple, tasty and I had several cans of chickpeas in my pantry. I always like to keep a stock of different types of canned beans in my pantry, because it makes my life super simple specially on a busy weeknight. Also, whenever some inspiration strikes I can immediately prepare the recipe without having to wait for beans to soak for several hours before being able to get started.

Well, we polished off the first batch chole tikka along with some drinks, while the second batch was getting cooked. I then used this second batch of chole tikkas to prepare chole tikka masala.  I will share that recipe with all of you in my next blog post. Whenever you are preparing chole tikka at home, I would highly recommend to make a little extra and try both of my recipes so you will have an appetizer and an entree for lunch or dinner in one single go. Both the appetizer (chole tikka) and entree (chole tikka masala) dishes are finger-licking-good and taste different at the same time.

As I have used canned chickpeas and roasted them over stove top, the dish was ready in less than 30 minutes. If you are using dried chickpeas - wash and soak it overnight. Next morning pressure cook the chickpeas for 2 to 3 whistles. Remember that the water in your pressure cooker should be at least ½ inch above the chickpeas. Let the first whistle be on high flame and the remaining one or two on medium flame. 

Given how simple and delicious these chickpeas are, you should definitely prepare them as a appetizer / starter item for upcoming tailgating events or game nights, upcoming potluck events, or for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holiday parties! I am sure everyone in your family will love it!

Preparation time : 20 minutes
Marination : 15 minutes to 30 minutes (optional)
Serves : 2

Steps to prepare Chole Tikka

Step I

• In a large bowl, add yogurt, red chile powder, tandoori masala, chat masala, garam masala, garlic cloves, ginger, green chile, salt to taste and mix well.
• To this add cooked chickpeas and mix well so that the masala is distributed evenly to the chickpeas.
• You can keep this aside for 15 to 30 minutes or start cooking immediately.

Step II

• Heat oil on a non-stick or cast iron pan. Add in the marinated chickpeas along with any masalas that is left over in the bowl if any 🙂
• Shallow fry this on medium flame for about 8 to 10 minutes or till it becomes golden in color and slowly start turning brown.
• Chole Tikka is now ready. Serve hot and enjoy.

Tip:

• Vary the spices as per your taste.
• You can add in any veggies of your choice if desired.

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