Chole Palak (Chickpeas With Spinach)

By: Manjula Jain

July 7, 2009

Serving : 3 people

Rate this recipe:

5 from 1 vote

Quick Links

Chole Palak (Chickpeas With Spinach)

Chickpeas and spinach is a marvelous combination, and Chole Palak is a healthy, high protein dish. Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans and kabuli chana, are immersed in spicy spinach gravy.

Chole Palak (Spinach Chickpea)

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 1 15 oz can of chickpea (chole, garbanzo)
  • 3 cups finely chopped spinach (palak)
  • 2 medium tomatoes chopped
  • 1/2" piece ginger (adrak)
  • 1 green chili
  • 3 tablespoon oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon asafetida (hing)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed (jeera)
  • 1 tablespoon coriander powder (dhania)
  • 1/2  teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
  • 1/2  teaspoon red pepper adjust to taste
  • 1/2  teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • 1/2  teaspoon garam masala

Instructions

Method

  • Drain the chickpeas and rinse well.
  • Blend the tomatoes, green chilies, and ginger to make a puree.
  • Heat the oil in a saucepan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if the seed cracks right away, the oil is ready. Add the asafetida and cumin seeds. When the cumin seeds crack, add the tomato puree, coriander powder, turmeric, and red chili powder. Cook for three to four minutes on medium heat. The tomato mixture will separate from the oil and reduce to about half in quantity.
  • Add spinach, salt, and one-half cup of water. Cook, covered, four to five minutes on medium heat.
  • Add the chickpeas and mash them lightly with a spatula. Add more water as needed to keep the gravy consistency to your liking. Cook on low heat for seven to eight minutes. Add the garam masala.

Notes

Serving suggestions
  1. Chole Palak can be served with roti, naan, or any other bread. It also goes well with plain rice.
  2. Chole Palak is a delicious, healthy choice for people who eat a vegan or gluten-free diet

Chole Palak (Spinach Chickpea)

Chole Palak (Chickpeas With Spinach)

Chickpeas and spinach is a marvelous combination, and Chole Palak is a healthy, high protein dish. Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans and kabuli chana, are immersed in spicy spinach gravy.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course dal
Cuisine Indian
Servings 3 people

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 1 15 oz can of chickpea (chole, garbanzo)
  • 3 cups finely chopped spinach (palak)
  • 2 medium tomatoes chopped
  • 1/2" piece ginger (adrak)
  • 1 green chili
  • 3 tablespoon oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon asafetida (hing)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed (jeera)
  • 1 tablespoon coriander powder (dhania)
  • 1/2  teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
  • 1/2  teaspoon red pepper adjust to taste
  • 1/2  teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • 1/2  teaspoon garam masala

Instructions
 

Method

  • Drain the chickpeas and rinse well.
  • Blend the tomatoes, green chilies, and ginger to make a puree.
  • Heat the oil in a saucepan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if the seed cracks right away, the oil is ready. Add the asafetida and cumin seeds. When the cumin seeds crack, add the tomato puree, coriander powder, turmeric, and red chili powder. Cook for three to four minutes on medium heat. The tomato mixture will separate from the oil and reduce to about half in quantity.
  • Add spinach, salt, and one-half cup of water. Cook, covered, four to five minutes on medium heat.
  • Add the chickpeas and mash them lightly with a spatula. Add more water as needed to keep the gravy consistency to your liking. Cook on low heat for seven to eight minutes. Add the garam masala.

Notes

Serving suggestions
  1. Chole Palak can be served with roti, naan, or any other bread. It also goes well with plain rice.
  2. Chole Palak is a delicious, healthy choice for people who eat a vegan or gluten-free diet
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Introduction to Chole Palak – Chickpeas with Spinach:

Palak Chana Masala is a flavorful and nutritious Indian dish that combines spinach (palak) and chickpeas (chana) in a spiced gravy or curry. It is typically made with dal (lentils), making it a good source of protein, and is naturally gluten-free and low in fat. This dish is quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for a winter meal. It is also suitable for vegans as it does not contain any animal products.

Chole Palak, also known as chickpeas with spinach or palak chana masala, is a delightful and nutritious dish that combines the goodness of chickpeas and spinach in a flavorful curry. This Chana Saag recipe is a perfect balance of protein-rich chickpeas and iron-packed spinach, making it not only delicious but also incredibly healthy. In this recipe, we’ll guide you through the process of making this hearty and satisfying dish step by step.

Chole Palak Recipe:

  • Drain and Rinse the Chickpeas: Open the can of chickpeas and pour its contents into a colander. Use running water to thoroughly rinse the chickpeas, removing any canning liquid or residue. Shake the colander gently to remove excess water. Set the rinsed chickpeas aside for now.

  • Blend the Aromatics: Wash and roughly chop the tomatoes, green chilies, and ginger. Add them to a blender and blend until you have a smooth puree. This puree will form the flavorful base of your chickpea curry.

  • Heat the Oil and Add Spices: Pour oil into a saucepan and heat it up on medium heat. To test if the oil is hot enough, carefully add a single cumin seed to the pan. If the seed sizzles and cracks right away, the oil is at the perfect temperature. Once the oil is hot, add the asafetida (a pinch is enough) and cumin seeds. Asafetida adds a unique, slightly garlicky aroma to curries. Listen for the cumin seeds to crackle, indicating they’ve released their flavors.

  • Cook the Tomato Masala: Now it’s time to add the blended tomato puree, coriander powder, turmeric, and red chili powder to the pan with the cumin seeds. Stir the mixture well to combine all the spices with the tomato puree. Let this mixture cook on medium heat for three to four minutes. As it cooks, the oil will separate from the tomato mixture, and the mixture itself will reduce in volume by about half. This concentration of flavors is what will give your curry its depth.

  • Add Spinach and Simmer: After the tomato masala has cooked down, add the spinach and salt to the pan. Pour in half a cup of water as well. Give everything a good stir and bring to a simmer. Cover the pan and let the contents simmer for four to five minutes on medium heat. The spinach should wilt and become tender during this time.

  • Add Chickpeas and Adjust Consistency: Once the spinach is cooked, add the rinsed and drained chickpeas to the pan. Use a spatula to gently mash some of the chickpeas against the side of the pan. This will help slightly thicken the gravy and add some textural variation to the curry. If the gravy seems too thick at this point, simply add more water, a little bit at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Let the chickpeas simmer in the gravy for another seven to eight minutes on low heat, allowing them to absorb all the flavors.

  • Finish with Garam Masala: As a final touch, take the pan off the heat and stir in the garam masala. Garam masala is a warming spice blend commonly used in Indian cuisine. It will add another layer of complexity to your curry. Give everything a final stir and your chickpea curry is complete!

Tips for Making Perfect Chole Palak:

  • Use Fresh Spinach: Fresh spinach works best in this recipe as it adds a vibrant green color and a tender texture to the curry.
  • Adjust Spice Level: Customize the spice level according to your preference by adjusting the amount of red chili powder or green chilies used.
  • Add Lemon Juice: A squeeze of lemon juice added to the curry just before serving will brighten the flavors and add a hint of acidity.

Variations of Chole Palak:

  • Creamy Chole Palak: Stir in some coconut milk or cashew cream for a creamy and indulgent version of the dish.
  • Spicy Chole Palak: Add extra green chilies or a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicier kick.
  • Chole Palak with Paneer: Add cubed paneer to the curry for added richness and protein.

Benefits of Including Chole Palak in Your Diet:

  • High in Protein: Chickpeas are an excellent source of plant-based protein, making Chole Palak a nutritious option for vegetarians and vegans.
  • Rich in Iron: Spinach is packed with iron, which is essential for maintaining healthy blood cells and preventing anemia.
  • Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals: Chole Palak is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate, potassium, and magnesium, contributing to overall health and well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chole Palak:

Q: Can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach?

A: Yes, you can use frozen spinach if fresh spinach is not available. Thaw the frozen spinach and squeeze out any excess water before adding it to the curry.

Q: Can I make Chole Palak in advance?

A: Yes, Chole Palak can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop before serving.

Q: Is Chole Palak gluten-free?

A: Yes, Chole Palak is naturally gluten-free, making it suitable for those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.

For more delicious Indian curry recipes, visit Manjula’s Kitchen. Explore a variety of vegetarian curries featuring a range of spices, vegetables, and legumes to add flavor and variety to your meals.For more delicious Indian recipes, check out Manjula’s Kitchen: Chole Bhature, Naan, Paneer Tikka Masala, Aloo Paratha, Vegetable Biryani.

Comments

Leave a Comment

Comment policy: We love comments and appreciate the time that readers spend to share ideas and give feedback. However, all comments are manually moderated and those deemed to be spam or solely promotional will be deleted.

    Franklin
    July 15, 2022 at 12:18 pm

    I love to eat them

    Asha S.
    February 9, 2021 at 3:05 pm

    Incredibly delicious! Manjulaji, my American husband loves eating the food I make from your recipes, and loves watching your videos! We are vegetarians and would love to see more dal recipes. Thank you!

    Angel
    April 28, 2019 at 6:25 pm

    Thank you so much for this recipe Manjula, I make it every week!

    Shyamanand Das
    April 25, 2019 at 2:16 pm

    Hello Manjula,
    Thank you very much for posting great recipes online. We have been following your recipes for a long time.
    Can you tell me the quantities of different ingredients if I have to cook this recipe for 200 people in the temple. We would like to use dry chana and soak overnight. Also, we would prefer using frozen spinach.

    Appreciate your help

      Manjula Jain
      April 28, 2019 at 11:40 pm

      Shyamanand Das, thank you, now making for 200 people, yes I will use the dry chana and frozen spinach will work. For rest of the ingredients you will have to use your judgement, I have never cooked for so many people.

    lynette
    June 17, 2018 at 3:15 pm

    i am vegan. i was visiting nigeria and having a difficult time finding food to eat that didn’t contain meat. a friend took me to an indian restaurant and i tried this dish with naan bread. it was the first time i’d had both. i fell in love with it! i tried your recipe and it turned out perfectly! i’m trying very hard not to eat the entire pot so that others in my house can try it. thank you so very much.

      Manjula Jain
      June 21, 2018 at 8:29 am

      lynette, Thank you, made me happy

    Ewelina
    January 17, 2018 at 9:01 am

    I made it; and it was good . Thank u

    Didina
    November 21, 2016 at 11:48 am

    This dish is really great, it’s best with fresh ingredients but I adapted it so that it works with canned tomatoes and frozen spinach, use some sugar with one can of canned tomatoes (I prefer brown sugar) and cook it a bit longer, also use less water with frozen spinach because they will release some and cook them a bit longer. I also sometimes use paprika instead of red chili when I don’t want heat. A GREAT and simple dish, thank you Manjula.

    Patrick
    July 13, 2016 at 4:56 am

    Thank you for sharing. I made this yesterday for my wife and I. I had to use 8 oz of Chickpeas and 8 oz of split chickpeas. Came out so delicious that we finished it off for dinner. Is there a reason that the Garam Masala is added toward the end of cooking? Many thanks Patrick

      Manjula Jain
      July 13, 2016 at 5:14 pm

      Patrick, I don’t like to use too much garam masala, adding towards the end gives touch of flavor and aroma

    OnceUponASupper
    May 13, 2016 at 1:52 pm

    This sure is an interesting recipe. I am going to try it very soon. Thanks for sharing!

    Stephanie
    February 4, 2016 at 6:20 pm

    Thank you so much for this recipe! It’s so nice, I’ve made it TWICE–in one week! My husband loved it as well, and I can’t wait to share some with my mom. I’m looking forward to making some of your other recipes.

    It might sound crazy, but I sautéed onions before adding the tomato sauce, and I also added chopped cilantro when it was almost done cooking.

      Manjula Jain
      February 9, 2016 at 11:41 pm

      Stephanie, sounds good to me

        Manpreet
        June 27, 2016 at 8:57 am

        Hi

        I have been trying your recipes dey have been very tasty it’s just that it’s a little watery

          Manjula Jain
          June 27, 2016 at 11:43 am

          Manpreet, cook for little longer and mash with spoon some chickpeas while stirring

    Romi
    January 18, 2016 at 1:52 am

    Manjula. Just started using your website. Love it.
    If I’m using frozen spinach,how much? If grated ginger , how much? Also should I grind my own roasted coriander powder or use store one?

      Manjula Jain
      January 19, 2016 at 3:46 pm

      Romi about 5oz of frozen spinach and 1 teaspoon ginger but both ingredients can be changed to your taste.

        Linda
        August 22, 2016 at 1:41 am

        Thank you for a great recipe and for answering this question! I’m making it with frozen spinach and I KNoW my family will love it!

    Spubba
    January 5, 2016 at 9:02 am

    Thank you for this recipe Manjula! You have helped me master Indian cooking, which is my favorite! No need to go to the restaurants anymore. We eat curry at home now thanks to your instruction. My whole family loves this Chole Palak.

      Manjula Jain
      January 5, 2016 at 11:23 pm

      Spubba, Thank you, I enjoy hearing the success

    Manisha
    January 3, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    Nice recipe….where u bought this pan Ma’am

      Manjula Jain
      January 4, 2016 at 10:06 am

      Manisha,
      this is my favorite pan, Calphalon brand you can buy from amazon, Macy, Bed Bath & Beyond and I am sure many other stores

    Parvathi
    December 5, 2015 at 8:55 am

    Today I made this recipe came out very well mam thanks everyone loved it

    Tara
    November 19, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    Hi Manjula! I love your cooking. I have always been afraid to cook Indian Cuisine, but I have just made this recipe with success! You made it so easy. I still have to work on my rice cooking. It seems I can’t get it right each time. Thank you!
    Tara

    MAHENDRA pardhi
    October 5, 2015 at 12:51 pm

    I love resepi

    Alice
    September 29, 2015 at 3:30 am

    Do you use US (134ml), UK (184ml) or metric cup (250ml)? Many thanks

    Shobana
    September 2, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    Aunty….
    I really love all ur cooking …n will try to make this dish coming weekend…hope everything goes well …

    Heli
    August 18, 2015 at 1:58 am

    Made your Chole Palak second time now and just find this is my daughter’s new favorite dish. And she did not wanted to eat spinach until now. Really good meal, amazing.

    Erich Scholz
    August 7, 2015 at 7:12 pm

    Made your delicious Chole Palak and was accused of picking up take out. Cheers!

    jyothi
    August 7, 2015 at 12:52 am

    nice

    Shruti
    July 11, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    Hello Aunty.

    Namastey, aap kaisey hain?

    I really admire your cooking, your delicious foods and I made this it came out good. My Mum loved this very much, all my family so do I. 🙂 I love spices food, thank you . 🙂

    userzeba
    July 9, 2015 at 5:53 am

    Lovely so tasty it looks even in plate….
    but i am always concerned when something falls down on the table especially dal items…
    its becomes quiet messy and sticky to clean….
    i was looking for some designer mats and found some cool mats for my dishes
    http://www.zebaworld.com/categories/Home-Fashion-Dining/cid-CU00195770.aspx

    Elizabeth Woodward
    June 12, 2015 at 7:02 pm

    This was so delicious! We loved it and will make it again soon. I skipped the hing, eased up on the green chili to suit preferences, added a little bit of tomato paste because my tomatoes weren’t as deep and rich as I would’ve preferred, and popped the tomatoes into boiling water to get the skin off before blending. Yum. Thank you so much!

      Manjula Jain
      June 15, 2015 at 10:49 pm

      Elizabeth Woodward, I like making changes in recipe to my taste that always taste better

    usha
    May 7, 2015 at 3:53 am

    lovely receipe… its easy when you make it look so simple.. thanks auntie..

    Nan Racu
    March 17, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    I made this tonight. I don’t care for cooked spinach and didn’t have any, but I have a ton of escarole, so used that and it was very delicious. Easy and yummy, can’t ask for anything more. Thank you, Manjula!

    sweetshubh
    March 6, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    This was wonderful and tasted like that from a restaurant. My sis-in-law and her family loved it too! Chhole is more healthier with palak in it. Thanks for this healthy yet delicious recipe.

    Sherri
    January 5, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    This sounds wonderful. Where I live, however, I cannot get asafetida without a two-hour road trip (one way). Would it be possible to substitute onions or leeks in the meantime?

      Toshi
      January 6, 2015 at 6:47 pm

      Manjula is of the Jain religion so doesn’t eat onions, leeks or garlic http://www.clovegarden.com/diet/jain.html

      Feel free to use onions or leeks instead of asafetida. I personally often fail cooking onions so enjoy not having to use them in Manjula’s recipes. But I do have easy access to asafetida. Could you order some online?

    sandra
    January 5, 2015 at 11:35 am

    I love your website !! Thank you for your recipes and for inspiring me to cook healthy meals for my friends and family. These are the best recipes for vegetarians who don’t take onions and garlic!!

    jay
    December 27, 2014 at 7:09 am

    Wonderful blog. Thank you : )

    chris
    October 20, 2014 at 8:34 am

    manjula, thank you for this recipe for chole palak, i have just finished making it for a special meal for my girlfriend tonight. i also will make aloo paratha, dal and rice. Following your recipe the finished chole palak is delicous. my first recipe of yours was aloo paratha and that was delicious too. i will be making many more vegeterian recipes from your website. thank you manjula 🙂

    RENEE EDGCOMB
    September 16, 2014 at 11:22 am

    Thank you for this recipe! I am new to Indian cooking. This is one of my favorites. Great blog!

    charlotte
    August 30, 2014 at 4:12 am

    I make this all the time now! Thanks so much. I just love it.

    Anthony
    June 6, 2014 at 1:27 am

    Hi Manjula , thank you for your good home cooking , I always recommend you for anyone who wants to cook, I have a question how do I calculate the spice and amount of ingredients to make more or can I just double everything including the spice . Thank you for your help .
    Anthony

      Manjula Jain
      June 6, 2014 at 7:56 am

      Anthony,
      most of the time spices can be almost double, when you are making in large quantity cut down some spices.

    Jennifer
    June 4, 2014 at 8:10 am

    Hi Manjula,

    I tried this recipe just now and it is SO good! So delicious! Thank you so much!

    Amy S
    April 25, 2014 at 6:01 am

    If not using canned beans, how much should I use for dry chickpeas?? I know I will have to soak them overnight. Thank you.

      Manjula Jain
      April 25, 2014 at 12:17 pm

      about 3/4 cup

        Amy S
        April 25, 2014 at 1:37 pm

        thank you 🙂

    elissa
    April 20, 2014 at 8:20 pm

    I made this the first time with chard because that is what I had in the house. It was delicious, and has become one of my go-to recipes. It is great warmed up for work lunches!

    Molly W
    April 15, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    Someone a while back commented saying they make this with chard. I got a bunch in a produce bag once and tried it – it’s SO GOOD! I now make this recipe on a weekly basis. Addictive, rich, delicious taste, and so healthy for you. Thanks for the easy to follow instructions!

    naresh
    February 22, 2014 at 1:58 am

    While cooking all these thoughts were running through my mind (how it comes out, and how it might taste, I might not like it) once cooked gosh it taste so yummmmmmmmmmmmy, Thanks a lot aunty, even my parents liked and for the first time I helped mom in cooking

    Ralph Pellegrino
    February 1, 2014 at 11:58 am

    Very nice recipes I love chickpeas Thank you very much liked your video!

    matt nannery
    January 4, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    I had a nice bunch of red swiss chard, so I made this with chard instead of spinach for a change.
    It was very nice with chard. Didn’t need the salt as chard is naturally pretty salty.

    kay
    December 19, 2013 at 12:28 pm

    I have made some of your recipes and they turn out very good. I never would have thought that spinach and chick peas could go together, but here you have it. Delicious!

    Ela
    November 9, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    Very good! I just made this recipe, and I’m eating it right now. I will definitely be making this again.

    Heena
    October 4, 2013 at 8:32 am

    Lovely and delicious recipe! Thank you Manjula Aunty for sharing it with us!

    Texas Ann
    September 21, 2013 at 10:41 am

    I love this. I follow a low fat vegan diet. I used vegetable broth instead of olive oil. I also used a can of Rotel tomatoes instead of the 2 tomatoes and did not use the green chilies (they are in the tomatoes). It was great as are all the recipes I have tried from Manjua’s Kitchen. Thanks

    Elizabeth
    September 9, 2013 at 5:23 am

    You have made cooking such an adventure. Thank you so much for imparting your culinary wisdom to the masses! X

    jkahj
    June 21, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    this recipe is delicious and so easy to make that even I could make it and im a complete beginner at cooking.
    thank you miss Manjula 😀

      sadhana
      November 27, 2015 at 5:33 am

      Hi Manjula! I love your cooking. I have always been afraid to cook Indian Cuisine, but I have just made this recipe with success! You made it so easy.

    Misty
    January 16, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    Made this tonight for dinner. I didn’t have any asafetida and I accidentally put in a full teaspoon of garam masala, but it turned out great!

    Candace
    December 9, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    I just made this recipe and it came out great! So easy when you put everything into the blender rather than chopping it all up.

    Jennifer
    November 27, 2012 at 6:20 pm

    Thank you for this delicious recipe… A definite winner with the family.

    Anna
    November 24, 2012 at 7:17 am

    I’ve just made this dish and it was so delicious!!
    I used the brown chickpeas instead and garnished with fresh coriander leaves, with rice.
    It is such a healthy and lovely dish, wonderful recipe.
    Thank you Manjula! 🙂

    Olga
    November 10, 2012 at 9:18 pm

    Manjula, it looks so good and tomorrow i will make it. Thank you for sharing with your traditional food with us.

    Courtney
    October 1, 2012 at 9:16 pm

    I was not able to find Hing in Fairbanks, Alaska, but this recipe turned out fabulously. Thank you.

    We thought it was just right as far as level of spiciness when paired with bread or rice.

    When we are planning to eat the Chole Palak on it’s own, we’ll use only half a green chili for our own taste.

    Beth
    September 30, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    My first attempt at Indian cuisine – and this was DELICIOUS. I will be trying many more recipes from this site. Thank you!

    Shubham K
    August 21, 2012 at 11:09 am

    I tried this at home and it was awesome. It just turned out to be like a restaurant style dish. My husband doesn’t like spinach much but I was surprised when he ate his full serving of this with no complaints and appreciated it too. Thanks a lot.

    roseatta @ vegetarianbreakfastrecipes.net
    May 9, 2012 at 6:08 am

    I have been meaning to try some new dishes and since i love curry i thought this one sounded like a good place to start. Your site is great and easy to follow…….thanks for the info

    Mike
    April 5, 2012 at 12:35 pm

    I have made this recipe several times, and everyone loves it! This is a quick and easy dish to make. Thank you Manjula!

    Lori
    April 1, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    Simple quick recipe. That tastes wonderful! Thank you for sharing your recipes.

    David
    March 7, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    Steve says

    “added two cloves of garlic … Would this be considered wrong or not authentic in Indian cooking?”

    There are many styles of Indian cooking depending on region and
    religious beliefs.

    Many of them use garlic so it would not be considered wrong.

    The style that Manjula’s kitchen shows is a Jain style where onions and garlic are not used. You can read up on Jainism on wikipedia
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism

    Steve
    February 8, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    I’ve made a few of your recipes Manjula and have loved them all.
    This evening I made your Chole Palak again but made two slight changes to my taste. I added two cloves of garlic to the blended ingredients and sprinkled some chopped cilantro at the end.

    Would this be considered wrong or not authentic in Indian cooking?

      Debra
      July 16, 2012 at 7:16 pm

      Hi Steve,
      You are quite right, you can add garlic and some fresh coriander to enhance the taste of the dish. I am going to try this recipe today and will use some garlic and coriander for sure!

      Cheers
      Debra

    Fred
    January 27, 2012 at 5:29 am

    Just made this for the second time. Very easy to make and a tasty dish. Thanks for a great recipe.

    sumintra
    January 20, 2012 at 11:38 am

    Could I use birdeyes spinach from the freezer for this recipe?

      Manjula Jain
      January 20, 2012 at 8:11 pm

      sumintra
      yes

    Christine
    January 16, 2012 at 7:23 am

    I have just made this, and it is the best recipe I have every used for this dish. It’s lovely, thank you so much for sharing. You have made me very happy 🙂

    Cindy Salgado
    January 2, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    This was sooo beyond amazing!! I ate it THREE days in a row 🙂

    hasin
    December 30, 2011 at 2:47 am

    Dear Manjula Ji,

    Your online videos and written dewscriptions are very clear and close to teaching it in person to me.

    I live in UK,and with your videos its easy for me to cook some vegetarian foods with a lot of variation.
    Thank you for taking all the efforts in making this food journey of yours traverse through wide audience who need help in cooking indian food who are staying away from their mothers and from their country.Good Job!

    May God bless you and your entire family.
    Happy New year.
    Regards
    Hasin

    Marianne
    December 1, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    YOU EXPLAIN VERY WELL AND ARE EASY TO FOLLOW.SO GLAD i FOUND THIS PAGE. THANKYOU!!!

    Carolyn
    November 6, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    Hi Manjula,

    In the ingrediant section you mentioned “1/2 teaspoon red pepper adjust to taste” yet this did not show up in the method section. At the same time in the method section there’s appears the “red chilli powder” which did not show in the ingrediant list. I am a bit confused. So in this recipe do we include red pepper, or red chilli powder, or both? Thanks.

      Chaitra Makam
      November 29, 2011 at 4:13 pm

      Carolyn,
      I am sure both of them are same. In the ingredients it must have been red pepper powder. Its actually red chili powder.

    Anjali
    September 30, 2011 at 5:02 am

    Hi Aunty,

    When you chop the tomatoes, do you take the seeds out first?

      Manjula Jain
      September 30, 2011 at 11:01 am

      Anjali,
      For chole palak I use the tomatoes with seeds.

    Parul
    August 29, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    Cooked this today. My husband had never had Chole palak before – he loved it.

    David
    August 21, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    Namaste Manjula,

    I just made your Chole Palak recipe and it was terrific! Five years ago three of us from California spent a month in Delhi as guests of a Jain Guru. Guruji was there for two months and he arranged for some of his devotees to take us on trips all around northern India. About four nights out of every week we would go to their homes with Guruji and have dinner with them. We were very spoiled, we were probably being fed the best of the best homemade Indian food.

    You’re Chole Palak recipe turned out terrific, and it probably would not have without the help of your video because I’m not a very experienced cook. It was so good it makes me think I’m back in India again with all those wonderful cooks! This is the very first time I’ve ever attempted to cook an Indian recipe and it turned out so good I plan on making many more recipes from your website.

    Namaste,
    David

      Manjula Jain
      August 21, 2011 at 5:21 pm

      Thank you David.

    kumar
    August 7, 2011 at 6:41 am

    Well what can i say, coming back to this site again for second time for chickpeas&spinach recipe….This site rocks.

    Richard
    August 3, 2011 at 9:28 pm

    Simple and amazing. My housemates can’t get enough of this one. This website has opened up a world of vegan treasures, a collective round of applause for Manjula!

    afshan
    July 13, 2011 at 5:10 am

    Dear Manjula,

    I didn’t even know the ABCs of cooking before.But after finding your website & watching your videos i have made shahi paneer,paneer tikka masala,butter paneer masala,rajma-chawal,chole-palak,stuffed karela,aaloo-gobi,masala bhindi,cabbage peas,baingan ka bharta & tomato soup to date.All the recipes turned out well.

    You are doing a great job.Keep it up.

    Thanks,
    Afshan

    Desi dude
    July 2, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    I love this.

    I used to call people and ask them how to cook some of the Indian food, but now manjulaskitchen.com !!!!

    Thanks a lot for these videos.

    Anastasia
    May 8, 2011 at 5:39 pm

    Thank you, Auntie – I am making this tonight!

    veronica
    April 16, 2011 at 11:25 am

    love the receipe…. im latin and usually dont cook with to many spices .. so i just cut the spices in half amount and it still taste great….love your receipes …….. hope to do many more

    jonathan davis
    March 31, 2011 at 10:25 am

    Manjula, I love your recipes, and thank you for sharing them with us! I do not have fresh spinach available, and have to use frozen blocks. Could you please approximate a frozen weight (or approximate frozen cups of the vacuum-packed frozen spinach for this recipe. THanks so much in advance : )

    anita
    March 9, 2011 at 6:27 am

    since i want to use regular chick peas please tell me the quantity i have to use in place of the 15 oz can

    thanks

    Sirisha
    March 8, 2011 at 12:15 am

    Hi,

    For how long have the chole to be soaked?

      Manjula Jain
      March 8, 2011 at 8:01 am

      Sirisha,
      About 8 hours.

    Nicole
    February 15, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    Served this for dinner with hot chapatis. Lovely!

    cw
    January 21, 2011 at 4:27 am

    Hi Manjula aunty,
    I have tried the above recipe with slight changes like spinach puree instead of chopped spinach,green peas instead of chhola and garlic instead of ginger and it just came out awesome.
    My husband just loved it.
    Thanks for posting wonderful recipes like this.

    Tery
    January 15, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    Manjulaji,
    The recipe turned out great!

    I did not have fresh spinach or tomatoes, so I substituted frozen cut spinach and a can of diced tomatoes for the recipe, and it turned out wonderful!

    Anusha
    November 5, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    Easy and tasty recipe..tried it with Rajma beans! Came out absolutely delicious! Thanks 🙂

      cedric
      January 6, 2011 at 1:54 am

      i did a littile bit of addition to this chole palak, i added another half teaspoon of chilly power along with 2 teaspoon of cumin powder and half teaspoon of chaat masala.

      It was yummy too, try it out.

      No doubt manju aunty that your dishes are too good… really

    tiffany
    August 1, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    Wow! I finally found a terrific site to improve upon my indian cooking skills! Yeah! I’m an italian girl who is a whiz in the kitchen and absolutely loves indian food but has been very intimidated by all the new terms and spices. I’ve made two amazing dishes so far off this website, including the one listed above (chole palak) and my family including my toddler loved them both! I made one adjustment to the chole palak and that is I folded in some sliced paneer in the last 5 minutes of cooking. We are all big paneer fans and think it makes everything taste better. I can’t wait to make another recipe this week. Thank you!

    Poornima
    June 29, 2010 at 7:54 am

    Manjulaji,

    Thank you for this wonderful recipe. It tasted yummy. I am new to cooking, and tried to puree the tomato using the food processor and it was not exactly liquidy. What was the blender that you used? I’d like to get the same.

    Abbey
    June 26, 2010 at 7:29 pm

    Dear Manjula,
    thank you for Chole Palak Receipe. I just tried it, and it came out fantastic. I am not Indian but my husband. I have eaten chole palak from Indian restaurant, but yours is the best. In the restaurant the taste was plain, but mine was a little bit sour (probably from tomatoes- I used plum tomatoes) and salty, but I love it (I love sour and salty taste). Is it the right taste for this receipe (sour and salty), my husband said that the taste was not suppose to be like that?
    Thanks again, and I cooked pulao rice also and it came yummy.
    I will try your other receipe.

    Veggie
    June 18, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    Hello – thanks for the great recipes! Is this one possible to make without the adrak or will the taste be slightly off? I have to make a simple lunch for Jain people tomorrow – they don’t eat underground vegetables and stay away from oily/fried foods. I’m not an advanced cook and have yet to ever cook without adrak/lehson. And I was thinking of throwing in some firm tofu. Help? Thanks!

    Gina
    June 6, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    Hi Manjula, I’m Portuguese and have always loved Indian food and wanted to learn…I live in Surrey, B.C, and work with Indian co-worker, she always brings leftovers from her Mom…I’ve tried a couples recipies already, tried yours, and you make it so easy…and delicous of course…came by chance on yourwebsite when I googled you tube for Indian recipies…and thank you, wonderful website…could I ask you where you are located? What Province or State?..

    Sincerely
    Gina

    Maggie
    May 26, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Dear Manjula,

    Everything I have ever made from your marvelous website has turned out beautifully! You are the goddess of Indian cooking.

    The Chole Palak is ALWAYS a winner with people that I make it for.

    Thank you for bringing good, honest, straightforward Indian cooking into my home.

    Bless you and yours,

    Maggie

    Marta
    May 14, 2010 at 12:52 am

    I had some leftover frozen spinach that I had to use somehow and I thought about this recipe. I just put in all the spinach I had, which not necessarily was a good idea. What I ended up with, was a sea of green with little islands of chickpeas. To be honest, I braced myself for the worst. But you know what? It was awesome! Thank you a lot for this recipe!

    Anna
    May 12, 2010 at 5:21 am

    Manjula

    Thanks for the lovely recipe. I am eating it now! I have a small confession to make though- I am growing spinach, kale and rainbow chard plants in my garden and have been looking for a recipe to use them up. The older plants are getting a bitter taste and I was hoping that some Indian cuisine could handle the strong flavours. I have just cooked the recipe replacing half the spinach with some chard and kale and it has come out beautifully.

    I hope you do not mind me fiddling with the recipe.

    meena
    May 6, 2010 at 5:19 am

    hi, manjula aunty
    can u explain me •1 15oz can of chickpea means 250 gms. or how much cup of chickpea

    RD
    May 4, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    Hi Manjula,

    I have noticed in a lot of recipies like chole palak, aloo dum etc. ; you never use onions. Generally they are an integral part of indian cuisine.

    Any specific reason?
    Thanks

      Jaya
      May 4, 2010 at 6:45 pm

      Many Indians don’t use onions or garlic at all and Jains are among them. It’s common probably more in Indian restaurants, but in many Indian homes they are not used in cooking. Asafetida (or hing) is used to give a similar pop of flavor that you would otherwise get from onion.

        santhi
        May 4, 2010 at 9:56 pm

        I beg to differ. As RD mentioned, onions and garlic are very much part of my cooking essentials. Even when some recipes may not use them, I will still add them- esp onions accordingly.

    madhu
    April 24, 2010 at 6:03 am

    hello manjula aunty
    i want to serve this chole palak for 50 members.so can i use chole that we can soak overnight,n cook it.instad of canned ones.that works little inexpensive.pls give me your suggestion.

      Manjula Jain
      April 24, 2010 at 9:53 am

      Hello Madhu,
      I will do the same.

    KK
    April 21, 2010 at 10:59 am

    Hi there! The recipe sounds great but I just had a quick question. Can I substitute the fresh spinach for frozen spinach?

    If so, do I need to make any amendments to the quantity? I’m a beginner cook so your answer would be really appreciated!

    Thank you 🙂

      Manjula Jain
      April 21, 2010 at 1:48 pm

      Hello KK, Use chopped frozen spinach will work fine.

    Maxkay
    March 20, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    Thank u for the recipe it was awesome

    Mark
    March 14, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    Greetings Manjula Aunty,

    I just tried the Chole Palak last night. I made it exactly according to the recipe and video (required a trip to the Indian grocery store!), and it came out absolutely PERFECT!! It was actually BETTER than the (very good) Chole Palak at the local fine Indian restaurant. (Not to mention, of course, that I made it for only a fraction of the cost.)

    I’ve been watching your videos for months, and I FINALLY got around to trying a recipe, my favorite, chole palak. It’s amazing how quickly, easily, and cheaply I can make a dish at home I’d been spending a fortune for at the Indian restaurant. I’ll be trying more recipes in the near future.

    Question: how do you store your hing? I closed my container and placed it in a sealed Zip-Loc bag, and its aroma still permeates the whole cupboard. Any advice?

      Brenda
      April 30, 2010 at 1:27 pm

      Store your Hing (Asafoetida) in a screw-top glass bottle….

    Holly
    February 28, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    Hello,

    First off, thank you for great recipes. I am trying to perfect this dish! Mine does not come out very sausey. It’s a little on the dry side. What can I do to improve?

    Wendy Hinds
    February 3, 2010 at 6:12 am

    Thank you for this recipe. I have added this site to my favourites bar. I am trying to lose weight and get healthy, and the only food which satisfies me is Indian vegetarian cooking – because the tastes are wonderful, and there are so many good recipes for pulses. I can’t wait to try out more of the dishes here.

    Just wanted to ask you – I am very lazy, so a big fan of ready made garlic/ginger/chilli paste. Do you think these spoil the flavour of the food in any way?

    RKM
    December 30, 2009 at 8:53 pm

    Hello Aunty,

    Thank you for all the wonderful recipes.
    I wish you a happy new and prosperous new year !!!
    Have a great year ahead !!!!!

    Will look forward to new recipes 🙂

    cookmaster
    December 27, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    do you not have any othr chikpeas recipes for subzi’s cuz its late nite outside n i need a chickpeas recipes buh i dont hav palak (spinach) so plz post one soon, n your fruit cream was amazing! evry1 statimized it! 😀

      Jaya
      December 27, 2009 at 7:11 pm

      Cookmaster, just skip the spinach. It will still taste good. Or, you can add a cooked potato that has been cut into pieces.

    Lakshmi
    December 13, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    Hello Manjula Aunty..,
    I try all your recipes..they are really mouth watering and since we are pure vegetarians, your recipes are the best. I have one small question, when you tell about the heat, i.e., low medium, high what is the number that you keep ?
    You make all the recipes easy too. My 7 year old daughter is a great fan of your recipes.

    Thanks

      cookmaster
      December 27, 2009 at 3:09 pm

      ok lakhshmi low as in btwn 1-3 meduim as in 4-5 and highhhh 6-FULL hope dat helped buh if not tel me the # of ur stove system

      Jaya
      December 27, 2009 at 7:15 pm

      Lakshmi, the numbers don’t matter. You need to know your individual stove settings. You already cook right? So if you boil water, you cook on high. If you want to sautee onions, you cook on medium, etc. Judge by the size of the flame if it’s gas or the red of the coil if it’s electric, but mostly judge by how fast or slow the food is cooking.

    Stefanie
    November 3, 2009 at 4:28 pm

    I tried making the Chana Masala and added too much salt. Thankfully I had frozen spinach in the freezer and found this recipe — I just added that and it turned out very well! Thank you!

    brad
    October 31, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    When we traveled through India i sent several cook books home.Many varying forms of measuring ingredients.Perhaps you can tell me what the heck a Nos is?

      Mini
      November 4, 2009 at 2:58 am

      Hi

      It probably means numbers; as in how many.
      does it fit?

    Adam
    October 23, 2009 at 9:40 am

    What a fantastic recipe thanks so much, really impressed with the results first time and can’t wait to try making some of the other things.

    kanchan
    September 28, 2009 at 8:22 am

    hi manjula this is kanchan from kenya i am totally vegeterian.plz can u tell me cakes or rasgulas sometime chef they add eggs but i am totally vegeterian as i told u earlier.plz advz what can i use in the place of egg.plz reply soon i vll apreciate.and i like ur website i lov watching and i am enjoying it.

      Ryan
      October 22, 2009 at 7:23 pm

      Hey Kanchan, to replace egg you can purchase Ener G Egg Replacer. A healthier alternative however is to buy flax meal. For every 1 Tablespoon add 3 Tablespoons of water and that makes 1 egg. Hope this helped you out!

    Cindy
    September 6, 2009 at 8:20 am

    Another great one! And easy! Thank you!

    Adélia Lopes
    September 5, 2009 at 4:28 pm

    Namaste Manjula!
    I am from Brazil, but I love indian food!! Your web site and videos have helped me a lot! I agree you should come out with a cookbook and also a DVD! The videos are a must for someone like me who is just starting to learn how to cook! 🙂
    You are the best! God bless you and your magic kitchen!
    Adélia (from São Paulo, Brazil)

    Noah Feldman
    September 3, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    I made this according to the recipe and it came out great. Manjula…I love your site and your recipes! Any ideas on how to double and/or triple the recipe. I tried doubling and it didn’t come out as well and tasted too much Hing. Also I never needed to add water, am I using too many tomatoes? I used two medium tomatoes and even left some out and still never needed to add the water. Please help as I am planning a party and would like to double some of the recipes. Thanks, Noah

      Manjula Jain
      September 3, 2009 at 6:26 pm

      Hi Noha,
      When you double the recipes most of the time it should work fine, may be the size of the tomatoes, or did you forgot to drain the water from can chickpeas.

    Seth C.
    September 1, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Thanks once again from Baton Rouge, Louisiana! I made this yesterday for a Meatless Monday light lunch, and thought it was great! Also, I made a small substitution: I was short one cup of spinach, and so I substituted 1 cup of green peas. It may sound strange, but they say use what you have, and it turned out great! Just make sure you don’t forget the naan or roti!

    Jennidy
    August 31, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    Manjula,
    Another wonderful recipe! I thought that chana masala was one of my favorite foods but this may just take its place. The protein plus iron, but a little fat from the oil, left me feeling healthy and satisfied. What a savory dish. Thank you!

    Heather
    August 25, 2009 at 9:37 am

    Majula – Please come out with a cookbook!!! E-mail me when its published and I’ll be the first in line to buy it. 🙂

    Erica
    August 22, 2009 at 8:11 am

    Just made this for lunch. Didn’t have any asafetida so I did some research and found out some people use garlic powder instead. The dish looks and smells wonderful and tastes good too. Still, it seems like something is missing and I’m wondering if my substitution isn’t the culprit. Still, light yet filling and flavorful. So delicious!! Thanks, Manjula!

    Bhavi
    August 19, 2009 at 2:29 am

    I made this today and it turned out to be really very good! Everyone enjoyed this! Thanks!

    anand
    August 9, 2009 at 12:39 am

    palak contained dishes are my favourate dish.
    anand
    BPO Solution

    Julie Castro
    August 8, 2009 at 5:48 am

    This is so wonderful!!! I would buy merchandise if you ever choose to sell it.

    nayana
    August 8, 2009 at 3:57 am

    it sounds good….rich of proteins…i can’t wait to try

    madhu
    August 5, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    aunty i tried this yesday.it came out sooo good.really yummy.
    thank u.

    forum mehta
    August 4, 2009 at 9:10 am

    jai jinendra aunnty,

    i loved this recipe of chole with spinach. i think it is wonderful to combine proteins and greens together. my husband loved it all the more. it even prevents flatulence problem that occurs with pulses. Thank you very much.

    Yesenia
    July 29, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    My daughter is a rare 14 year old who loves vegetables (she’s vegan), so when I came across this spinach recipes I knew I had to make it. It was so easy because of the great instructions on.
    I wonder, will you every come out with a cookbook for non-Indians like myself who love Indian food? One more thing. How can I print out your recipes from this site?

    Asha
    July 29, 2009 at 9:19 am

    hie manjula ji,
    All your recipes are so wonderful…..please do post new recipes especially more salads and fried rice….thank you!

    S.J.
    July 27, 2009 at 7:20 am

    Could u tell me what is asafatida(hing). Thanks

      Jaya
      July 27, 2009 at 2:36 pm

      Asafetida (“hing” in Hindi) is a gum resin. It is used in very small amounts to give a flavor similar to using onions and garlic.

      You can purchase it at any Indian/Pakastani grocery store. Just ask for “hing”, they’ll know exactly what you mean. If you don’t have it or can’t find it, just skip it and make the rest of the dish.

    Meena
    July 26, 2009 at 10:52 am

    Hi, I made this last night and it turned out really good. It’s a very healthy recipe too. I like your pan a lot. Can you tell me what kind it is? Thanks!

    Chris
    July 25, 2009 at 4:40 am

    you rock what a mad site

    Nittu
    July 20, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    I tried this recipe…it came out so well…Thank u aunty!

    insiya
    July 20, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    thanks aunty,,, ur recipe is very very lovely,, turns out awesome,, thanks aunty so much,,,

    parul
    July 18, 2009 at 6:52 am

    Thanks for posting this recipe auntyji,just 2 days back my hubby ws asking me to make chole palak dish,and today wehen i opened ur site,
    its here..wow.I told him auntyji has uploaded this dish n he was like-arrey mazaa aa gaya.
    look forward to try this.

    sweety
    July 15, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    I love the way you prepare any recipe. I will definitely try this as everyone in our family like your recipes. I have a question here, while making this spinach chickpeas curry should we need to boil the chickpeas?

    James
    July 14, 2009 at 5:32 am

    Absolutely delicious!!

    As are all your recipes – of which I have tried most of the pulse ones.

    Keep up the good work – just love your simple approach. Thanks so much.

    James

    karla
    July 12, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    thank you so much for posting this! this is my favorite dish at indian restaurants…:) i look forward to trying your recipe i know it will be delicious!

    Leonora Saavedra
    July 12, 2009 at 10:51 am

    Thank you for the recipes. The video demonstrations are very useful!

    Likes2Eat
    July 10, 2009 at 6:21 pm

    Looks good and will be nice for a quick weekday meal. Thanks.

    Akshay Iyer
    July 8, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    Namaste, Manjula aunty!! I tried making Chhole Palak following your recipe. Actually, we had to prepare something very quickly because my sister’s in-laws were coming home. We needed to prepare something for lunch and that’s when my sister’s in-laws were kissing their fingers. Your recipes are always a delight to watch and prepare. Excellent work but I would appreciate if you could probably make some recipes that would be fit for bachelors.

    Jaya
    July 8, 2009 at 9:08 am

    Jains and some other Indians do not eat onions and garlic.

    Avid NY Cook
    July 8, 2009 at 8:11 am

    Pritesh – Take a look at Manjula auntie’s FAQ here:
    https://manjulalive.wpenginepowered.com/frequently-asked-questions/
    Question #1 answers your question about onion/garlic.

    Hari Chandana
    July 8, 2009 at 2:23 am

    lovely and comfort dal.. looks gr8..

    Pritesh
    July 7, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    Your recipes are excellent but you never use of onion or garlic, please upload the recipe with those two.
    Thanks

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Check other Recipes

Gulab Jamun
Gulab Jamun
Tomato Chutney
Tomato Chutney
Zucchini Rice
Zucchini Rice
Palak Paneer (Spinach)
Palak Paneer (Spinach)