Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your Recipe Rating




492 Comments

  1. I am wondering what is the difference between garam masala and the masala powder you mentioned in this recipe except that the chole masala powder contains pomegranate seeds whereas the regular garam masala contains no pomegranate seeds. Is it correct? or am I missing something here? Are these two masala powders are interchangeable? Thanks and keep up the great work you are doing. Rom

    1. You are mostly correct. Chole masala has a different proportion of spices like cumin, coriander, and fennel compared to garam masala. It also includes dried red chillies, anardana (dry pomegranate seeds) or amchur (dry mango powder), and sometimes black salt. These extra spices give chole its characteristic tangy and slightly spiced flavor. Regular garam masala generally does not include pomegranate seeds or souring agents like amchur.

      In this recipe, I have made a small batch of a darker chole masala powder which is used to prepare the curry. This type of darker chole masala, sometimes called kala chole masala or black chole masala, is also available in some regions and states of North India like Delhi, Punjab, and others.

      While garam masala and chole masala share some common spices, they are not fully interchangeable. If chole masala is not available, you can opt to use garam masala, but the flavor will not be the same as with chole masala powder.

      Hope this helps and thank you for your kind words and feedback, Rom!