Kala Chana Pilaf Recipe

Name: Kala Chana Pilaf Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Pakistani
Ingredients: 1 cup Basmati rice; 1 cup Kala Chana (Brown Chickpeas) soaked overnight and boiled; 1 null Onion finely sliced; 1 null Tomato sliced; 2 null Green Chillies slit; 1 tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste; 1 null Bay leaf (tej patta); 1 null Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini); 4 null Cloves (Laung); 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera); 1 teaspoon Red Chilli powder; 1 teaspoon Garam masala powder; 1 teaspoon Fennel Powder; 1/2 cup Curd (Dahi / Yogurt); 2 cups Water or leftover water of cooked chana; 1 tablespoon Ghee; null Mint Leaves (Pudina) Few, for garnish; 1 pinch Sugar; null Salt to taste

Nithya Anantham

March 7, 2025

8580 Ratings

Time:Prep: 15 M|Cook: 25 M|Total: 40 M

Makes:4 Servings

Meal:Main Course

Cuisine:Pakistani

Kala Chana Pilaf Recipe is adapted from the Pakistani Cuisine. Pilaf is a flavourful rice dish, usually cooked with the white or red meats in Pakistan. The addition of whole garam masala adds a beautiful flavour to the dish. We have substituted the white chana with the kala chana to make it more healthy. The cinnamon quill adds a mild sweetness to the pilaf. Serve the Kala Chana Pilaf Recipe along with Spicy Chicken Curry, Cauliflower & Cucumber Raita and Fresh Garden Salad Recipe for the weekend brunch.

Here are a few more pilaf recipes that you can also try

Ingredients

1 cup Basmati rice

1 cup Kala Chana (Brown Chickpeas), soaked overnight and boiled

1 Onion, finely sliced

1 Tomato, sliced

2 Green Chillies, slit

1 tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste

1 Bay leaf (tej patta)

1 Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini)

4 Cloves (Laung)

1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)

1 teaspoon Red Chilli powder

1 teaspoon Garam masala powder

1 teaspoon Fennel Powder

1/2 cup Curd (Dahi / Yogurt)

2 cups Water, or leftover water of cooked chana

1 tablespoon Ghee

Mint Leaves (Pudina), Few, for garnish

1 pinch Sugar

Salt, to taste

Instructions for Kala Chana Pilaf Recipe

To begin making Kala Chana Pilaf Recipe, wash and soak the kala chana overnight. Pressure cook with 2 cups of water with salt and keep aside.

Wash and soak the basmati rice in enough water for 10 minutes.

Heat ghee in a wide pan on medium heat, add the bayleaf, cinnamon quill, cloves, black cardamom and let it release its aroma into the ghee.

Add the cumin seeds and let it splutter.

Add the sliced onions, a pinch of sugar and saute until it turns golden brown.

Add the slit green chilli, tomatoes and saute for 2 minutes.

Now, whisk the curd to a smooth texture and add it into the pan and mix well.

Add the red chilli powder and garam masala and let it cook for 2 minutes.

Add the boiled kala chana, season with salt and mix well.

Now add the soaked and drained basmati rice, 2 cups of the kala chana broth saved from cooking chana.

Close it with a lid and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

Once the pilaf is cooked, garnish with mint leaves and serve the the Kala Chana Pilaf Recipe along with with Spicy Chicken Curry, Cauliflower & Cucumber Raita and Fresh Garden Salad Recipe for the weekend brunch.