How long does Channa Pulao take?

35 minutes from start to finish. That is 15 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking.

How many people does Channa Pulao serve?

4. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.

Is Channa Pulao vegetarian?

Yes. No meat, no fish and no egg.

Is Channa Pulao spicy?

It is mild: 1 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.

What do I need to make Channa Pulao?

1 cup Chickpea (Chana), 2 cup Basmati Rice, 4 Green Cardamom, 4 Cloves, 2 Bay Leaves, 1 Star Anise, and a few more listed on this page.

Do I need a pressure cooker for Channa Pulao?

Yes, this one is cooked under pressure.

How many calories are in Channa Pulao?

About 668 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Channa PulaoCook

Channa Pulao

Name: Channa Pulao
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Indian, North India
Ingredients: As needed Water; 1 cup Chickpea (Chana), Soaked; ½ tsp Salt; 3 tbsp Sunflower Oil; ½ tsp Fennel Seeds; ½ tsp Cumin; 1 inch Cinnamon; 4 Green Cardamom; 4 Cloves; 2 Bay Leaves; 1 Star Anise; 1 Onion, Slices; 1.5 tbsp Coriander Leaves, Finely Chopped; 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste; 1 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder; ¾ tsp Salt; ½ tsp Turmeric Powder; 2 cup Basmati Rice, Soaked; 2 cup Water; 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder

Veg · Biryani & Pulao, Rice dishes

Biryani & Pulao Rice dishes One-pot meals Vegan Gluten-free Dairy-free

Total35 min

Prep15 min

Cook20 min

Serves4

Per serving668 cal

Spicemild

You’ll need: Pressure Cooker

Good for: Lunchbox, Party

Cook along

4 steps, each one filmed

A short video for every step, so your hands never have to leave the pan.

Start cooking

Channa pulao of basmati rice with whole spices and pressure-cooked chickpeas, simmered covered. Mild, serves 4, 35 minutes plus soaking, step-by-step video.

100% would make this again11 cooks

Ingredients

19 items

Cooking for4 servings

WaterAs needed
Chickpea (Chana), Soaked1 cup
Salt1.25 tsp
Sunflower Oil3 tbsp
Fennel Seeds½ tsp
Cumin½ tsp
Cinnamon1 inch
Green Cardamom4
Cloves4
Bay Leaves2
Star Anise1
Onion, Slices1
Coriander Leaves, Finely Chopped1.5 tbsp
Ginger Garlic Paste1 tbsp
Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder1 tsp
Turmeric Powder½ tsp
Basmati Rice, Soaked2 cup
Water2 cup
Garam Masala Powder1 tsp

Nutrition

One serving, and the whole batch of 4. Worked out from the ingredients, so treat it as a close guide.

Nutrient	Per serving	All 4
Energy	668kcal	2672kcal
Protein	19g	76g
Carbohydrate	119g	477g
Fat	16g	66g
Fibre	16g	65g
Sugar	3.4g	14g

Cookd masalas for chickpea (chana)

Method

1
In a pressure cooker add the soaked channa along with water and salt. Pressure cook for 3 whistles and set aside.
WaterChickpea (Chana)Salt
2
In a pot pour oil and add all the whole garam masalas, once aromatic add the sliced onions and saute until the onions turn translucent, add the chilli powder and turmeric powder.
Sunflower OilFennel SeedsCuminCinnamonGreen CardamomClovesBay LeavesStar AniseOnionCoriander LeavesGinger Garlic PasteKashmiri Red Chilli PowderTurmeric Powder
3
Add the soaked rice and saute gently for 30 seconds and pour water and bring it to a boil.
SaltBasmati RiceWater
4
Add the drained channa and add it on top of the rice, sprinkle garam masala on top and cover. Cook for 12 minutes on a simmer, once cooked garnish with coriander leaves and serve.
Garam Masala Powder

Before you start

How long does Channa Pulao take?: 35 minutes from start to finish. That is 15 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking.
How many people does Channa Pulao serve?: 4. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.
Is Channa Pulao vegetarian?: Yes. No meat, no fish and no egg.
Is Channa Pulao spicy?: It is mild: 1 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.
What do I need to make Channa Pulao?: 1 cup Chickpea (Chana), 2 cup Basmati Rice, 4 Green Cardamom, 4 Cloves, 2 Bay Leaves, 1 Star Anise, and a few more listed on this page.
Do I need a pressure cooker for Channa Pulao?: Yes, this one is cooked under pressure.
How many calories are in Channa Pulao?: About 668 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Tips from other cooks

5 notes

C
Chris NoelJuly 2023
nice recipe. used black Channa instead and still tasted good.
C
A Cookd cookJune 2023
awesome recipie
S
SindhuMay 2025
can you add instructions for cooking the rice in pressure cooker instead of simmer in a pot?
L
Lavania KrisFebruary 2024
loved it!
L
Lavania KrisFebruary 2024
loved it!