After 30+ years of cooking, I’m starting to converge on a basic recipe of Chole .. Soak a cup of dry Chole for 5-6 hours. Drain the water and add fresh water. Add a pinch of salt, 4-5 dry Awla, one bay leaf and boil for 4-5 whistles in a pressure cooker. Boil 2-3 small potatoes along with the Chole. Once cooled, mash some of the chole. Onion base - oil, onion, ginger, garlic, tomato, turmeric, red chilli powder and coriander powder. I keep this ready in the fridge. Chole masala - dry roast - 11/2 tbsp coriander seeds, 4 black cardamom, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tsp cumin, 4-5 green cardamom, 1/4 tsp ajwain, 6-7 cloves, 1 mace, 1/4 tsp hing, 2 kashmiri red chillies for 2-3 mins. Add 1 tbsp each of dry anardana, and kasuri methi and some salt and roast another minute. Grind to a fine powder and store in a container. Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds, about 1/2 cup onion masala, add about a tablespoon of Chole masala, sauté for a few seconds. Add about 1/2 cup yoghurt and let it cook.