Creative Add-Ons for Your Chole Bhature Plate
One of the most beloved dishes in North Indian cuisine, chole bhature, is popular for its bold and rich flavors. A bite of the spicy chickpeas with soft, deep-fried bhature will certainly activate your taste buds. If you want a more satiating experience, you must add some side dishes to your chole bhature. The side dishes will only take the entire meal to new heights. Are you ready to try your next plate of chole bhature with some side dishes? If so, then here is a detailed guide to some excellent options that go perfectly with chole bhature.
Tangy and Refreshing Sides
Since chole bhature is known for its robust, spicy flavors, pairing it with sides that give you a tangy contrast can only enhance the overall meal.
Pickled Vegetables
You will find Indian pickles used as a staple accompaniment in several types of meals. Whether it is mango pickle, lemon pickle, or even mixed vegetable pickle, they add a sharp and tangy punch that goes perfectly with the richness of chole. In fact, the heaviness of the bhature decreases because of the acidity of the pickle. Ultimately, it balances the meal and makes it more enjoyable. Pickles also add texture, with their crunchy vegetables or fruits, which provide a pleasing contrast to the softness of the bhature.
Lemon Slices and Onion Rings
Slices of lemon and onion rings make simple yet effective sides. To make them taste even better, you can sprinkle a bit of chaat masala on them. The sharpness of raw onions combined with the tanginess of lemon adds an invigorating zest that contrasts beautifully with the spiced chole. This combination is quite popular and you will usually be served with these sides alongside chole bhature in Indian households as well as restaurants. The combination simply refreshes the palate with each bite.
Cooling Yogurt-Based Accompaniments
Chole is spicy and to balance the taste, a cooling side dish is what we all need, isn’t it?
Raita
Raita is made out of yogurt and typically includes diced onion, cucumber, tomato, and some spices like cumin and coriander. Since it has yogurt, it has a cooling effect, which helps in tempering the heat from the chole. There are various types of raita, such as mint raita, boondi raita, only onion raita, plain raita, etc. You can choose the one that suits your taste.
Dahi Bhalla
Made from fried lentils, bhallas are soaked in thick yogurt and topped with tangy chutneys. You will absolutely love it if you find your chole on the spicier side. Although, it will surely balance the meal, both of these dishes may feel a bit heavy once you consume them. Therefore, you can control the portion size of either chole bhature or dahi bhalle.
Crunchy and Crispy Sides
If you are fond of a good crunch, the following side dishes can surely add an exciting element to your delicious chole bhature meal.
Papadum
Papadum is a thin, crispy cracker-like dish made from lentils, rice, or chickpea flour. Since papadum are salty, they help balance out the spice chickpeas. It is also an easy and light snack that adds a pleasant crunch without even overpowering the meal.
Aloo Tikki
Aloo tikki is a type of fried potato patty that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Its flavour is spicy and savoury; hence, makes a finger-licking addition to the meal. You can also have it plain or add some chutneys to get an added flavour.
Flavourful Drinks
A rich meal like chole bhature often calls for a refreshing beverage to balance out the flavours and refresh your palate.
Lassi
Lassi is a traditional drink made out of yogurt. If you ever want to have some kind of beverage to accompany chole bhature, you must go for a tall glass of lassi. You can either choose its sweet or salted version. This drink provides a cooling effect which ultimately helps in lessening the effect of the spiciness of chole. Apart from the taste, lassi also helps in the digestion process because of the probiotics in the drink.
Masala Chai
Masala chai is one of the most sought-after beverages that pairs well with chole bhature, especially if it is the winter season. This tea is called masala chai because of the spices like ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon, added to it. This beverage adds more comfort to the meal and makes it perfect for a hearty brunch or dinner.
Bottom line!
With so many tempting side dishes to complement your chole bhature, the only thing left is to pick the perfect spot to indulge. If you are not sure where to go for the tastiest chole bhature experience, look no further than the iconic Sita Ram Diwan Chand. Known for serving some of the best chole bhature in town, this is where your search for the ultimate plate ends. So, gather your appetite and head over for a meal that truly satisfies you.