What is inside
What is inside Chole Puri?
Chole Puri is spiced chickpea curry served with puffed, deep-fried bread. Here is what is inside it, layer by layer, and why each one is there.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 2 min read
Layers
5 in all
Key ingredient
Chickpeas
Heat
Medium
Served
Hot, with puffed bread
The 5 layers of Chole Puri
Chole Puri is built from 5 parts. They are listed in the order you meet them, and the numbers match the diagram.
The chole
Chickpeas simmered with onion, tomato, ginger, garlic and a spice blend until the gravy is thick and deep brown.
The masala base
Onion, tomato and spices cooked until the oil separates. This is what makes the gravy rich.
The puri
Small rounds of whole wheat dough rolled thin and deep-fried so they puff into hollow, golden balloons.
The raw onions
Sliced red onion, served on the side for crunch against the soft chickpeas.
Lemon and pickle
A wedge of lemon and a spoonful of pickle for tang.
01
What it is made of
Chole puri is two preparations on one plate. The curry cooks slowly until thick, and the bread is made at the last minute so it arrives puffed and hot.
- Chickpeas
- Onion and tomato
- Ginger and garlic
- Chole masala
- Whole wheat flour (atta)
- Oil for frying
- Lemon and onion for serving
02
How the layers work together
Earthy, tangy and warmly spiced curry with a slight sourness from dried mango powder or pomegranate seeds. The puri is soft with crisp edges, a little salty and neutral, so it lets the chole shine.
03
Where it comes from
Chole puri is closely tied to Punjab and North India, where chickpea curry with fried bread is a classic weekend breakfast and festival food. A similar dish, chole bhature, uses a larger bread made from refined flour.
04
Variations and other names
Regional versions differ in the bread and the gravy:
- Chole bhature: the same chole with a larger, softer fried bread.
- Amritsari chole: darker and tangier, often cooked with tea leaves.
- Kulche chole: chole served with soft griddled bread.
- Chana masala: a simpler, home-style chickpea curry.
05
How to eat it
Tear a puri while it is still puffed, scoop up some chole, and add a piece of raw onion. Squeeze a little lemon on top, and finish with a bite of pickle.
06
Chole Puri at Tapri Chai
Chole Puri is $13.99 CAD on our menu. We make it in a 100% vegetarian kitchen at 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Barrhaven, Ottawa, open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm, closed Mondays.
Questions, answered.
What is Chole Puri made of?
Chole Puri is made of chickpeas, onion and tomato, ginger and garlic, chole masala, whole wheat flour (atta), oil for frying and lemon and onion for serving.
How many layers does Chole Puri have?
Traditionally 5: the chole, the masala base, the puri, the raw onions and lemon and pickle.
Is Chole Puri vegetarian?
Yes. The traditional recipe is vegetarian, and every dish at Tapri Chai is vegetarian.
Is Chole Puri spicy?
It is medium. The curry is warmly spiced and tangy, with heat that is easy to adjust.
Where can I try Chole Puri in Ottawa?
At Tapri Chai, 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Barrhaven, Ottawa. Chole Puri is $13.99 CAD on our menu.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.