There’s something enchanted about plain Indian food. Not the restaurant-style, excessively spiced kind — but the food that is lovingly stirred, calmly cooked, and made with peaceful energy. That’s precisely what Satvik Chole Chawal is all about.

This isn’t a meal. It’s comfort, bite by bite. It’s what you create when you want to feed your body and your soul. No onion, no garlic, no strong spices — only clean, pure, honest food, the kind that leaves you feeling calm after consuming it. Let’s get into this humble and deeply fulfilling meal.

What Is Satvik Food, Really?

Satvik in Indian culture is food that is fresh, pure, and cooked with a clear heart and peaceful mind. It not only sustains the body but also aids clarity, peace, and spiritual expansion. Satvik food does not include onion, garlic, synthetic masalas, and greasy fried foods. Rather, it inclines toward natural spices, pure oils, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a sense of thankfulness.

Chole Chawal, when made satvik-style, becomes a wholesome, grounding, and soul-soothing meal. Chickpeas (chole) are full of protein and strength, while rice (chawal) brings lightness and ease of digestion. It’s the perfect balance — strength and surrender on a plate.

Ingredients – All from Your Regular Kitchen:-

We’ll keep it minimal and natural. No powders from a packet. No onion, no garlic — just the real stuff.

✴ For Chole (Chickpea Curry):

1 cup white kabuli chana (chickpeas)

2 medium tomatoes, chopped finely or pureed

1 green chili, slit or chopped (optional)

1 inch ginger, crushed or grated

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp cumin (jeera) powder

Rock salt (sendha namak) or regular salt, according to taste

A pinch of hing (optional, for those who use it)

1 tbsp cold-pressed oil or desi cow ghee

Water as required

Fresh coriander leaves, for garnish

✴ For Steamed Rice:

1 cup basmati rice (or whatever variety you like)

2 cups water

Salt to taste

1 tsp ghee

Cooking with a Calm Heart😚❤:-

One of the largest components of satvik cooking isn’t the ingredients — it’s the attitude. You start the process not in a rush or in rage, but mindful. Light some incense if you want, play some gentle bhajans in the background, and start.

Step-by-Step Satvik Chole:-

✅ Step 1: Soak and Boil the Chickpeas

Soak 1 cup of white chickpeas in sufficient water overnight (or at least 6–8 hours in advance). They’ll puff up perfectly by morning.

After soaking:

Drain, rinse, and put into a pressure cooker with around 2.5–3 cups of water and a pinch of rock salt.

Pressure cook for 4–5 whistles till they’re soft but not mushy.

Keep aside. Don’t discard the water — it has taste and would be utilized for the curry.

Tip: In case you desire darker chole, drop a tea bag into the cooker while boiling — but we avoid such additions traditionally in satvik cuisine. So naturally golden chole are simply ideal.

✅ Step 2: Make the Chole Curry:-

Now begins the soul of the dish.

1. Heat oil or ghee in a pan.
2. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle.
3. Add a pinch of hing (optional) and add crushed ginger and green chili instantly. Sauté for a few seconds.
4. Add the chopped or pureed tomatoes. Cook them gently till they soften and the oil starts to release.
5. Add turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder, and a pinch more of salt. Mix well and allow this masala to cook for 3–4 minutes.
6. Now add the boiled chana with its water. Mix all together well.
7. Allow it to simmer open for 10–12 minutes on low heat. The gravy will start to thicken naturally.
8. If desired, mash a few chickpeas with the ladle’s back to thicken it further.

Let this cook on low heat. As it cooks, the kitchen is filled with a warm, delicious smell that feels like home.

Step-by-Step Satvik Chawal (Rice):-

Rice, in its simplicity, makes the chole whole. Warm, soft grains that taste of the curry so perfectly.

1. Rinse the rice well and soak it for around 15–20 minutes.
2. Boil 2 cups of water in a pan. Put a pinch of salt and 1 tsp ghee.
3. Add the drained rice. Cook open one medium heat until 90% of the water gets absorbed.
4. Reduce flame, cover with a lid, and cook for a further 5 minutes.
5. Turn off the stove and keep it resting. The rice will fluff out so nicely.

🍛Now Let’s Serve:-

Now put it all together:

Serve a generous helping of hot rice on a deep plate or thali.

Add a ladle or two of the chole alongside or over the rice — your choice.

Garnish with fresh coriander chopped and a squeeze of lemon.

Serve with a papad, a small homemade pickle, or a bowl of curd if preferred.

And that’s it — Satvik Chole Chawal is ready. No fuss, no stress, just soulful satisfaction.

☮Why This Meal Feels So Peaceful

No onion, no garlic – It keeps the body light and the mind calm.

Balanced flavors – Subtle, not overwhelming, and easier to digest.

Naturally nutritious – Protein from chickpeas, energy from rice.

Spiritually aligned – Perfect for fasting days, Ekadashi, or when you’re seeking peace.

💡Tips for Deeper Satvik Cooking

Cook in advance, preferably in sunlight.

Chant mantras verbally or in mind while cooking ‘it sanctifies the food’.

Ensure the kitchen area is clean, peaceful, and uncluttered.

Do not reheat multiple times. Serve hot and fresh.

Provide a small quantity of food as naivedyam (prasad) prior to consumption.

🤔Final Thoughts :-

Satvik Chole Chawal’s not about impressing anyone. It’s about going back to where you came from. It brings you back to the reality that the most wholesome food is usually the one prepared without rush, without chaos, without extravagance — just food, cooked with love.

So the next time your soul aches for something warm, earthy, and grounding — don’t grab junk. Soak some chola and ready to make.
Hare krishna ✨