Soak 1 cup chana (170 g) in twice its volume in water for 8 hours, then put in a pressure cooker.
Add 2 tea bags, ¼ tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, and 3 cups (700 ml) water. If you do not have tea bags, make up some tea and add it to the cooker, this is done to replace the dark color from dried amlas or sour gooseberries which, when sundried, turn black.
Cover and pressure cook for 5 whistles.
Once the pressure is released, open the cooker and discard the tea bags. Set the channa aside.
In a large kadai, heat 2 tbsp oil, 1 bay leaf, 1 black cardamom, 2 pod cardamom, 1-inch cinnamon, 1 tsp cumin, and ½ tsp Kasuri methi. Sauté on low heat until the spices release their essential oils.
Now add 1 onion and 1 tsp ginger garlic paste and sauté until the onion turns golden brown.
Add ¼ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp coriander powder, ½ tsp cumin powder, ½ tsp garam masala, 1 tsp amchur or dry mango powder, and ¼ tsp salt.
Sauté on a low flame ensuring the spices don't burn.
Prepare a tomato purée by blending 2½ ripened tomatoes in a blender without any extra water. Deseed the tomatoes for a smoother texture.
Add 1½ cup (400g) tomato purée and cook covered on low heat until the oil splits and raises to the top of the curry. Now add the boiled chole and mix well. Adjust the consistency by adding water if required. If the curry is too thin, remove some of the cooked channa, mash it or blend it in a food processor and then blend it into the curry.
Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the chole has absorbed all the flavors.
To prepare the tempering, heat 1 tbsp ghee in a pan, add 2 dry red chilis, ¼ tsp turmeric, ¼ tsp chili powder, and ¼ tsp garam masala, allowing the masalas to bloom in the ghee.
Sauté on a low flame, without burning the spices.
Pour the tempering over the chole masala, add 2 tbsp coriander, and mix well.
Finally, serve the chole with the bhatura and enjoy with some sliced red onions.