Chaat is a common snack meal in India, particularly famous & nearly staple in the northern part of the country. It is a traditional street cuisine that is consumed as an afternoon or evening snack.
There are numerous varieties of chaat, each having a special fusion of flavours and ingredients, from spicy to sweet & tangy.
It has become more and more well-liked recently, and you can now find it on the menus of Indian restaurants and at street food markets all over the world. It is frequently served in small servings, making it a fantastic choice for sharing or for experiencing a range of flavours all at once.
Here are some of the recipes that you can easily whip in seconds & enjoy with your evening tea!
1. Aloo Chaat:
If you’re a potato lover, you’ll surely love this one and it is the easiest to make too!
Ingredients:
- 2 boiled potatoes
- 1/2 cup of chopped onions
- 1/4 cup of tamarind sauce
- 1/4 cup of mint chutney
- 1/2 cup plain yoghurt
- 1 tsp chaat masala
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- Salt to taste
- Oil for cooking
Instructions:
- Mix the chopped onion, chaat masala, cumin powder, red chilli powder, and salt with the boiled potatoes cut into cubes.
- Fry the potato mixture in hot oil until it is brown and crunchy.
- Drain off any extra oil and put the food on a serving dish.
- Add the tamarind chutney, mint chutney, and plain yoghurt on top & sprinkle sev, or pomegranate seeds for the extra crunch.
- Take your spoons and dig in!
Note: You can add a variety of sauces & veggies to your liking.
2. Chana Chaat:
If you’re health conscious and looking for a snack for your tea-time, then the Chickpeas (Chana) Chaat is the best choice!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups boiled chickpeas
- 1 small onion, diced finely
- 1 small tomato, cut finely
- 1 small green chilli, chopped finely
- ¼ cup tamarind chutney
- ¼ cup mint chutney
- 50 mL of plain yoghurt
- 1 teaspoon of Chaat masala
- Salt as desired
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped onion, tomato, and green chilli with the boiled chickpeas.
- Sprinkle in the salt and chaat masala, & mix well.
- Place the chickpea mixture on a plate/bowl for serving.
- Over the prepared mixture, drizzle plain yoghurt, mint chutney, and tamarind chutney.
- Serve right away and enjoy!
Note: You can modify the ratio of chutneys to spices and add extras like coriander, cucumber, or boiled potatoes to suit your preferences.
3. Papdi Chaat:
With it’s a crunchiness & tangy flavour, Papdi Chaat is the only go to option you need, to spice up a boring day!
Ingredients:
- 20-25 Papdis,
- 2 boiled potatoes,
- ½ cup boiled chickpeas,
- An onion,
- A tomato,
- Coriander,
- 2 tablespoons mint chutney
- 2 tablespoons tamarind chutney
- ½ teaspoon of chaat masala
- Sev, and lemon wedges for seasoning.
Instructions:
- Place the papdi(s) on a platter, and set aside.
- Combine the potatoes, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, coriander, chaat masala, and salt in a bowl and mix well.
- Transfer this mixture on top of the papdis, in the platter.
- Dress the dish with tamarind & mint chutney, and sprinkle the sev on top.
- Serve with the lemons on side & savour your dish!
Note: Plain yoghurt can be added to your liking.
4. Paneer Tikka Chaat:
A fusion of the spicy grilled paneer & tangy chaat, this dish is an ultimate starter & can be served at your parties!
Ingredients:
- 200 grammes paneer
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- ¼ cup chopped coriander
- 2 tablespoons mint chutney
- 2 tablespoons tamarind chutney
- ½ teaspoon of chaat masala
- Salt
- 1 tablespoon of oil
Instructions:
- Add the cubes of paneer in a lightly greased pan and grill until golden brown.
- In a bowl, toss the grilled paneer with onions, tomatoes, coriander, chaat masala, and salt.
- Mix in some tamarind & mint chutney.
- Put the mixture on a dish & serve immediately!
Chaat is an internationally acclaimed Indian street meal & its popularity stems from its distinct blend of crunchy textures, tangy flavours, and aromatic spices. It is of different kind, from the traditional aloo chaat to the more exotic paneer tikka chaat; one to everyone’s taste!
Give it a shot the next time you’re in need of a tasty and filling snack with your tea or at your party, and let the flavours work their magic!