Taste a good chaat, and you will soon know why it is not forgotten. Chaat is a jumble of flavors and textures. It’s sweet, spicy, tangy, crunchy, and quite wild in flavors. Ask an Indian about chaat, and you will see their face light up. It just does that. Chaat is traditionally eaten in between meals in India. It is just not like back home. There is something amiss in the authenticity of chaat we get here. I guess it’s because it has to be catered to people of different cultures.
I remember the chaatwala outside our college; he had a good number of fans around him. He served some good sev puri. We could not stop at just one! Sometimes, my cousin and I would walk 30 minutes just to eat kachori chaat from a chaat wala who only came in on Fridays. Chaat in hindi means ‘to lick’. It was that good. If I have to compare chaat to something here, I would say ‘pizza’. The varieties are enormous.
By no means is this the most traditional way to serve chaat. Chaat is normally drenched in spicy sauces with fried goodness on top. I have just tried to keep a little bit healthier. But still, this meal in one packs huge flavors and textures. It’s nice for a light snack with tea. You can entertain with it too. Put everything on a large platter, and friends could choose what they want to add on their plate and how much they want to add. The process of dates chutney is a long one, so here I’ve added some sugar to yogurt to make a dressing which works quite well too. You could use sweet chutney if you have some on hand.
- ½ cup cooked garbanzo beans
- ½ cup green mung beans sprouted
- 1 cup cooked russet potato cubed
- ½ cup grated carrots
- ½ cup diced cucumber
- 10 papdi(flat puris (can find in an Indian store)
- ¼ cup thin sev(you can find in any Indian grocery)
- ⅓ cup yogurt dressing
- Corinader-mint chutney
- ½ cup whipped yogurt
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp chaat masala
- ½ tsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp roasted cumin seeds powdered
- ¼ tsp salt or to taste
- ½ cup cilantro
- ½ cup mint leaves
- 3-4 green thai chillies
- ¼ tsp cumin seeds
- ½ lemon juice
- salt to taste
- Sev
- chopped cilantro
- onion
- tomato
- Mix all the ingredients for the yogurt dressing.
- Grind the ingredients to a semi fine paste for the Green Chutney.
- First arrange the puris on a platter and top everything over it.
- Pour the dressing and toss and mix well.
- Garnish with some onion, tomato, sev and cilantro.
Soak mung beans overnight. Drain all the water in the morning and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.. You will see tiny sprouts coming out. Use immediately.
You can steam them for 2 minutes if you do not want to eat it raw.
That sounds like a party of flavours! It looks very beautiful and appetizing.
Thanks Angie.
My face just lit up looking at the pictures..haha..so true..there’s something special about chaat and too the chaat that we get in India..it’s not the same here..it can never be… I wish I could eat this for lunch today! Yum!
Isn’t it, Indian chaat is so special. Thanks Manali.
Ash, this looks wonderful! I’ve never had (or heard) of chaat, and I feel like I’ve been missing out. The dressing and green chutney sound amazing….pinned! 🙂
Marcie, you’ve got to try it out sometime. It’s awesome. Thanks for the pin girl.
Love how you incorporated so many veggies – can’t wait to try this recipe tonight for Lohri!
Happy Lohri Kamna!! Thanks for stopping by.
White beans, carrots and mung beans?! You are speaking my language girl! I must try this chaat!
Give it a try, you will enjoy it.
This salad is like the Indian Cobb salad. It also looks fresh, nutritious and super delicious…
I had no idea that chaat means lick! haha =D
Seriously I hope I can pick up more hindi in the future, it’s getting embarrassing for me.
I like that your salad is a healthier version Ash and it would be a great little party side for festive days.
In case I haven’t mentioned it, the site looks great! And the pictures are a pleasure to see.
I was watching a show recently and they talked about chaat being sort of a snack/street food meaning just something tasty to eat? All I know is it sure looks tasty with that mixture of flavors and textures. It looks so healthy and inviting with the different colors and ingredients.
You are right – chaat’s here are just not the same! But Asha – I love how you made a chaat salad! Love all this combo of flavors and textures and colors – This is sure to please my tastebuds as much as it pleases my eyes!
Wow, that’s so flavorful! I love chaat, although I’ve never made it (just had it in restaurants). I need to do this — thanks!
I absolutely love chaat….I always keep them as a dish when we host borthday parties or for special ocassions!! This looks so so delicious!
My mouth is seriously watering! I love chaat, but I’m sad to say that ive never had authentic chaat from a chaatwala. My parents would never let me eat from the carts when we were visting India. I had it in restaurants in India but I wish I’d had the opportunity to eat the authentic ones! But I make it at home now so I get my fill.
This reminds me I have been craving it but haven’t made any in awhile.
It looks sooooo gooood!!
I’ve started cheating and buying my imli chutney from Whole Foods
Love chaat! Its one of my favorite street food indulgence, after sweets 😉
Sweets, I hear you.
I LOVE chaat!! That mix of flavors and textures…so good. This salad version is crazy awesome.
Thanks Joanne.<3
Damn delicious!!!
i’m feeling healthier and slimmer just by reading this salad recipe, lol
Lol..:)
Love chaats. My mouth is watering reading your post and seeing those gorgeous photos.
Thanks so much my dear. Means a lot.
I’ve never had a salad like your beautiful chaat—but I’m certainly am ready to jump on board and give it a try!
Try it out, you might like it. Thanks dear.
I love all of the different colors, veggies, and foods within this dish. I also love the simplicity and elegant way everything is placed too. Lovely!
Thanks my dear friend.
Oooh! I need a salad in my life that is healthy and also…sweet, spicy, tangy, crunchy, and quite wild! 🙂 Thanks ever so much for sharing this revamped recipe from your files, Ash. You ROCK! xo
this looks like such a great salad!
styleandchocolates.blogspot.com
Thanks.
Count me in! I love everything about chaat. Like your version and I am hungry for some chaat NOW!!
Thanks my dear.
What a stunning salad bowl, the presentation is simply stunning…I love the colors!