Peanut and Fruit Salad/ Chaat

EVENT: PEANUT AND FRUIT SALAD /CHAAT #FANTASTICAL FOOD FIGHT
What is a Peanut and Fruit Chaat?
Trying to Eat Healthy
Fantastical Food Fight
Recently I joined this group called Fantastical Food Fight. I got tempted to join after I saw the absolutely tempting cookies made by Karen of Karen’s Kitchen Stories. After I oooooogled at the photos till I was drooling, she suggested that we should check out what other members of the group had made. I scrolled down and recipes had me salivating.
The Theme
Just when I joined, the theme for March happen to be PB&J (peanut butter and jelly).And I thought oh no here goes out the healthy eating… but as I read on further, Sarah Ellis (host of the group) mentioned that peanuts and fruit should be a part of the recipe. Phew!!!!!! I decided to make a super healthy peanut and fruit salad. Blessed with loads of tropical fruits here in Kenya, I used both mango and avocado, along with pomegranate to add a bit of tart taste. I soaked and cooked the peanuts with salt and turmeric powder.
Turmeric
As you all know, turmeric powder (haldi) is a must in any Indian’s spice box. Turmeric has been used for centuries in Indian cooking and also as medicine. I remember if any of us had a cut or bruises my mum would apply a paste of turmeric powder. If we had colds and coughs, warm water with turmeric and honey was our medicine. Want to more about turmeric and why it should be included in your daily diet, then without wasting much time, hop over to eMediHealth. I’m sure you’ll find the article very useful.
How to use Turmeric?
Almost all my side vegetables (shaak, sabji), curries and dals (lentil preparations) contain turmeric. Sometimes we add the powder to flatbreads too.
- Make a Turmeric Yogurt Salad Dressing
- Enjoy Turmeric Tea Latte/haldi ka doodh during the cold season as it not only helps to ward off colds and coughs but its also a comforting drink.
- Did you know you can include turmeric in your bread when you bake it? I made a Turmeric And Garlic Pull Apart Bread and it tasted delicious with soup.
- Include Turmeric in your snacks too. Turmeric Aniseed Rusks or Baked Turmeric Tostones.
- Recently, made Mango Sriracha Hummus and added turmeric to it.
Peanut and Fruit Salad/Chaat
As I mentioned above, Indian homes include turmeric in almost all their dishes. So why not enjoy it in a salad? That’s why I boiled the peanuts with turmeric powder added to it. If you get fresh turmeric then you may want to grate it and add it to the salad. 1 tsp of the grated turmeric should be enough. Coming to the salad or chaat, add fruits of your choice like berries, grapes, nectarine etc, for a different taste.If you’re allergic to peanuts replace them with chickpeas. Just adding lemon juice to it makes the salad oil free and refreshing.
Dietary Tips:
- Gluten free
- Vegan
- Satvik friendly as it has no garlic or onion
- Healthy
PEANUT AND FRUIT SALAD(CHAAT)
Serves 2 as a meal and 4 as a side dish
½ cup raw peanuts
1 medium tomato or 10-12 cherry tomatoes
1 small avocado
1 small ripe mango(ripe but firm)
½ cup pomegranate seeds (arils)
½ cup chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
¼ cup chopped fresh spring onion (scallion)
½ tsp pink salt or sea salt or normal table salt
¼ tsp cumin seed powder
¼ tsp chilli flakes
¼ tsp turmeric powder
2 tbsp lemon juice
- Soak the peanuts overnight in warm water.
- Next day drain out the water, wash the peanuts.
- Put the peanuts in a pan with enough water, ¼ tsp salt(from the measured salt) and turmeric powder. Cook the peanuts till done.( I used a pressure cooker and allowed the peanuts to cook till 1 whistle)
- Drain out the excess water and let the peanuts cool.
- In the meantime get the other ingredients ready. If you’re using a normal tomato, cut it into half and remove the pulp and seeds.Dice the tomato.
- Peel and dice the mango and avocado. Sprinkle a bit of lemon juice over the avocado.
- Put the peanuts, chopped fruits, chopped coriander and spring onion into a big serving bowl.
- Add remaining salt, chilli flakes, cumin powder and lemon juice.
- Mix the salad well. Serve as a light meal or as an accompaniment to a main meal. Super healthy and filling.
Tips:
- If you don’t like boiled peanuts, use roasted but boiled ones taste much better for this salad.
- If you’re allergic to peanuts, replace them with chickpeas.
- Use fruits of your choice.
- I haven’t used a dressing but you can add a dressing of your choice.
- For cumin powder, roast the cumin seeds in a pan over low heat, till you get a grassy aroma. Don’t burn them. Cool a bit and powder it in a herb mill or using a rolling pin or a mortar and pestle.
Avoid Kitchen Waste:
- Don’t throw away the turmeric water in which you boiled the peanuts. Save and it use up for soups, curries or dals (lentil curries)
- Don’t throw away the tomato seeds and pulp. Crush it and use it up in soups, curries or dals.
- Convert the rest of the waste into compost.
Pin for later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
Check out what other members have made for the PB&J theme:
23 Comments
Wendy Klik
March 15, 2017 at 1:42 pm
I love this salad. Thanks so much for sharing.
Amy (Savory Moments)
March 15, 2017 at 6:43 pm
This salad looks wonderful! Great idea for pb&j!
Karen Kerr
March 15, 2017 at 11:33 pm
That salad sounds so delicious! Such an original and healthy take on the theme! I'm so very, very happy you joined the group Mayuri =)
Alicia Brianne
March 16, 2017 at 2:04 am
Welcome to the group!!! Excited to see what you will be sharing in the months to come! This month you've blown me away with this super creative idea! YUM!
Amy CookingAdventures
March 16, 2017 at 3:12 am
Super creative! What a colorful salad!
Rafeeda AR
March 16, 2017 at 4:31 am
Oh… what a superb and delicious looking salad! I would eat that entire bowl of goodness… love salads like these…
Mayuri Patel
March 16, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Thank you Wendy.
Mayuri Patel
March 16, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Thank you Amy.
Mayuri Patel
March 16, 2017 at 5:38 pm
Thank you Karen, trying to make healthy versions of food this year. Thanks for the warm welcome.
Mayuri Patel
March 16, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Thank you Alicia, looking forward to the themes and being a part of this wonderful group.
Mayuri Patel
March 16, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Thank you Amy.
Mayuri Patel
March 16, 2017 at 5:41 pm
Its a great meal Rafeeda, try it.
Gloria Fernandes
March 17, 2017 at 8:34 am
healthy filling and yummy salad
Amrita
March 20, 2017 at 8:32 am
This looks seriously awesome!Yummy!
Mayuri Patel
March 20, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Thank you Gloria.
Mayuri Patel
March 20, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Thanks Amrita, try the salad, it is yummy.
Lauren Everson
March 23, 2017 at 5:38 am
I'm so glad someone went a savory route. Great recipe and welcome to the “fight”!
Mayuri Patel
March 23, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Thank you Lauren, my hubby and daughter didn't want me to make anything sweet.
sarah k @ the pajama chef
March 25, 2017 at 2:37 am
i love the sound of this salad! so creative!
Mayuri Patel
April 4, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Thank you Sarah.
Nayna Kanabar
May 5, 2017 at 9:09 pm
This chaat looks delicious and I love all the combination of ingredients.
Seema Doraiswamy Sriram
December 31, 2018 at 4:42 am
Since the love of peanuts ride high it is really excitibg to see this recipe. I am so tempted to try ot..will have to wait till i get back.
mayurisjikoni
January 2, 2019 at 10:16 pm
I love peanuts too..especially boiled so this salad or chaat is prepared often.