692. Palak Pakodi Chaat

MEGA BLOGGING MARATHON -SEPT 2017
#80TH BLOGGING MARATHON
THEME: PROTEIN RICH DISHES
DAY:10
When one talks about a vegetarian protein rich diet, they think that our meals maybe very boring with just dals, sabjis and rice or rotis. For this Mega Blogging Marathon, I’ve tried to showcase basic protein rich ingredients that can be made into some exciting, delicious, tasty meals. When one talks about tasty meals or dish, the first thing that I can think of is chaats. Yes Chaats.
So, what are chaats? They are basically a mixture of basic ingredients made into a lip smacking, tasty dish with a melange of all tastes…sweet, sour, salty, chili and not so bitter. Right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, ( no please don’t start singing the song Kashmir main tu Kanyakumari, north south ki doori….), chaats are very popular. It is said that chaats originated in Uttar Pradesh and are now a very popular road side/ street food all over India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Bhel puri, pani puris, puchkkas, idli chaat, ragda patties, dabeli, vada pav, momo chaats are dishes you’ll find in every corner of India.
With such a variety of chaats, its only fair that I include a chaat recipe for this theme.
I made the normal pakodis with spinach for the added protein source. I must say the chaat was so tasty. So who says vegetable based proteins are boring? Come to think of it some of my most favorite snack dishes like dokhra, khandvi, fafda, pudlas, arvi paan, gotas all contain loads of chickpea flour which is rich in protein.
Protein sources in this recipe are chana dal (chickpea lentils), moong dal(moong lentils), spinach, yogurt, sev
By no means am I claiming or supporting any sort of fad diet that are the latest craze in the fitness world. I’m just trying to include non meat non fish dishes from which you can get your protein source.
Another point to note when one is taking part in a Mega Marathon,not only is food the main topic for 2 months, thought in your brains are food related, you’re more often glued to the computer but also you sometimes tend to forget an ingredient when you do the photo shoots. As I was taking the photos for this dish, I knew I was forgetting something but just couldn’t remember to save my life! I took the photos, put back everything and waited for dinner time. Its when we sat down to enjoy the chaat that I realized that for the photos, sev was missing. I didn’t take additional photos as night photos turn out really bad but sev is very much a part of any chaat.
PALAK PAKODI CHAAT
Serves 4
For Palak Pakodis:
½ cup chana dal
½ cup moong dal
1 cup finely chopped spinach
1 tsp cumin seeds
1-2 green chillis finely chopped or ground into a paste
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp turmeric powder
¼ –½ cup water
a generous pinch of soda bicarbonate
For Serving:
2-3 cups plain yogurt
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp sugar
1 tsp cumin powder
½-1 tsp red chilli powder
½ cup green chutney
½ cup date tamarind chutney
1 cup thin sev
1 cup finely chopped onion
¼ cup sour passion fruit
½ cup fresh coriander chopped
oil for deep frying
Preparation of the pakodis:
- Put yogurt in a bowl.
- Add salt, sugar, cumin powder, red chilli powder.
- Whisk it till its smooth.
- Put 4-5 pakodis in small or medium bowls or a deep plate.
- Add yogurt on top.
- Add green and date tamarind chutneys
- Sprinkle some chopped onion, coriander and passion fruit pulp.
- Top with some sev and serve.
- I could not find pomegranate to add on top and therefore replaced it with passion fruit. I loved it as it added a bit of sourness whereas hubby didn’t like it.
- Left over pakodis can be enjoyed their own with some chutney.
- Add chopped green chillis on top if you prefer.
- Try and use as little water as possible to grind the dals. If the batter becomes too watery, you may not be able to fry pakodis as the mixture will disintegrate in the hot oil.
- If its too watery add some chickpea flour (besan).
Day 2 – Fruit and Nut Yogurt Parfait
Day 3 – Moong and Spinach Muthia
Day 4 – Paneer and Naan Bites
Day 5 – Veggie Shepherd’s Pie
Day 6 – Nectarine and French Bean Quinoa Salad
Day 7 – Tofu Wraps
Day 8 – Sai Bhaji
Day 9 – Veg Protein Burrito Bowl
Check out what other Mega Blogging Marathoners have made for Day 10:
https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js
Sending this recipe to the following event:
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 80
14 Comments
Srivalli
September 12, 2017 at 6:36 am
Wow I have never used this proportion for making pakodis..must try them as such as I get hold of palak!
Gayathri Kumar
September 12, 2017 at 7:34 am
I can totally relate to forgetting some ingredient during photo shoot. And for chat, it becomes too confusing as there are so many ingredients. Even without the sev, the chat look amazing. I can live on chats for months.
Kalyani
September 12, 2017 at 10:18 am
ah! please don't tempt me – such a yummy chaat ! great flavours in there…
Sowmya :)
September 12, 2017 at 11:38 am
That's a lovely protein twist to chaat. It looks fabulous!
P.S. I think that song is pretty catchy!
Sapana Behl
September 12, 2017 at 1:29 pm
I am just drooling over the palak pakodi chaat and it looks so addictive without the sev, so don't worry about that.
rajani
September 12, 2017 at 2:43 pm
What an idea Mayuri! Love this chaat and I am going to bookmark this.
Sharmila- The Happie Friends Potpourri corner
September 12, 2017 at 4:49 pm
Yummy chaat.. Street foods made in home are always healthy and yummy..
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan
September 12, 2017 at 9:12 pm
I completely agree. Till I completed all the recipes, my brain was thinking only about the recipes and the ingredients. To be honest, even without sev this is one lip-smacking chaat. Simply love it.
Archana Potdar
September 13, 2017 at 5:44 am
Mayuri my daughters will love this chat. I have always assumed that for pakodi chat the palak is to be dipped in batter and fried. And I have avoided it like plague. This is yummy. As for the sev I know what you mean I too keep forgetting especially the sev bit.
Anlet Prince – Annslittlecorner
September 13, 2017 at 4:26 pm
this chat is so fascnatic and looks exotic too.
vaishali sabnani
September 13, 2017 at 5:01 pm
I drool over chats ! They are my weakness and I am drooling over this one too . Excellent chat with pakodis.
Priya Suresh
September 15, 2017 at 9:36 am
Omg, dont torture me like this, chaat foods are my weakness and this palak pakodi chaat is killing me, what a fantastic alluring chaat.
Ruchi Indu
September 28, 2017 at 4:51 am
Most of my pics are taken in a hurry-burry. I can fully understand forgetting some ingredient during photo shoot. That chat is very inviting.
Padmajha PJ
October 6, 2017 at 9:02 am
For getting g a garnish during photo shoot has happened several times!! The chaat looks so delicious and I would love to have a bite!