Chana Chaat | Chickpea Chaat

August 28, 2022mayurisjikoni
Blog post

Recipe: Chana Chaat | Chickpea Chaat

Chana Chaat | Chickpea Chaat is a lip smacking, tasty, snack with  flavours that are sweet, salty and tangy all present in one dish. It is popular as street food, especially in North India. If you have cooked or boiled chickpeas, then this dish is very easy to put together. And best part is that it is a healthy snack as besides the sev nothing else is deep fried.

Is Chana Chaat | Chickpea Chaat  A Salad?

Not really, as for salads we either add a salad dressing or use only salt, pepper and lemon juice. Chana Chaat has many more flavours and ingredients added to it. But yes, you can enjoy this dish like a salad, a light meal or even serve it as a starter.

What Is A Chaat?

It is not pronounced as chat as in English but cha-aa-t.  Chaat derives from the Hindi word cāṭ चाट which means delicious, finger licking good.

Chaat is actually a whole branch of Indian Cuisine on its own. Variations of chaats are found all over India as it has no limits. For example bhel served in the streets of Mumbai is different from what you may have in Kolkata or Bangalore. Slight variations adds a whole new flavour.

Origin Of Chaat

It is believed that Chaats originate from some parts of the State of Uttar Pradesh in India. Dahi Vada or Bara has been mentioned in Sanskrit Encyclopedias but became popular as street food during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Basic chaat contains small crispy puri (deep fried flatbread) served with boiled potato, chopped onion, chutneys, chaat masala and yogurt.

Chana Chaat | Chickpea Chaat

Chana Chaat or Chickpea Chaat is what I like to prepare during the hot season. My kitchen gets too hot and I want to get out of it as quickly as possible. I usually have the basic green chutney and date tamarind chutney in stock in my freezer. Buy ready made thin sev (chickpea flour deep fried vermicelli like snack) and the dish comes together very quickly. Hubby and I love to have it as light lunch.

Summer time in Magog means picnic time. As the park is so near to my home, we often land up having dinner there… carry my picnic basket from home. One of the dishes that we both enjoy is Chana Chaat.

 

Sunday Funday

By the way, Sunday Funday is a group of Food Bloggers. Every Sunday we  share some fun, traditional, hearty or easy recipes to make Sunday Family Meals a bit more exciting. To join this fun group, visit the Sunday Funday Facebook Page. Request to join in.

 

Theme: Chickpeas

Chickpeas is what Stacy who blogs at Food Lust People Love chose as this week’s theme. Known also as chana, bengal gram, garbanzo beans, Stacy suggested that it should be the main ingredient. This theme is not difficult at all for any Indian Food Blogger as chickpeas, white or brown, chickpea flour, split chickpea lentils all are a vital part of the Indian Cuisine. Check out below how I use Chickpeas in my kitchen.

Some Chickpea, Chickpea Flour, Split Chickpea Recipes

CHICKPEA & QUINOA BURGERS
Chickpea & Quinoa Burgers are protein rich with delicious savoury flavours, healthy and filling too. Served with hummus, salad leaves, tomato, cucumber, onion and cheese, it is an excellent way to add vegetables to your family's diet.
Check out this recipe
CURRIED CHICKPEA STUFFED SWEET POTATOES
Curried Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes is a healthy, delicious, filling and easy to make healthy meal. Enjoy it for lunch or dinner and it is a perfect hot meal for the cold season.
Check out this recipe
KABULI CHANA BIRYANI/CHICKPEA BIRYANI
Most satisfying and filling meal which is not only aromatic but very flavourful and delicious.Ideal Sunday lunch meal.
Check out this recipe
VEGETARIAN CHICKPEA GYROS
Vegetarian Chickpea Gyros, so delicious, healthy and unbelievably easy to make at home from scratch. A great alternate for vegetarians, these Vegetarian Chickpea Gyros are filling and perfect for picnics, garden parties and as a main meal any time of the day.
Check out this recipe
MAGAS/CHICKPEA FLOUR FUDGE
Magas or Chickpea Flour Fudge is a delectable, Gujarati sweet that is usually prepared during festivals and weddings. Homemade Magas is so much better as you can add spices and nuts according to your choice.
Check out this recipe
MANGO AND CURRIED CHICKPEA SALAD
Check out this recipe
TAWA BREAD PAKORA
Tawa Bread Pakora is a healthier version of the famous deep fried bread pakora. Bread pakora is a snack where stuffing is added between two slices of bread, dipped in chickpea flour batter and deep fried.
Check out this recipe
TRINI DOUBLES
Trini Doubles is  famous street food in Trinidad and Tabago. Curried Chickpeas and a Chutney are served with double bread called Bara. 
Check out this recipe
BHINDA NI KADHI/OKRA YOGURT CURRY
A creamy, thick yogurt and chickpea flour based okra curry which is famous in the Gujarati Cuisine. Best enjoyed with some pearl millet flatbread or wheat flour flatbread.
Check out this recipe
MOONG DAL DHOKLA
Dhokla is a very famous Gujarati snack whereby a batter of rice and lentils is allowed to ferment before it is steamed. Its served as a snack on its own with chutneys or as a part of a full or thali meal. I've replaced the chana dal with moong dal.
Check out this recipe
MANGO SRIRACHA HUMMUS
Mango Sriracha Hummus is a slightly sweetish and spicy dip that is best enjoyed with vegetables, pita chips or crackers.
Check out this recipe

Brown Chickpea Curry

 

Check Out How Members Of Sunday Funday Have Used Chickpeas In Their Recipes

Ingredients Required For Chana Chaat | Chickpea Chaat

The ingredient list may seem long but these days it is easy to get the ready made chutneys, sev and chaat masala  in most Indian Stores or Online.

Chickpeas 

The star ingredient. Here I have used white chickpeas also known as Kabuli chana. You can use the brown/black ones too. Use canned or ones boiled at home. To boil them at home, soak them overnight in enough warm water. Next day drain out the water, wash the chickpeas and pressure cook them with some water and salt. I usually cook them in my Instant Pot on the pressure cook setting.

Potato 

Boil, peel and dice the potato/potatoes. Try with sweet potato.

Onion 

I prefer to use red but can use any you have in your pantry. Peel and chop finely.

Cucumber 

Optional. I use English cucumber which doesn’t need to be peeled. Dice it up nearly the same size as the potato ones. Can use beetroot, corn or carrot instead or with it.

Tomato

Another optional ingredient. Use any you have at home. Normal or baby ones. Chop it.

Mango

I like to use semi ripe mango as that adds a sweet and sour flavour. You can use fresh pomegranate, chopped green apple or grapes instead.

Roasted Peanuts

Optional. I feel it adds a bit of crunch. Can replace them with other roasted nuts like almonds, cashew nuts or roasted chickpeas.

Yogurt

Plain yogurt is best. Another optional ingredient. Hubby loves chana chaat without it and I love it with yogurt. For a vegan version omit the yogurt or use vegan yogurt.

Fresh Coriander/ Cilantro 

no chaat is complete without it.

Fresh Mint 

Optional. I add whenever I get fresh mint. Adds a lovely flavour.

Chutneys

Green Chutney – for homemade one follow this recipe. Ready made too is available in Indian Stores but I have not tasted it.

Date Tamarind Chutney – for homemade one follow this recipe. Ready made too is available in Indian Stores. It tends to be a bit too tangy for my taste but if need be, I add some brown sugar or jaggery to it.

Garlic Chutney – optional. for homemade one follow this recipe.

Chaat Masala 

Easily available in Indian Stores. If you don’t like the taste of black salt omit chaat masala. Instead sprinkle some cumin powder.

Salt 

Add according to your taste. Remember if you have boiled the chickpeas at home, it already has a bit of salt.

Red Chilli Powder 

Add according to your taste. Sometimes I don’t add as sometimes the green chutney and garlic chutney are hot.

Green Chillis 

Optional. Chopped. Add if you like hot food. I have not added any as the green chutney is quite hot.

Sev 

Sev is a popular Indian snack made from chickpea flour. The soft dough is pressed through a special machine into the hot oil. The machine produces thin noodle like strings. There are three sizes available, one that are thick, medium and thin. Usually for chaats the thin or medium one is used. Sev is easily in all Indian Stores and some supermarkets sell it too in the Indian grocery aisle. For homemade sev check out this recipe.

 

Watch How To Make Chana Chaat | Chickpea Chaat

 

CHANA CHAAT | CHICKPEA CHAAT

mayurisjikoni
Chana Chaat | Chickpea Chaat is a lip smacking, tasty, snack with  flavours that are sweet, salty and tangy all present in one dish. It is popular as street food, especially in North India.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Chaat, Light Meal, Snack, Starter
Cuisine Indian
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups chickpeas boiled
  • 1 cup potato boiled, peeled, diced
  • ½ cup cucumber diced
  • ½ cup tomato diced
  • ¼ cup onion finely chopped
  • ¼ cup semi ripe mango finely chopped
  • ¼ cup peanuts boiled or roasted
  • ½ cup yogurt optional
  • ¼ cup coriander finely chopped
  • 8-10 mint leaves chopped
  • ½ cup green chutney
  • ½ cup date tamarind chutney
  • 1 tsp chaat masala
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp red chilli powder
  • 1-2 green chillis finely chopped, optional
  • 2 tsp garlic chutney optional
  • ½ cup sev thin

Instructions
 

  • Use canned chickpeas or boil the raw ones.
  • To boil chickpeas, soak them overnight in warm water.
  • Next day drain out the water, wash the chickpeas.
  • Cook them in a saucepan with enough water and about ½ tsp salt. Alternately, pressure cook them for 3-4 whistles. If you use the IP, set it to the pressure cook mode.
  • Drain out the water from the cooked chickpeas.
  • Mix the chickpeas, potato, cucumber, tomato, onion, coriander, mint, peanuts, mango in a mixing bowl.
  • Add salt, chaat masala, green chillis if using any and the red chilli powder.
  • Mix well.
  • Divide the mixture between two bowls if you are having it as a light meal or in four bowls for starters.
  • Top the chaat with the sev and chutneys.
  • Add yogurt if using any.
  • Serve immediately as you want the crunch of the sev to remain.

Notes

  • If you want to serve the chaat as a starter, mix the chaat with all the ingredients except for the chutneys, yogurt and sev. Serve those on the side.
  • Adjust the spices according to your taste.
  • The basic chana chaat has chickpeas, potato and onion with the chutneys. Feel free to add any other ingredients of your choice.
Keyword Aloo Dahi Chaat recipe, chana chaat recipe, chickpea chaat, kabuli chana chaat

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16 Comments

  • Sneha Datar

    August 28, 2022 at 9:07 am

    We simply love chick peas, it is so versatile and this chaat is mouthwatering!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      August 28, 2022 at 11:55 pm

      Thanks Sneha, we too love chickpeas.

  • Wendy Klik

    August 28, 2022 at 8:25 pm

    That is a great looking bowl there. I love the flavors that are included in it

    1. mayurisjikoni

      August 28, 2022 at 11:55 pm

      Thank you so much Wendy.. love making it as it is easy, healthy and tasty too.

  • Renu

    August 31, 2022 at 10:54 am

    5 stars
    o la la…Super tempting chaat. I love chickpeas and I make a simple chaat, call me lazy :-). But if you give me this bowl, I would love to have it any time of the day. I like the addition of ripe mangoes here

    1. mayurisjikoni

      September 2, 2022 at 7:24 pm

      Thanks Renu, not lazy at all, it is taste with healthy ingredients. We enjoy it often for lunch.

  • Priya Vj

    September 1, 2022 at 10:03 am

    5 stars
    Channa chaat looks so delicious..I love yhe fact that kabuli channa is a versatile legume that can be used across cuisines and it never disappoints on the taste front . I often make this healthy chat/salad for sudden hunger pangs

    1. mayurisjikoni

      September 2, 2022 at 7:21 pm

      Thanks Priya. I always boil extra chana for dishes like this. Best part is one can add anything to it to make it into a healthy snack.

  • Jayashree T.Rao

    September 2, 2022 at 7:01 am

    5 stars
    Chaats are my weakness, I love them. This looks tasty, the addition of mango pieces gives a good taste to it.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      September 2, 2022 at 7:12 pm

      Thank you so much Jayashree, I have added semi ripe mango so yes it definitely adds a unique flavour to the chaat.

  • Seema Sriram

    September 3, 2022 at 7:32 am

    5 stars
    I keep cooked channa handy every week. This goes into curries, noodles, sandwiches and stirfry. In fact I hardly thought of keeping some for chaat. Surely from now on will reserve that portion too.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      September 3, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      Seema, I always do as it makes a healthy and delicious chaat option. Remember to keep some next time for this chaat recipe.

  • Preethicuisine

    September 13, 2022 at 7:03 am

    5 stars
    Chana chaat looks scrumptious. I too like to add semi ripe mangoes . Absolutely irresistible Chaat.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      September 14, 2022 at 1:03 pm

      Thanks Preethi and totally agree with you, adding semi ripe mango makes any chaat irresistible.

  • Kalyani

    September 14, 2022 at 1:29 am

    5 stars
    channa chaat is my absolute weakness and can indulge in in anytime ! I have a batch of cooked kala channa in the freezer, this is my meal for the weekend 🙂

    1. mayurisjikoni

      September 14, 2022 at 12:55 pm

      Thanks and enjoy your chana chaat during the weekend.

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