Simple and Easy Chana Chaat Recipe for a Flavorful Delight

Chana chat has been one of the most popular staples in birthday parties, tea parties, and, most importantly, on a Ramadan table. Also known as cholay, these beans are known by different names in different parts of the world and can be cooked in variations.

Chana chaat is one of the most favorite tangy delights that you can enjoy as a snack. Here, in this guide, you will learn to cook chana chaat, which will take you straight to enjoy the bustling street food of Pakistan.

So, are you ready to enjoy the goodness of chickpeas and the zestiness of tamarind, and other seasonings? Here is a guide to preparing quick and easy chana chaat to let the culinary magic happen:

What is chana chaat

Chana chaat is famous as a classic Pakistani street food that promises a perfect blend of spicy and tangy flavors and tastes delicious. However, it is not completely a Pakistani dish. It is a snack item that is enjoyed in India and Bangladesh at the same time.

Ingredients needed

Here are the very basic ingredients that you will need to prepare chana chaat:

Chickpeas: Chickpeas are the primary ingredient required to prepare chana chaat. Both canned and uncooked chickpeas can be used based on the time you wish to invest in cooking. Consider using canned chickpeas if the time is a constraint.
Tamarind chutney: This forms a tremendous seasoning base for adding that tangy flavor to the chana chaat.
Boiled potatoes
Vegetable garnish:Different vegetables like onions, tomatoes, cilantro, chilies, etc, are needed to garnish the chaat. You can add as many vegetables as you want to the chaat.
Crunchy sev:To add crunchiness to the chana chaat, you can use sev or crushed papdi as a topping.

Why would you love to feast on chana chaat?

Many reasons will make you fall in love with this super awesome recipe of Chickpeas chaat. But here we list down the most important ones:

Chana chaat is one of the easiest recipes that you can cook in no time. Also, you can prepare it in batches and refrigerate it and still find it fresh for use for 5 days. But make sure that you do not mix the vegetables and refrigerate.

Keep the chickpeas in the fridge separately without mixing any veggies in it. However, you can mix the tamarind chutney and chickpeas before refrigerating, but not the veggies. Instead, chop and mix the veggies when you are ready to serve or eat the chana chaat.

If you love eating spicy and tangy food, then this is one of the healthiest alternatives that you can enjoy to satisfy your cravings for tang.

Chickpeas are a good source of proteins and fiber and have low calories. Thus, it is needless to say about the health benefits this dish can offer.

It is a filling meal that can be prepared quickly. Especially, when you are using boiled chickpeas or canned chickpeas, the cooking time is further reduced. It is a delicious and healthy snack that can be prepared within twenty minutes.

You can always dry chickpeas instead of canned chickpeas. The only difference between them is that the preparation with dry chickpeas can be time-consuming as you need to soak and boil the chickpeas in water beforehand, which is not the case with canned chickpeas. So, it all depends on you which type of chickpeas you want to go with.

Topping ideas

Crushed papdi, made up by frying wheat flour wafers, can also be used as a topping for chana chat. But, this is not recommended if you want to make it a gluten-free diet.

To make your chaat cruchy, you can consider using sev. Sev is a garnishing item that is made of gram flour. Pumpkin seeds and sliced almonds can also be used as healthy alternatives.

You can also use whipped Greek yogurt seasoned with chilies and salt in the chaat. But make sure to add it before mixing the garnishing materials to the chaat.

Try out these topping ideas and get ready to serve and taste yummy chickpeas chaat made of your flavors and seasonings!

Steps to get started with the preparation

First things first, consider using canned chickpeas because it will save you time in the kitchen. Especially during hot and extreme weather conditions, people prefer spending less time in their cooking haven, and canned chickpeas are going to fulfill your wish as they are prewashed and cooked. So, there is nothing wrong with using a shortcut hack whenever and wherever possible.

To soften the canned chickpeas, you are required to heat them in tamarind chutney and water.

After rinsing and draining the chickpeas, add 1/4th cup of water to the chickpeas again to make it softer.

Mash and stir the chickpeas using the back of a wooden spoon.

Then, you need to add cubed and boiled potatoes to the mashed chickpeas and put it on low heat. Cover the pot and allow it to heat for a period of five to eight minutes.

Chop vegetables like onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and green chilies, etc that you wish to add to the chaat.

Add the amount of salt as per your taste when the mixture of potatoes and chickpeas is properly cooked.

Add all the chopped vegetables in the pot then, and top it with cilantro for the perfect seasoning hack.

Mix the vegetables well, garnish it and you are ready to serve this delicious chana chaat.

Frequently asked questions

Can black chickpeas be used instead of white chickpeas?

Yes, Black chickpeas are a good alternative to white chickpeas in many recipes but it takes a longer time to cook compared to white chickpeas.