This easy chana chaat recipe is my aunt’s recipe – Chachi what we call in Pakistan. I love recipes that are easy but yield a great and authentic taste. Chana Chaat is a staple street food in Pakistan and let’s say one of the healthiest one because of the main ingredient Chanay/Cholay/Kabuli chanay/Chickpeas.
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What are the ingredients in Chana Chaat
The main ingredient in Chana Chaat is boiled chickpeas.
You can use canned or bottled once, make sure that you rinse it out thoroughly as it has lot of salt added as a preservative.
I like to boil my own chickpeas by soaking them overnight or 8 hours with a pinch of baking soda. Next day you with pressure cook for 20 minutes (after the whistle) or 3 whistles (indian pressure cooker) or use instant pot. I like to leave some water which can be used in this dish or to make hummus.
Other ingredients are Tamarind for that sourness and tanginess, salt and sugar for sweet and salty flavor, roasted and crushed coriander and cumin seeds, crushed red chili flakes for spice.
To garnish – finely chopped red onions, tomatoes, boiled and cubed potatoes, green coriander and mint leaves and green chilies.
FAQs
Substitutions and Variations
You can use black chickpeas or red kidney beans in place of chickpeas.
You can top with other vegetables like boiled, cubed potatoes and cucumber.
If you do not have tamarind at hand, skip during cooking and top with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice when it is ready.
Serving Suggestions
I love love chana chaat and is just so satisfying for my desi tastebuds and what more if its guilt free.
However to make a perfect typical street style chana papdi chaat, serve it with dahi phulki and papdi and you won’t look back.
Storage and Make Ahead
You can make this recipe upto a day ahead and keep in fridge. Garnishing however should be done when serving.
Chickpeas can be boiled and frozen in portions to be used in various recipe for up to a month.
Recipe
Yield: 1 medium bowl
Chana Chaat Recipe
This easy chana chaat recipe is my aunt’s recipe – Chachi what we call in Pakistan. I love recipes that are easy but yield a great and authentic taste. Chana Chaat is a staple street food in Pakistan and let’s say one of the healthiest one because of the main ingredient Chanay/Cholay/Kabuli chanay/Chickpeas.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Additional Time
20 minutes
Total Time
1 hour
Ingredients
- 1 cup Chanay/Cholay/Chickpeas, boiled
- 1 cup water or reserved boiled chickpeas water
- 4-5 tablespoon Tamarind paste*
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, lightly roasted
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, lightly roasted
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- red onion, tomato, green chilies, coriander leaves, mint, finely chopped, optional, according to requirement
Instructions
- Place boiled chickpeas along with water, salt, sugar, red chili flakes, crushed coriander and cumin seeds, tamarind paste in a sauce pan.
- Brin it to boil and then lower the heat and cook for about 20 minutes, covered until 80% of the water has evaporated.
- Cool slightly and then garnish.
Notes
* take a small piece of tamarind approximately 25 grams and soak in 1/2 cup water for 30 minutes, squeeze out all the seeds, and use the water/paste
Recipe Name
Chana Chaat Recipe
Author Name
Nadia
Published On
Preparation Time
Cook Time
Total Time
