Chaat is a savory snack that makes everyone’s mouth water. Anyone who has grown up in India knows exactly what I mean! There’s not just one type of chaat, but an array of them with different ingredients. What is common across all types of chaat is the explosion of flavors in every bite—spicy and tangy, sweet and salty, along with some crunch and nutrition. And that’s exactly what you are going to get with this Dahi Aloo Chana Chaat!
Dahi Aloo Chana Chaat is a popular roadside fast food in India and its neighboring countries. It comprises boiled potatoes and chickpeas tossed with sliced onions, tomatoes, cucumber, and green chili peppers, then liberally doused with flavorings and chutneys. I am always conflicted about whether to consider it a salad or chaat. My guess is that if you skip the chutneys, it can easily pass as a salad. Mine actually look more like salad than a street style chaat 🙂 Sounds too good to be true? Why don’t you give it a try yourself? I made this for a weekend snack, but it ended up being our dinner!
Chaat is very simple to make at home. Here are a few tips for getting the Dahi Aloo Chana Chaat right. So that whenever needed you can quickly assemble it.
Chickpeas – The easiest and my personal preferred method is to use canned Chickpeas. If you want, you can boil beige or black chickpeas from scratch using a pressure cooker or a regular pot.
Potatoes – The potatoes used should be boiled and soft but not mushy.
Chutneys – Chutneys are key to enhancing flavor in chaat. Making them fresh is essential. Green chutney adds a vibrant, herby flavor with a spicy kick, while sweet tamarind chutney brings a delightful sweetness and tanginess (chatpata). The preparation is simple, and they can be stored in the fridge for weeks; sweet tamarind chutney can last even months!
Spices – In addition to salt and red chili powder, you’ll need chaat masala and roasted cumin powder. Chaat masala adds a unique zing, while roasted cumin powder lends a warm, smoky earthiness.
You can find chaat masala powder in most South Asian grocery stores. If you do not have a local South Asian supermarket, purchase chaat masala on Amazon or make your own at home. You can check my recipe here.
Papdi – Papdi are crisp, fried dough bites made from plain flour. They add crunch and make the chaat more filling. For a gluten-free option, you can make them with gluten-free flour or simply use corn chips, which is my go-to.
Yogurt – Always use plain, homemade yogurt—avoid sour varieties. Whip it for a smooth texture. If using Greek yogurt, thin it with a bit of water for easy drizzling. Some people add sugar, but I find it unnecessary since the sweet tamarind chutney balances the flavors perfectly.
Fresh Ingredients – My favorites include tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, fresh coriander/cilantro, and green chilies. A squeeze of lemon juice at the end is the perfect finishing touch. Tomatoes are optional, but when I include them in Dahi Chana Chaat, I scrape out the seeds and liquid to prevent sogginess.
Now grab all the ingredients because you are ready to make this flavorful and delightful Dahi Aloo Chana Chaat at home. I am sure you and your family will enjoy it. This delightful Dahi Chana Chaat recipe is perfect for potlucks, kitty parties and all kinds of family gatherings.
Ingredients
- Use the proportions below as a guide. If you have more of one thing than the other, no worries!
- 400g x 2 chickpeas tins (drained and rinsed)
- 2 cups boiled potato, diced
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 tomato, scrape out the inside part
- 2-3 tbsp green (mint and cilantro) chutney
- 1-2 cucumber, diced
- 2-3 tbsp sweet tamarind chutney
- 1 1/2 tsp chaat masala
- 3/4 tsp cumin powder
- Cilantro, finely chopped as required
- 2 cups whipped homemade yogurt (You can use less)
- GF round Tostitos or GF Papadi as required
Instructions
- Take boiled chickpeas in a large bowl.
- Add diced boiled potato, tomatoes (make sure you scrape out the seeds and juices), cucumber, sliced red onion, green chilies (reserve some of the veggies for garnish).
- Next sprinkle 1 tsp chaat masala, 1/2 tsp cumin powder, 2 tbsp sweet tamarind chutney, 2 tbsp green chutney.
- Pour whipped yogurt on top in a stream. Mix well.
- Then garnish with cilantro, crumbled GF round Tostitos, onion, chickpeas, cucumber, spices (chaat masala, red chili powder, salt, cumin powder) on top along with chutneys. Serve immediately after assembly.
angiesrecipes
I was going to say that looks like a healthy salad 🙂
Judee
Balvinder, I love the idea of potatoes and chickpeas in a salad. Sounds wonderful. I’ll give it a try..
Tandy | Lavender and Lime
This looks so inviting!