For us, the combination of aloo and chana is a brilliant combination for snacks and healthy appetizers! You must have come across the faithful aloo chana chaat at weddings and ceremonies with the chaat counter flooded with guests opting for their favorite kinds.
If you wish to have something healthy after coming back from work or your kids just got back home from the playground and you want to serve them something filling and yet healthy, and tasty, all combined in a single dish, then aloo chana chaat is a great option. Since you hardly need any expertise or time to cook them, we feel you should try them out soon.
What is aloo chana chaat
So basically you have to boil the chana, and the potatoes and then combine both with spices to create a smokey, tangy, and zesty flavor. White chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, and seasonings will create a wonderful burst of flavor in your mouth. And since there is potato in it as well, you can enjoy a hearty snack that is also quite filling and will keep you satiated till dinner. If you have some chickpeas left from brunch or something, you can always use them up this way.
Chickpeas can be boiled in bulk beforehand and then stored in the refrigerator! You can use them as and when you want. Also, if you wish to save some time, then you can even make the green and tamarind chutney beforehand and store it in the refrigerator for future use. The tamarind chutney remains fresh for up to two to three weeks while the green chutney remains fresh for about three to four days. You can coordinate the two and prepare a healthy and yummy chaat every evening.
Let us tell you, there is a scope for you to get experimental with your chana chaat recipe and turn it into a salad! Do not worry, it is no big deal! All you need are some chopped carrots to be tossed in, blanched French beans, maybe some beetroot, and even zucchini. Usually, we will ask you to skip the sev and the papdi if you are planning to convert to make a salad with the aloo and chana.
Sometimes you may be in a rush and will not have the time to prepare the chaat chutney! In that case, you should rely on the ground spices to make this one a delightful dish. It is up to you whether you wish to have the aloo chana chaat chilled or at room temperature because given to us, we would prefer both. However, if you are serving cold then use the sev and the papdi later on while serving.
Tips and general steps to make aloo chana chaat
So now let's get down to making aloo chana chaat at home. Honestly, it is pretty easy, all you need are a few simple steps to keep in mind, a quick assembly and it's ready!
Start with boiling the potatoes and the chana. Before you boil the chana, remember to wash them multiple times followed by soaking the chickpeas in water overnight. Soaking can be done for eight to nine hours and then you can get down to boiling them. On medium flame, an overnight soaked bowl of chickpeas will need about eleven to twelve minutes to soften and tender. Drain the water from the pressure cooker once it is done and then you can go ahead and allow the chickpeas to cool down at room temperature before you make the chaat.
When your chickpeas and potatoes are ready, let us begin to make the chaat! You can chop the boiled potatoes into thin and flat sections. Drizzle some salt and stir well so that the chickpeas and potatoes are evenly seasoned. If you are avoiding potatoes then you can skip it in your bowl but generally, kids, love potatoes in their chaat, so add it in their bowl.
Delicious and Easy Aloo Chana Chat Recipe - Perfect for Summer
Let us then add the red, green, and tamarind chutney to the bowl and once again give it a good stir. In case, you don't have the red chutney, simply sprinkle some red chili powder based on your tolerance level. Then into the bowl, add chopped onions, tomatoes, and maybe some cucumber as well. Your aloo chana chaat is ready. If you prefer curd then you can choose to add some whipped yogurt as well.
In the end, do not forget to garnish the chaat with chopped coriander leaves, chaat masala, cumin powder, and black salt. Give it a crunchy hint with crushed papdi and sev! Even roasted peanuts are great for topping the aloo chana chaat. If you like your chaat sour and zesty then a dash of lemon juice is all you need.