Chana Chaat

This recipe of chick pea and potato is a chaat that is famously known as chana aloo or channa batata in Mumbai. Chana chat on your dinner table can be a tangy appetiser or, best, an evening snack. In any case, this chaat recipe is a perfect alternative to eating from the street side, which is not a very healthy and hygienic option especially during the monsoons. So here is a recipe that can be served as a side dish, a starter, or simply for snack time. 🙂

20130225-223237.jpg

Ingredients:

  • 250 gm chickpeas (black chana) washed and soaked overnight.
  • 2 – 3 medium sized boiled potatoes
  • 3 – 4 tbsp oil.
  • Pinch of mustard seeds (rai)
  • 4 – 5 curry leaves
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • 2 tbsp of roasted and crushed spices ( whole red chili,cumin seeds and coriander seeds)
  • juice of one and half lime
  • 1/2 cup chopped coriander and mint leaves
  • 2 – 3 green chilies chopped
  • pinch of garam masala powder
  • Tomotoes, Onions and raw mangoes finely chopped (optional)

Method:

  1. After soaking the chickpeas overnight, boil them till tender in a pressure cooker for about half an hour. Drain and keep aside.
  2. Boil the potatoes, peel and chop them in small pieces, keep aside.
  3. Heat oil in a vessel, add the mustard seeds, curry leaves, cumin powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chili powder and the crushed spice mix.
  4. Stir fry the masala for a minute or two. Add in the chickpeas, potatoes, chopped coriander and mint leaves, lime juice, garam masala and mix well.
  5. Stir for a minute or two. Remove from heat and add in the chopped tomatoes, onions, along with raw mangoes.

Your chana aloo is now ready to dig in!