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Kala Chana Chaat

A healthy and nutritious addition to your Ramadan menu, be it for suhoor or iftaar.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Soaking time 8 hours
Servings: 4
Course: Salad, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams kala chana (brown chickpeas) (makes extra for freezing) see notes below
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 500 ml water
  • 1 medium red onion
  • 3 small sweet peppers (or 1 bell pepper)
  • 1 medium tomato
  • 1-2 green chilies (adjust to preferred spiciness)
  • 10 grams fresh coriander
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp chaat masala
  • 2-3 tsp green chutney
  • 2-3 Tbsp yogurt (skip for vegan or use vegan yogurt)

Equipment

  • Instant Pot or pressure cooker

Method
 

  1. Wash and soak brown chickpeas for overnight (about 8 hours).
  2. Darin the excess water from brown chickpeas and transfer to the instant pot. Add salt and water. Put the lid on and turn knob to sealing position. Set to pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. If you are cooking in a pressure cooker it will take about 35-40 minutes after the pressure builds up. In a standard stove top top, it will take more than an hour.
  3. Once the timer goes off, release pressure and open the lid. Take out half of the brown chickpeas along with the liquid. You can freeze the remaining half for later use. If you do not wish to make extra, reduce the brown chickpeas, salt and water quantity to half.
  4. Finely dice the onion, sweet peppers (or paprika) and tomato. Transfer then to a bowl and mix. Keep aside.
  5. Thinly slice the green chili and fresh coriander. Keep separate from other veggies.
  6. Heat a pot or skillet on medium heat. Add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and sliced green chili. Sauté for 2 minutes.
  7. Add the boiled brown chickpeas along with the liquid. Mix and sauté for about 2 minutes.
  8. Add half of the chopped onion, sweet peppers and tomatoes, reserving other half for later. Also add the chaat masala. Sauté for about 3 minutes.
  9. When most of the liquid has gone, switch off heat. Transfer to a serving bowl.
  10. Add the remaining half of the chopped veggies (reserved earlier), green chutney, yogurt and chopped coriander. Mix to combine. Serve.

Notes

  • If you want to make a smaller quantity, reduce the brown chickpeas, salt and water in half. Other ingredients will remain the same.
  • If you are making extra for freezing, store it in an airtight container. It freezes well for up to 2 months.