Tag Archives: Chaats

Sprouted Moong chaat | Sev puri and Dahi puri

October 8, 2020 Healthy Cooking with Mitha Leave a comment

Welcoming my favourite chaat into my Chaat street page – Sev puri and Dahi puri. Since we don’t have any option of going out to enjoy chaats like before, I have learned to make them at home. Honestly, I am loving homemade ones more now as it turns so much tastier and I can customise it to make it healthy. These ones only have sprouts for filling instead of potatoes but still are loved a lot by my kids.

Children have this attraction to colourful unique looking foods and these puris are no less. They come running when I assemble them and can’t wait to gobble them down. My daughter is someone who can’t tolerate spice at all (she finds regular ketchup spicy sometimes and hates onion as she says it’s spicy too 😑😑), so her puris are only with moong filling, date chutney, yogurt mix, coriander leaves and bhujiya. Still she goes “oohh Ammaaaa. Yummmmmyyyyyy” over it. 😁

My two year old is a huge fan of onions and eats his with loads of onions and sprouted moong in it. Also a huge spice lover (who eats green chillies as it is from my upma and gives his best smile when I show shock on my face 😅), so green chutney too for him.

This is how my kids enjoy this chaat. Hope your kids enjoy it too. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

2 Cups Sprouted Green gram or Moong (check how to sprout moong here)

1 medium sized Onion, finely chopped

4 Tbsp finely chopped Coriander leaves

Coriander leaves – Mint chutney (as needed) *check notes

Dates Tamarind chutney (as needed) * check notes

1/4 Cup Yogurt or thick Curd (for dahi puri)

1 tsp Pani Puri masala or chaat masala

Salt to taste

Bhujiya or Sev (as needed)

Step by step recipe:

1. Pressure cook the sprouted moong with little salt and water enough to cover it for 2 whistles (depends on the cooking range) or till they turn soft.

2. Keep the coriander leaves – mint chutney ready (check recipe in notes). Also keep the dates Tamarind chutney ready.

3. Keep the finely chopped onions and coriander leaves ready. Also mix together yogurt with salt and Pani Puri masala or chaat masala together free from lumps.

4. I microwave the readymade papads and they puff up well. Check notes for more details. Bring all the ingredients together.

5. Make a hole with your fingers in each puri and add little boiled moong along with onions and coriander leaves.

6. Now add both coriander leaves chutney and Dates Tamarind chutney along with bhujiya for Sev puri. Add the Yogurt mix too for Dahi puri. Top with more bhujiya.

7. Serve immediately or else it will turn soggy.

Notes:

* You can check how to sprout moong here. I have added detailed step by step pictures there.

* For coriander leaves- mint chutney, grind together about 6 to 8 sprigs of coriander leaves with about 10 mint leaves and 3 green chillies with salt, Pani Puri masala / chaat masala and little water to a smooth paste. You can also refrigerate this and use when needed.

* I use Mother’s recipe brand of Dates Tamarind chutney. For making it at home, Soak about 6 to 8 dates for 30 mins in warm water and grind along with tamarind and salt to a smooth paste.

* For the puris, I have bought these ready to be fried puris long back (more than 2 years actually) and still they are good. I just microwave it on high for 1 minute and they are ready. No need to deep fry at all. You can get these readymade puris like papads in your grocery stores.

* You can add mashed potatoes too for filling but I add only boiled sprouted moong so that my kids eat more of the sprouts. In fact, this chaat is their favourite and they don’t realise they are eating sprouts as this is a unique way for them. (Mommy tricks 😁)

* You can check my Chaat Street page for chaats like Masala puri, Bhel puri, Charmbure Upkari and Paneer pav bhaji.

* Also, since my kids love dosas, I also make this Moong sprouts and Oats dosa for them which they love.

Chaat street, Snacks

Bhel puri chaat | The easiest chaat ever!

September 20, 2020 Healthy Cooking with Mitha Leave a comment

Apart from desserts, chaats are my favourite. I can never get tired of them and they are always my choice when we eat out. Here, we get amazing chaats in Kailash Parbat and their chaat platter is my favourite. ❤️

I must admit though that Bhel puri is not my favourite among chaats. It is my husband’s and kids’ favourite one. Mine is always Masala puri or Sev puri or Dahi puri (Craving for some now as I write this 😭😭😭😭).

But since bhel puri is hands down the easiest chaat ever, we usually make it for our evening snack. It’s not only easy to make but healthy and light on the tummy apart from being tasty too.

So I had to share this with all of you. A must try chaat if you love Bhel puris from outside. It’s super easy to make at home, trust me. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients: {Serves 2}

2 Cups Bhel/ Kurmura / Charmburo/ Puffed rice

1/4 Cup finely chopped Onion

1/4 Cup finely chopped Tomatoes

2 Tbsp finely chopped Coriander leaves

1/2 tsp Red chilli powder

Salt to taste {I use kaala namak or rock salt}

1/4 Cup Mint Coriander chutney (5 sprigs of coriander leaves, 3 Green chillies, 8 to 10 mint leaves, salt)

2 Tbsp Dates Tamarind chutney {I use Mother’s recipe brand readymade chutney} * check notes to make at home

1 Cup Alu bhujiya or Sev ( I use Haldirams brand )

1/2 Cup Mixture or Namkeen of your choice ( I use Bikaji brand)

Step by step recipe:

1. Dry roast the bhel till it turns crisp. Keep aside till use.

Note: This step is necessary so that the bhel does not turn soggy instantly when chutneys are mixed.

2. Take mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chillies and salt in the mixer.

*I used kaala namak or rock salt or pink salt and hence the c*olour.

3. Grind with little water to a smooth paste. Keep aside.

4. Now get everything ready. Shown below are:

* Finely chopped onions, tomato, coriander leaves, red chilli powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

* Dry roasted Bhel, alu bhujia, Namkeen in another bowl.

* Mint coriander chutney.

* Dates Tamarind chutney.

5. Mix everything well and serve immediately.

Notes:

* Bhel puri chaat has to be served immediately after mixing or it turns soggy. So get your family to sit down for the chaat time and then mix everything.

* The measurements for the green chutney gives 1/2 Cup of the green chutney. Use only how much is necessary as per your spice levels. Since I have to accommodate my kids’ tastebuds, I add only 1/4 Cup.

* Rest of the chutney can be refrigerated for use later. Lasts well for couple of days if handled well.

* I use Mother’s recipe brand of Dates Tamarind chutney. For making it at home, Soak about 6 to 8 dates for 30 mins in warm water and grind along with tamarind and salt to a smooth paste.

* You can add finely chopped green chillies too but I avoid as my kids find it spicy.

* You can check the Karnataka version of Bhel puri which we call Charmbure Upkari here.

* The masala puri chaat I make is very close to chaat stall ones. You can check the recipe here.

Chaat street, Curry house, Snacks

Masala Puri chaat

August 12, 2020 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 3 Comments

It is my son’s second birthday today (August 12th) and we are celebrating it since 10th. 10th because it was my husband’s off day from work (we did a small celebration at home), 11th as it was Janmashtami and I love dressing him up as Krishna. He is our little Kishan Kanhaiyya who brought flood along with him during the Kerala floods in August 2018.

I remember those scary days every year and pray that no one has to go through it again. But yes, God has been really kind upon us and we survived the days well.

My parents shifted back to our native Udupi in Karnataka after that as they wanted to be closer to their siblings and the days in Cochin are a beautiful memory to cherish.

One among the food memory from Cochin is piping hot masala puri that we used to enjoy from a small chaat stall behind the Ernakulam Shiva temple. Me and Amma used to sit in our car (as I was very shy to eat in front of other people 😁) and my dad and brother used to bring them to us. The flavours of the masala puri is still in my taste buds. So so delicious. I have never eaten a tastier masala puri than that.

But I am glad after many trials, my version of masala puri does taste almost same to that. I make it during special days and since it was my son’s birthday, I made it for our evening special snack and we all enjoyed it. Hope you all try and enjoy too. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients: {Makes about 4 plates}

For the curry:

1 Cup dry Green peas (soak overnight)

1 medium sized Potato

1 medium sized Tomato

1 tsp Garam masala powder

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

Salt to taste

1 Tbsp Oil

To grind:

1 medium sized Onion

3 Green chillies

1/2 inch Ginger piece

1/2 Cup Coriander leaves

1/4 Cup Mint leaves

For garnish: finely chopped Onion, tomatoes and coriander leaves as desired

For assembling the chaat: {In one plate}

3 to 4 Puris, 3 ladles of the curry, 1 Tbsp Date Tamarind chutney, Green chutney if desired, finely chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves and bhujiya or Sev.

Step by step recipe:

1. Pressure cook the soaked green peas (soak for atleast 8 hours) along with potato and turmeric powder till it turns soft.

Note: It takes 4 whistles at high flame in my electric stovetop.

2. Mash lightly and keep aside.

3. Take all ingredients to grind in a mixer jar.

4. Grind with little water to a smooth paste. Keep aside.

5. Heat oil in a pan and fry finely chopped tomatoes till it cooks.

6. Add the ground masala paste and cook till it reduces and leaves the sides of the pan. Add garam masala powder and salt.

7. Add the cooked and mashed peas and potatoes.

8. Now cook till it thickens and turns into a gravy like below. Remove from flame.

9. For making masala puris, take puris in a plate and break into pieces.

10. Now add two to three ladles of the curry, top with date-tamarind chutney, onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves and bhujiya. Serve hot.

Notes:

* You can also make green chutney for a spicier masala Puri. Since I make it for my kids, I skip and make the curry mildly spicy for them to enjoy.

* For the green chutney, just grind green chillies with coriander leaves, mint, salt and little water to a smooth paste.

* I also use Mother’s recipe date tamarind chutney. If you don’t have it, just grind dates with tamarind and salt with little water to a smooth paste. That’s your sweet chutney.

* The curry can be used as an accompaniment to rotis and rice meals. If you add paneer to it, it becomes matar paneer. I do the same when I have leftover curry.

* You can grind tomatoes if you don’t like tomatoes as it is in the gravy.

Chaat street, Snacks

Sweet corn Bhel

July 22, 2020 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 4 Comments

Being a mommy has turned me into a non stop thinking person about what healthy and yummy food to make for the kids. Yes, kids first and then us. I guess its common everywhere. We always keep our children’s food choices over ours.

My kids take maximum benefit of it and I have to sometimes whip up very quickly for their sudden hunger pangs. It is during this time that our Indian snacks such as bhel come handy. Quick to make and quicker to polish off, a very healthy option as a light but filling evening snack.

The kids too love it very much and I heave a sigh of relief that I won’t get to hear “potta bhook” (I am hungry in konkani) for the next one hour (?? ) atleast. 😄

Hope you all try and love it too. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

2 Cups Bhel or puffed rice or churmura or kurmura

1/2 Cup Bhujiya or Sev

1 Cup Sweetcorn (steamed for about 10 mins)

1/2 Cup finely chopped Onion

1/2 Cup finely chopped Tomatoes

1/4 Cup thick Curd/ Yogurt (optional)

1 Tbsp finely chopped Coriander leaves

1/2 tsp Tamarind paste

1 Tbsp roasted Peanuts

1 tsp Tomato ketchup

1/2 tsp Red chilli powder

1/2 tsp Chat masala powder

Rock salt or regular salt to taste

Step by step recipe:

1. Take a large mixing bowl and add steam cooked sweetcorn, tomatoes, onions, coriander leaves, tamarind paste. Curd is optional but we love the creamy tangy flavour it gives.

2. Mix well. Add chat masala powder, red chilli powder, salt, ketchup and roasted peanuts.

3. Add bhel and bhujiya. Mix well.

4. Serve immediately else the bhel turns soggy. Enjoy with a dash of lemon juice if you feel it needs more tangy flavour.

Notes:

* The proportions of ingredients are to taste and you can change or adjust as per your taste buds.

* You can also skip any ingredient if you don’t have. This is just an easy to make snack idea which can be made with whatever ingredients you have in your kitchen.

* Do remember to serve immediately. Else the bhel turns soggy.

Breakfast time, Chaat street, Curry house, Snacks

Paneer Pav Bhaji

June 6, 2020 Healthy Cooking with Mitha Leave a comment

Pav Bhaji has to be one of my favourite chaats. I have so many memories of Pav bhaji eaten at various joints during our travels to Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Shimla, Gujarat and even in Singapore. I have to try pav bhaji from every place we visit.

While there is Mr husband who loves the pav bhaji I make so much that he never orders them when we eat out and sticks to bhel puri.

Anyhow, ever since I learned how to bake perfect Wheat pav at home, we have hardly had them from outside. Pav bhaji with homemade wheat pav is not only healthy but turns out amazingly delicious. Since we are a paneer loving family, I take it a notch higher and make Paneer Pav Bhaji.

Hope you all try it and love it too. Nothing like homemade food ♥️ Happy and healthy cooking!

Ingredients:

1 Cup dry/ fresh/ frozen Green peas (dried ones need to be soaked overnight)

1 Cup Cauliflower florets

1 medium sized Potato

1/2 Cup roughly chopped Carrot

2 Tbsp Butter

1 inch Ginger piece

3 cloves of Garlic

3 Green chillies

1 medium sized Onion

1/4 Cup finely chopped Capsicum

1 medium sized Tomato

1 tsp Red chilli powder or to taste

2 Tbsp Pav Bhaji Masala powder

1 Cup Paneer, cut into small cubes

4 Tbsp Coriander leaves

Salt to taste

1 tsp Lemon juice

For toppings, finely chopped onions, coriander leaves, lemon wedges, butter.

Step by step recipe:

1. Take peas, cauliflower, potato and carrot in a pressure cooker. Pressure cook till very soft.

2. Mash using a potato masher or a ladle till there are no big chunks of veggies. Keep aside.

3. Heat a pan with butter. Add finely chopped ginger, garlic and green chillies. Saute till they give out an aroma.

4. Add finely chopped onion. Fry till it turns translucent.

5. Add finely capsicum and fry for few seconds.

6. Add tomatoes and cook well.

7. Now add pav bhaji masala powder and red chilli powder. Fry till all water evaporates and the mixture turns out dry as shown.

8. Now add the mashed veggies and mix well. Add little water if the mixture is too dry. Allow it to come to a boil.

9. Add paneer cubes along with salt and cook for 5 more mins. After that, check for spices if needed. Add more pav bhaji masala or red chilli powder if needed.