I need a good recipe for Chat. I’m not an Indian food fan, but I tried Chat at a party and totally loved it!?

3 responses so far ↓

• 1 Jen // Nov 4, 2008

  VEGETABLE CHAT

  1 (8 oz.) pkg. mixed vegetables
  1/2 tsp. cumin powder
  6 potatoes
  1 cauliflower
  1 tsp. garlic
  1 tsp. turmeric
  1 tsp. chili powder
  1 1/2 tsp. salt
  1 tbsp. lemon juice
  3/4 c. oil

  Chop potatoes in cubes. Chop cauliflower in small pieces. Heat the oil. Add garlic in a heavy skillet pan. Now add the mixed vegetables, potatoes, cauliflower and chili and turmeric. When the vegetables get a little tender, add salt and lemon. Serve over plain steamed rice.

  JM

• 2 Been There~Done That! // Nov 4, 2008

  Chicken chaat

  8 oz Boneless chicken breast
  4 oz Tamarind pulp *
  1 c Water, very hot
  ¼ c Brown sugar
  2 ts Cumin seeds, ground and roasted
  1 ts Garam masala
  2 ts Chili powder
  1 sm Onion, finely chopped
  2 Leaves iceberg lettuce, shredded
  ½ c Lemon juice
  Salt, to taste
  Lemon wedges
  5 Sprigs cilantro, finely chopped

  In a pot, boil the chicken in a small amount of seasoned water. When cooked, cut into 1/2-inch cubes. In a bowl, completely dissolve the brown sugar into the prepared tamarind pulp. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, tamarind mixture, cumin, garam masala, chili powder, onion, lettuce, and lemon juice. Mix well. Season with salt. Let sit 10 to 15 minutes. Refrigerate. Garnish with lemon wedges and cilantro. Serve cold. Makes 4 to 6 servings. * NOTE: Tamarind pulp is obtained from 2 to 3 ounces of compressed bricks of tamarind. It is available at Asian and Indian markets. To prepare, break off a piece about 1-inch wide by the length of the brick. Soak in 1 cup of very hot water to soften. Strain through a non-metallic strainer with large holes. Mash through the strainer with the back of a spoon to get all the pulp. Discard the remainder. Recipe: Shiva Indian Restaurant, 2514 Times Blvd, Houston

  Indian Chaat is usually vegetarian. It is tasty, pungent and really spicy, traditionally eaten from road-side stalls in leaf bowls. A single item can be served as a starter to a Mughlai meal or eaten as a fast inexpensive snack between meals. A combination of Chaat items can make a complete meal.

  Here are a few tips for an Indian Chaat Party :

  Organize a chaat party when there are going to be at least 15-20 guests. There is no point in putting in so much effort for a smaller crowd.
  Keep everything chopped before hand; do not leave any chopping for the last minute.
  Assemble the chaat just before serving, as it will get soggy.
  Traditional Indian sweets are a good dessert idea for this meal.

• 3 Rozmin // Nov 4, 2008

  On of my favorite chaat items is Pani Puri. It’s really easy to make if you have access to an Indian grocery store where you can buy the puris and some tamarind chutney. You take a puri, poke a hole in the top, fill it loosely with boiled potato and chick peas (you can use some that have been seasoned, but plain or just sprinkled with some chili powder is fine). Then you add a bit of tamarind chutney, and then the pani! The pani is water that has been flavored with cilantro and I’m not sure what else. I don’t have a recipe, but I’m sure you can google it and find one. But it’s a really fun dish! Everyone can get a plate of puris, potato, chick peas, and a bowl of tamarind chutney and a bowl of pani. Then they can just assemble their own pani puri according to taste! The puri is eaten in one mouthful.