Chat is one of the most popular street food around India. It is mostly sold in coastal areas. I was born and brought up around the sea. We always love to go to the beach, spend time around watching the waves, blue waters and playing around. Once we are done with playing, we get hungry and we all crave to eat spicy food. So this is the best street food, I ever ate. To eat the best chats is in North India, the place of origin of chats. I ate almost all the varieties all around India. I first tasted it in my home town, Pondicherry, then in my college and around Karnataka and later when I visited my brother when he was in Ghaziabad. I liked all the different tastes and varieties and it's fun making at home too. So here is the recipe, all made from scratch with some healthy twist from my kitchen to yours.
Ingredients:
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Mint Chutney (Hari Chutney):
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1 bunch fresh Mint, de-stemmed and leaves washed in cold water
1/2 bunch Cilantro leaves, washed in cold water
2-3 Green Chilies
1 tsp grated Ginger
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tbsp Amchur powder (Dry Mango powder)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Lime juice
2 tsp Black Salt
Water as needed
Dates and Tamarind/ Sweet Chutney (Meeti Chutney):
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1 lemon size Tamarind or 2-3 tbsp Tamarind pulp (alter the quantity according to your taste)2-3 tbsp Date Syrup (10 pitted Dates, pureed)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 tbsp Black Salt
1/2 tsp Red Chili powder
1 tsp Cumin powder
Water as needed
Bhel:
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1 pkg Bombay Bhel or any Bhel Puri Mix
1 Onion chopped
1 Tomato chopped
1/2 Cucumber chopped
1 Green Chili chopped
1/2 cup Cilantro leaves chopped to garnish
1/4 cup Sev (you can get this in Indian store)
Method:
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Mint Chutney:
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1. In a mixer add all the ingredients, add sufficient water and grind it to a fine paste. Keep it aside.
Sweet Chutney:
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1. In a deep sauce pan, add all the ingredients and little water, mix well and in medium flame bring to boil and simmer cook it for about 5 mins. Allow it to cool or to room temperature.
2. In a blender blend all the ingredients and strain it, and discard the residue and keep it aside.
To Make the Bhel Puri:
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1. In a large mixing bowl, add the onions, tomato, cucumber, mint chutney, sweet chutney, mix well and now add the bhel and mix well immediately transfer it to a serving bowl or plate and sprinkle with cilantro, sev and serve this immediately, else the bhel will become soggy.
2. It's a good party snack.
