Chole chaat makes a great snack for people who enjoy spicy food. This is a very easy recipe to prepare, and quite an aromatic dish.

Recipe serves 4.

Ingredients

• 1 cup chickpeas (Garbanzo beans, Kabuli chana)
• 1 medium size boiled potato
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1/4  cup gram flour (besan)
• 1 tablespoon finely grater ginger
• 1 seeded minced green chili adjust to taste
• 1 1/2  teaspoon salt adjust to taste
• 1 teaspoon black salt (kala namak)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder*
• 1 teaspoon mango powder
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Garnish

• 2 tablespoon Ginger relish
• Few slices of lemon
• 8 roma lettuce leaves

Method

1. Peel and cut the boiled potato into ¼ inch cubes.  Set aside.
2. Wash chickpeas and soak in 4 cups of water for at least 8 hours. Chickpeas will increase in volume by 2½ times, after soaking.
3. Drain the water and wash the chickpeas.
4. In a pressure cooker add chickpeas with four cups of water. Cook on medium high heat. As pressure cooker starts steaming turn the heat down to medium, and cook for another 8 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and wait until steam has stopped before opening the pressure cooker. Chickpeas should be soft and tender.
6. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat, add the gram flour (besan) and stir fry for 1-2 minutes until until the color changes to golden brown.
7. Add grated ginger and minced green chili, stir for a few seconds. Add the chickpeas to the gram flour.
8. Add salt, black salt, black pepper, roasted cumin seed powder, and mango powder. Lightly mash chickpeas while mixing in the spices.
9. Cook on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes.  Turn off the heat.
10. Add potatoes, garam masala and lemon juice. Mix gently.
11. Before serving, let the chickpeas sit at least half an hour to absorb all the flavors.  The gravy, too will thicken as it cools.  

Serving Suggestions

1. Chole chaat should be served warm.
2. Garnished the chole chaat with ginger relish, and/or with slices of lemon.
3. Serve chole chaat as a lettuce wrap using roma lettuce leaves. It provides a nice crunch to the chaat, while making for a beautiful presentation.

Tips

For an easier and quicker recipe, you may substitute with canned chickpeas.

*The roasted cumin seed powder is prepared by dry roasting whole cumin seeds, followed by grinding to a powder form.