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At long last, the scorching summer days have given way to the blissful arrival of the monsoon. With its refreshing cool winds and gentle rain showers, this season offers a respite from the sweltering heat. And as the earth becomes enveloped in a delightful muddy fragrance, it also heralds the arrival of a plethora of mouthwatering and crispy delights. Among them, the timeless combination of chai and pakoras reigns supreme, cherished by people across the country as the ultimate monsoon treat.
When talking about monsoons, how can we miss the spicy and delicious chaats? These flavourful and tangy treats not only bring joy to your taste buds but also add a touch of nostalgia to rainy days. Made with a variety of delicious ingredients like sev, potatoes, and chutneys, they are widely enjoyed in this season due to their bold flavours, varied textures, and comforting taste, providing a satisfying experience that people seek during the monsoon.
Also, it can be unsafe to eat chaat on the streets, as during the rainy season pathogens grow rapidly due to food contamination, improper storage, and a lack of hygiene, which can cause a lot of health issues like infections and digestive problems. But why control your cravings when you can prepare and enjoy flavourful chaat at home? From corn chaat to peanut chaat, here are ten homemade chaats for you to relish during the monsoon:
Corn Chaat
Video Credits-Cook With Parul/YouTube
Corn chaat is a delightful mix of boiled sweet corn kernels tossed with chopped onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, and chaat masala. It is seasoned with a squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of black salt, and roasted cumin powder, along with a garnish of coriander leaves. This chaat is bursting with flavours and offers a perfect combination of sweetness and tanginess.
Ragada Patties
Ragda patties is a mouthwatering chaat prepared with aloo patties, which are made from mashed potatoes mixed with spices, shaped into patties, and shallow-fried until golden and crispy. It is typically topped with pea gravy, tangy tamarind chutney, and mint chutney, along with chopped onions, and garnished with sev and coriander. The combination of the soft, flavourful tikki with the assortment of chutneys is perfect for the monsoon.
Paneer Tikki Chaat
Paneer tikki chaat combines the goodness of paneer with a crispy potato patty. Pan-fry or shallow-fry the tikkis until golden and crispy. Place them on a plate and top them with chopped onions, tomatoes, yoghurt, tamarind chutney, mint chutney, and a sprinkle of chaat masala. This chaat is filling as well as delicious.
Papdi Chaat
Papdi Chaat is a delicious combination of crispy papdis with boiled potatoes, chickpeas, yoghurt, tamarind chutney, mint chutney, and a sprinkle of chaat masala. The various layers of textures and flavours create a harmonious blend that can tantalise your taste buds. The cool yoghurt balances the tanginess of the chutneys, making it a perfect monsoon treat.
Bhel Puri
Bhel puri is a refreshing combination of puffed rice, sev, chopped onions, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, and tangy tamarind chutney. This light and savoury chaat can be prepared within minutes and tastes amazing. It is garnished with coriander leaves and a sprinkle of chaat masala, creating a perfect balance of flavours and textures.
Aloo Kabli
This Bengali street delight is a type of aloo chana chaat that is prepared with a flavourful combination of boiled potatoes, chickpeas, black salt, and onions, tossed in tamarind sauce along with a hint of lime juice. Mostly paired with a hot cup of tea, this incredibly flavourful dish is traditionally served in sal leaf bowls with a wooden spoon.
Pani Puri
Pani puri, also known as gol gappa, puchka, and batashe in certain regions, is a popular chaat that consists of hollow, crispy puris filled with a mixture of tangy tamarind chutney, spicy mint-coriander water, mashed potatoes, and a medley of spiced chickpeas. The explosion of flavours with every bite is what makes this chaat a true monsoon street delight.
Sev Puri
Sev puri is a delightful combination of crispy puris topped with a mixture of diced potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and a combination of tangy and sweet chutneys. The final touch comes with a generous topping of sev and a squeeze of lime juice. The amalgamation of textures and flavours in this chaat makes it a popular choice during the rainy season.
Sprouts Chaat
Sprouts chaat is a healthy and nutritious option that combines sprouted legumes with a mix of chopped onions, tomatoes, cucumber, and coriander leaves. Add a squeeze of lemon juice, sprinkle some chaat masala and roasted cumin powder, and garnish with sev (crunchy fried noodles) for an added crunch. This refreshing chaat is packed with flavours and provides a perfect balance of taste and health during the monsoon.
Peanut Chaat
Peanut chaat is a quick snack that offers a crunchy and savoury experience. Roasted peanuts are combined with finely chopped onions, tomatoes, and cucumber. The chaat is then seasoned with chaat masala, lemon juice, and a hint of chilli powder for an added kick. With its satisfying crunch and burst of flavours, peanut chaat is the perfect accompaniment to a cup of hot tea on a rainy day.
