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You don't need elaborate chaat stations to serve hearty desi chaat to your house party guests. You just need to be creative enough. While some chaats are messier than others, some popular chaats can actually be plated or made compact for serving at intimate dos. Think of assembling them as single-serve portions or styling them as table foods so guests can help themselves.
Stick to dry toppings and fillings, and arrange the wet toppings separately in a bowl to make your own DIY chaat station at your home. Still not convinced? Here are some popular chaats you can serve at your Diwali party and ideas to serve them:
Ragda Patties
The hearty Mumbai special chaat usually features soft potato patties served with a spicy white peas curry (ragda), along with chopped onions, tomatoes, and various chutneys. You can add a number of toppings to it including chana, chaat masala, dahi, sev etc. This chaat is best served plated along with a side of different toppings. Since this chaat has too many ingredients, you can monitor the spice levels in the Ragda or adjust the seasonings in the potato patties to balance the flavours.
Katori Chaat
Consider serving Katori Chaat as canape-style food at your party since it usually features a crispy, edible bowl or katori filled with potatoes, chana chaat, dahi, tamarind chutney and mint chutney. If you don't have chaat stations at your do and want mess-free options, mini katori chaats can be a really great choice.
Dabeli Chaat
Dabeli mainly features a spicy mashed potato filling placed inside a soft pav. Remember the dabeli filling is usually cooked separately with tamarind chutney first and assembling the dabeli is a crucial step. Dabeli chaat is usually garnished with roasted peanuts, pomegranate seeds, and sev; you can consider serving it in a compact bowl or in fun, sectioned plates with a side of toppings
Bhel Puri
Bhel Puri is pretty easy to serve if you've figured out how to assemble it for smaller servings. Simply layer a bowl with crushed papdi and puffed rice, then layer it with chopped onions, tomatoes, and boiled potatoes, along with sev, and a medley of chutneys. You can even combine it with an aloo tikki chaat for some added textures and flavours; you can assemble it fresh right before serving
Paani Puri Chaat
If you're serving pani puri chaat or dahi golgappas, serving them plated or in single-serve portions is ideal. Or you can make it a fun, table food. Put a large bowl or platter filled with crispy puris (a mix of dry and pre-filled), a boil of extra aloo mix, sprouts and masala on the side and a bowl of tangy tamarind water, dahi and sweet chutney on the side, so guests can assemble their own pani puris!
