Indian street food is infamous for being deep-fried, too decadent, and straight-up unhealthy. While yes, some of our snacks are indulgent to the core, there are plenty of options that even nutritionists recommend. For instance, the shakarkandi chaat or bhutta, they are steamed or roasted, so you end up avoiding the unnecessary calories.
In fact, according to a popular legend, we may have to thank Shah Jahan’s hakim for Delhi’s chaat obsession. When Shah Jahan shifted his capital to Delhi, his hakim was enraged that he wasn’t kept in the loop. River Yamuna was very polluted at the time, and the hakim warned Shah Jahan of many illnesses that can happen if the food is cooked in that water. Then hakim suggested adding a lot of spices and ghee in the food, and this paved the way for different kinds of chaat in Old Delhi. Intriguing right? Who knew chaat was once thought to be the cure to dysentery?
The word ‘chaat’ comes from the Hindi word ‘chaatna’, which means to lick your plate clean. Which is what a good plate of chaat ensures. There are no rules to chaat, sometimes, it is a plate full of crispy papdis, dahi, chutney, and spongy bhallas. And then, sometimes, it could just be fried potatoes tossed in masalas. Your chaat can be anything you want it to be.
There is a new one. Called the Vitamin Chaat, this savoury dish is said to be easy, healthy, light on the tummy, and just ideal for this weather. But why is it called the ‘vitamin chaat’? Well, wait till you hear about its contents.
The chaat is filled with all things healthy and wholesome - starting with mixed sprouts. Sprouts are packed with protein, antioxidants, and minerals that are easy to assimilate. Then, there’s whisked curd, which makes the chaat so creamy, tangy, and gut-friendly. The combination of chopped cucumber, capsicum, and onions come with their own bundle of antioxidants and immunity-building vitamins. These vegetables also help make the chaat texturally rich.
And, of course, which chaat is ever deemed complete without the chutneys and spices. So, from sweet and tangy imli chutney to spicy green chutney to chilli powder and coriander leaves, you have them all.
Serve the chaat fresh and bear in mind the quantity of salt. Excess sodium can wreck your weight-loss goals, it is also not very good for blood pressure patients. Here’s the recipe you have been looking for. Try and let us know how you like it.
