By Aditi
January 25, 2026
Rishikesh-style dal ki chaat is warm, tangy, and lightly spiced street food. Prepared with yellow dal and sharp chutneys, it’s comforting and also light.
1 cup cooked yellow moong dal (slightly thick) 1 tbsp ghee ½ tsp cumin seeds 1 small onion (finely chopped) 1 tsp ginger (grated) 1 tsp green chilli (finely chopped) ½ tsp red chilli powder ¼ tsp turmeric powder Salt to taste 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp green chutney 1 tbsp tamarind chutney 2 tbsp chopped coriander ½ tsp chaat masala
In a pan, heat ghee and add cumin seeds to it, and let them crackle. This tempering gives the dal its signature earthy, roadside-style fragrance.
Add the chopped onion, ginger and green chilli to this and sauté it briefly until soft but not browned.
Stir in cooked moong dal, turmeric, red chilli powder and salt to this base. Mix everything well and cook for about 2–3 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add a few drops of lemon juice. The tang will perfectly balance the richness of ghee and make the chaat feel light.
Transfer dal to a serving bowl. Drizzle some green chutney and tamarind chutney over the top.
Lastly, sprinkle chaat masala and fresh coriander and serve warm.