Fruit chaat is a refreshing and healthy fruit salad that's often enjoyed as a snack or side dish in India. A step-by-step guide on how to make fruit chaat:
Ingredients:
- A variety of fresh, ripe fruits (e.g., apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, pomegranate seeds, papaya, and any other fruits you prefer)
- 1 cucumber (optional)
- 1-2 carrots (optional)
- Chaat masala (readily available spice mix)
- Black salt (kala namak)
- Roasted cumin powder
- Red chili powder (optional)
- Fresh lemon juice
- Chopped fresh mint leaves (optional)
- Chopped fresh coriander leaves (optional)
Instructions:
1. Preparing the Fruits:
- Wash, peel (if needed), and dice the fruits into bite-sized pieces. If using apples and bananas, toss them in a little lemon juice to prevent browning.
- If you're using cucumber and carrots, peel and dice them as well.
2. Mixing the Fruits:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the diced fruits. Add the cucumber and carrots if you're using them. Gently toss the fruits to mix them together.
3. Adding Seasonings:
- Sprinkle chaat masala, black salt, roasted cumin powder, and a pinch of red chili powder (if you like it spicy) over the mixed fruits. The amounts can vary according to your taste, but a teaspoon of chaat masala, a pinch of black salt, and a pinch of roasted cumin powder should suffice for a small bowl of fruit chaat.
4. Squeezing Lemon Juice:
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fruit mixture. The amount of lemon juice you use depends on how tangy you like your fruit chaat. Start with the juice of half a lemon and adjust to your taste.
5. Tossing and Chilling:
- Gently toss the fruit mixture to ensure all the fruits are coated with the seasonings and lemon juice. If you like it chilled, you can refrigerate the fruit chaat for a while before serving.
6. Garnishing (Optional):
- You can garnish the fruit chaat with chopped fresh mint leaves and fresh coriander leaves for added flavor and freshness.
7. Serving:
- Fruit chaat is ready to be served. It's best enjoyed fresh and can be a delightful and healthy snack or a side dish at any time.
Feel free to customize your fruit chaat with your favorite fruits and seasonings. It's a versatile dish that you can make your own, and it's perfect for staying cool and refreshed, especially during hot summer days.