Makhana Chaat Recipe: Crunchy Snack with Vegetables and Herbs, Perfect for Cold Weather
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Makhana Chaat Recipe: Crunchy Snack with Vegetables and Herbs, Perfect for Cold Weather

Due to recent drizzling rains, the weather has changed, and cold is beginning to be felt across India. The atmosphere has become very pleasant and cool. At this time of day, closer to the evening, there is a desire to eat something spicy and crunchy with tea. Usually, people opt for cookies, salty snacks, or fried dishes. However, if you want something tasty yet healthy to accompany tea, you can prepare Makhana Chaat.

This combination of crunchy makhana, roasted peanuts, potatoes, cucumber, and a tangy green sauce creates such a flavor that after the first serving, other snacks might seem tasteless. The advantage of this dish is that it is prepared very quickly. Let's learn how to make this quick snack that can double the pleasure of tea in the cold season.

Makhana Chaat Recipe:

The following ingredients are required to prepare Makhana Chaat:

Ingredients for Makhana Chaat

For the tangy green sauce:

Preparation method:

  1. First, heat a pan on the stove and roast the peanuts over low or medium heat. Roast the peanuts until they develop light cracks and a good aroma, then remove them to a plate.
  2. Next, add half a teaspoon of ghee to the same pan and pour in the makhana. Roast the makhana over low heat, stirring constantly, until they become well crunchy. If you do not want to use ghee, the makhana can be roasted without it or used in an air fryer.
  3. In a blender, grind the green basil, ginger, green chili, roasted peanuts, yogurt, a little salt, and water as needed to obtain a fine puree. Thus, your tangy green sauce is ready.
  4. In a large bowl, mix the cucumber, tomato, boiled potato, and green chili. Add lemon juice, a little red chili powder, salt to taste, and the prepared green sauce. Top with green basil and mix all components thoroughly.
  5. Most importantly, the makhana and peanuts should be added at the very end. If added earlier, their crunchiness may decrease due to the sauce and lemon juice. Therefore, before serving, add the roasted makhana and peanuts and gently mix everything.

Tangy and crunchy flavor with tea

Now your crunchy Makhana Chaat is ready. It combines the spiciness of the green sauce, the tartness of lemon, the softness of potato, and the crunchy taste of makhana with peanuts. This combination will be very suitable on a cool evening with hot tea. The distinguishing feature is that it does not require much effort or time to prepare.

If you do not like tomatoes, they can be excluded. Similarly, instead of cucumber, any other vegetables can be used according to your taste. To make the chaat even spicier, you can increase the amount of spices to your liking.

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Recipe for Crispy Khachori with Green Beans, Served with Spicy Vegetable Ragout
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www.aajtak.in

Recipe for Crispy Khachori with Green Beans, Served with Spicy Vegetable Ragout

If you are tired of monotonous food like simple dal and roti all week, then this weekend is a good time to prepare something special and aromatic. Regardless of the season or the desire for a special weekend breakfast, crispy khachori with green beans will be an ideal choice.

When the filling of fried beans, seasoned with asafoetida, fennel, green pepper, and other spices, is placed in a crispy semolina shell and fried, its aroma fills the entire house.

Serving these hot, spicy, and juicy khachori with rich potato ragout creates such a delight that it is impossible to stop. Below is a simple way to prepare khachori of restaurant quality.

For the khachori dough:

2 cups semolina (or 1 cup semolina + 1 cup wheat flour)

1/4 cup clarified butter or vegetable oil (for moina)

1/2 teaspoon ajwain

Salt to taste

Cold water (for kneading the dough)

For the bean filling:

1.5 cups green beans (fresh or frozen)

1 tablespoon oil

1/2 teaspoon asafoetida (hing)

1 teaspoon cumin (jeera)

1 tablespoon fennel (chopped)

1 tablespoon whole coriander (coarsely ground)

1-2 green peppers and 1 inch ginger (grated)

1 tablespoon chickpea flour (besan) (to absorb moisture and enhance flavor)

1/2 teaspoon turmeric and red pepper powder

1 teaspoon amchur powder and garam masala

Salt and black salt to taste

Oil for frying

Preparing the dough: In a bowl, mix the semolina, salt, ajwain, and moina oil. Rub well with your hands until the flour starts to form a lump. Then gradually add cold water and knead a soft and elastic dough. Cover it with a damp cotton cloth and leave it for 20 minutes.

Preparing the filling: Lightly crush the green beans in a blender without adding water to obtain a coarse crumble. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan. Sauté cumin, asafoetida, ground coriander, fennel, ginger, and green pepper. Add 1 tablespoon of chickpea flour and fry on low heat for one minute. Then stir in the crushed beans and all dry spices (turmeric, red pepper, amchur, garam masala, salt), frying for 4-5 minutes until the mixture dries out. Let the filling cool and form small balls.

Shaping the khachori: Take a piece of dough, stretch it at the edges to form a bowl shape. Place a ball of filling in the center and carefully seal the edges, thoroughly enclosing the filling. Press with your fingers to give the item a flat shape.

Frying: Heat the oil in the pan to a low or medium heat (the oil should not be too hot, otherwise the khachori will not become crispy). Place the khachori in and let them float gently. When they start to expand and take on a light golden color, increase the heat to medium and fry on both sides until a crispy and golden crust is achieved.

Serving: The finished, crispy, and hot khachori with green beans should be served with spicy and juicy potato ragout and green paste.

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