Navratri is a special Indian festival celebrated twice a year to honor the Goddess Durga and the birth of Shri Rama. I have always yearned for the Navratri prasad- halwa, poori and kala chana. A total street-food lover in me craves chaat, papdi, tikki, and much more, especially when fasting. We get great street foods for Navratri, made without onion and garlic, and use sendha namak and the spices allowed in fasting. But this time I wanted to try making it myself. Makhana Chaat is a light, flavorful snack made with roasted fox nuts, tangy spicy chutneys, and a mix of spices, topped with curd and pomegranate. This 5-minute recipe needs min prepping, especially if the chutneys are made ahead of time. More Navratri recipes: Pumpkin Halwa, Sweet Potato/ Shakarkandi Chaat, Roasted Makhana, Makhana Kheer, Sabudana Khichdi.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact measurements of the ingredients.
Makhana (Fox Nuts): Lightly roasted for a crunchy texture. Tamarind Chutney and Green Coriander Chutney: I prefer using homemade chutneys. Tamarind chutney (Saunth), I got from a local shop of Samosa as they use vrat spices during Navratri. Pomegranate Seeds Curd (Yogurt): Though optional, curd blends all flavors. Use a vegan swap if you are vegan. Salt & Black Pepper Lemon Juice- Freshly squeezed lemon juice works best. You may add amchoor powder as well. Cilantro leaves for garnishing.
Feel Free to add cumin powder and garam masala. If you are not fasting, you may also add bhel, papdi and onions.
How To Make Makhana Chaat
Step 1. Roast the Makhana
Roast the makhana in a pan on low heat until they turn crispy. Set aside to cool.
Step 2. Assemble Chaat
In a large bowl, add roasted makhanas. Top with curd, tamarind chutney, green chutney, fresh pomegranate seeds, sendha namak, black pepper, lemon juice, and fresh coriander leaves! (Note- I wanted to create a street-style experience and used paper plates and assembled individually chaat into it.)
Step 3. Serve
Serve the Amazingly delicious Makhana Chaat immediately!
Expert Tips
Roast makhana on low heat to avoid burning. We just want them to be crunchy. I love spicy and tangy flavors. I am very religious with both chutneys. This chaat would be spicy. Adjust the heat. Add cold curd as it tastes best (sour curd will spoil the flavor of chaat)) If you are prepping ahead of time, roast makhanas but don’t make chaat as they will be soggy. Make chaat just before serving. Store the roasted fox nuts in a dry container with lid so that they don’t have any moisture.
More Navratri Vrat Recipes:
Makhana Chaat Recipe Sweet Potato Chaat (Shakarkandi Chaat) Roasted Makhana Recipe - 2 Ways { Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Healthy} Makhana Kheer Recipe (Indian Fox Nut Pudding) Pumpkin Halwa | Kaddu Ka Halwa (Desi Ghee Vrat Pudding) Sabudana Khichdi Recipe (Perfect For Fasting)
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