Black Chickpea Chaat is the perfect summer snack – light, refreshing, nourishing, easy to prepare, and delicious! 

 

If you’re looking for something different to try this week or next time you’re hosting friends over for dinner—or just want something delicious to eat while watching TV—look no further than black chickpea chaat!

Black chickpea chaat is a delicious dish to make when you’re looking for something easy and tasty. It can also count as a healthy vegetarian dish with its high fiber content.

Here is the recipe for black chickpea chaat. This one is a keeper! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by its flavors. The combination of ingredients in this dish is impressive- chickpeas, potato, tomato, cucumber, spices, herbs, lemon juice, and chutney.

Also, check out, Garbanzo Salad, Bruschetta al Pomodoro, and Healthy Pipino Salad

Black Chickpea Chaat close up in a brown and white bowl

What Is Chaat?

Chaat is a delightful Indian savory snack and street food that can be eaten any time of the day. It’s ax popular street food because it’s filling and quick, but most importantly, it tastes delicious!

There are several types of chaat sold in India and abroad.  Chaat can be sweet, tangy, spicy, savory, or all at the same time. Each one will have a special preference but when done right chaat is a symphony of flavors in a bite.

Recipe’s Appealing Features

Here are several reasons why you should include this chaat into your diet:

  • It is easy to make. Except for boiling chickpeas, no or little cooking experience is required.
  • It is gluten-free and vegan
  • There is no oil, fats, or sugar in this recipe.
  • Protein-rich food
  • Perfect for a low-carbohydrate diet.
  • Perfect for weekday lunch or dinner.
  • The ingredients in this dish are quite nutrient-dense, as you can see. As a reason, this snack is one of our healthiest street foods. Vitamins, minerals, iron, and fiber are all abundant in this dish.
  • It gives you more energy and keeps you full.
  • It’s simple to adapt to your personal preferences.

Black Chickpeas Nutritional Value

Black chickpeas are small in size, but they pack a lot of nutrition. They’re high in protein, fiber, and carbs. Black chickpeas are a rich source of vitamins such as B6, C, niacin, folate, thiamin, and riboflavin as well as minerals such as manganese, iron, phosphorus, and copper.

Health Benefits Of Black Chickpea

Lowers Cholesterol

Black chickpeas include soluble fiber, which binds to bile acids and stops the body from absorbing them. This results in a reduction in cholesterol levels. Consuming around three-quarters of a cup of chickpeas on a daily basis is associated with a reduction in LDL cholesterol as well as total cholesterol and triglycerides. Furthermore, the dietary fiber content of black chickpeas is higher than that of other foods.

Improve Heart Health

Antioxidants, anthocyanins, delphinidin, cyanidin, and petunidin, as well as phytonutrients and ALA, found in black chickpeas, help to keep blood vessels healthy and minimize oxidative stress, lowering the risk of heart disease. The folate and magnesium content of black chickpeas is high. Folate reduces homocysteine levels, reducing the risk of artery constriction, blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.

Low Glycemic Index And Stabilizes Blood Sugar

The soluble fiber included in black chickpeas regulates blood sugar absorption and release. In addition, chickpeas have a low glycemic index, ranging from 28 to 32, which indicates that the carbohydrates in them are digested and broken down slowly. This helps you lose weight by curbing your appetite. Sugar levels rise more slowly and gently, which results in lower levels of blood sugar. 

Aids in Digestion

Kala Chana contains a lot of fiber, which helps with digestion. It adds bulk, avoids constipation, and relieves bowel stress. According to Ayurvedic medicine, starting a day by consuming a handful of soaked black chickpeas prevents a variety of digestive issues.

Helps In Weight Loss

Fiber-rich foods can help you lose weight significantly if you include them in your diet. Insoluble and soluble fiber are abundant in black chickpeas. Insoluble fiber relieves constipation and some other digestive issues by producing a gel-like material in the digestive tract, whereas soluble fiber aids in the defecation of bile and ferries. Fiber also fills your stomach, keeping you fuller for longer and reducing hunger pangs. Drinking chickpea water can help curb your appetite. Therefore, eating legumes like black chickpeas, which are high in protein and fiber, can be an even more efficient method of weight loss than simply reducing the number of calories consumed.

Good For Women

Isoflavones are phytonutrients that serve as antioxidants in postmenopausal women, reducing the incidence of breast cancer, osteoporosis, and hot flushes. It is said that Leucorrhea can be cured with roasted chickpeas, brown sugar, and desi ghee. It is possible to avoid miscarriage by consuming chickpea-boiling water.

Ingredients for black chickpea chaat

Ingredients Description

  • Black Chickpeas: They are also known as Kala Chana in Hindi. Both canned and cooked varieties are available. Drain and rinse canned beans before using. Dried chickpeas can also be cooked in an instant pot. You can also use regular chickpeas if you don’t have these.
  • Boiled Potatoes: They taste great but are optional.
  • Tomatoes: Use ripe, firm tomatoes, either Roma or cherry.
  • Cucumbers: Adds freshness and crunch to the chaat.
  • Green Chilies: I love the heat they bring to the chaat.
  • Herbs: Cilantro and mint taste best for Indian-style salads
  • Lemon juice: I used the juice of a full lemon. Feel free to adjust the amount to your taste.
  • Date Tamarind Chutney: You can find this amazing recipe at com. It has all the goodness from dates and all the tanginess from tamarind.
  • Seasoning: salt, red chili flakes, roasted cumin powder, and Chaat masala – the key ingredient for the tangy, zingy taste. You can easily find this in any Indian grocery store.

How To Make Black Chickpea Chaat?

  1. Soak the Kala chana (black chickpeas) in 3 cups of water overnight or for at least 4 hours. Once the chickpeas have been soaked and rinsed, they should be boiled until they are tender.
  2. Drain the black chickpeas after they have been boiled and then place them in a large bowl. 
  3. Get all the ingredients together and chop the green chili, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, herbs, and potatoes. 
  4. Stir in all the chopped vegetables, the tamarind chutney, the lemon juice, and the spices.
  5. Mix all the ingredients well and you’re good to go!
black chickpea chaat in a bowl

Tips To Make Black Chickpea Chaat

There are certain tips you need to keep in mind before preparing black chickpea chaat:

  • You can make this salad with any vegetables you want. To make it tangier, some people like to add raw mangoes along with potato and cucumber
  • Taste and adjust the spices to your liking. If you want it to be less hot, leave off the green chili and red chili powder.
  • You can also use boiled white chickpeas, green chickpeas, or sprouts in this salad.
  • To make this chaat even more delicious, you can add some green chutneys, as well as thin sev on top.
  • If you want to boost the protein content of your black chickpea chaat, add some hemp seeds or roasted peanuts on top.
  • Add more green chilies to the black chickpea chaat to make it spicier.
  • Drizzle a dab of maple syrup over the chaat before adding the tamarind chutney on top for a sweet boost.
  • To add some crunch to the black chickpea chaat, I prefer to serve it over chopped romaine lettuce. Plus, it helps me meet my daily needs!
  • This chickpea salad can be served hot or cold.

Storage Suggestions

The best way to enjoy this black Chickpea Chaat is to eat it right away. It can be kept in the fridge for up to a day in an airtight glass container.  Beyond that point, though, the salad loses its crispness and the vegetables become soggy.

Keep the ingredients in the fridge until you’re ready to serve, and then mix them up right before serving

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Many Types Of Chaat Are There?

Chaat is available in about 500 different varieties.

Is Chaat Served Hot Or Cold?

Chaat can be served either hot or cold. It’s wonderful picnic food when served cold.

Is Black Chickpea Salad Vegan?

I used chickpeas, potatoes, and other veggies, as well as various herbs and spices, to make this vegan dish. As a result, vegans can enjoy this recipe as well!

Is Kala Chana The Same As Chickpeas?

Kala chana is a type of traditional chickpeas. These lentils are high in protein and are commonly used in chaats and curries. Because black chickpeas keep their shape, they make an excellent complement to salads, particularly sprouted ones.

Is Chickpea Hard To Digest?

Even when cooked, chickpeas can be tough to digest. The Cleveland Clinic says that legumes, or beans, contain saccharides (sugars) that can’t be broken down. This can lead to uncomfortable gas buildup and bloating.

What To Serve With This Chaat?

Black chickpea chaat can be eaten on its own. Pair it with pumpkin or squash chips and you have an impressive appetizer sure to impress your family and friends. You can serve it with bread, pasta, or soups as a main course.

How To Make A Healthy Chaat?

  • Don’t limit yourself to just a couple of vegetables. Make it as colorful as possible by using the best seasonal greens and vegetables.
  • Remove any fried or calorie-dense garnishes. That would defeat the point of a nutritious chaat.
  • The dressing should be light and basic. A chaat dressing with too much Chutney, herb, and spices isn’t going to be healthy.

That’s all there is to it!

Other Chickpea Recipes To Try

  1. Vegan Chickpea Stew
  2. Vegan Chickpea Salad
  3. Chickpea Shepherd’s Pie
  4. General Tso Chickpeas
  5. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce
  6. Black Chickpea Stew
  7. Jamaican Chickpea Curry
Overlay chickpea chaat in brown and white plate on a wooden a

Give this recipe a try. It’s incredibly delicious and super easy. I hope you like it. As always, I would love to hear from you. So if you tried this recipe or any other from my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

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Categories

Nutrition

(Per serving)
  • Energy: 327 kcal / 1367 kJ
  • Fat: 4.3 g
  • Protein: 15 g
  • Carbs: 50 g

Cook Time

  • Preparation: 20 min
  • Cooking: 2 h
  • Ready in: 2 h 20 min
  • For: 6 Servings

Ingredients

Instructions

How To Cook Chickpeqs

  1. Soak the 1 cup Kala chana (black chickpeas) in 3 cups of water overnight or for at least 8 hours.
  2. Once the chickpeas have been soaked, rinse them.
  3. Place chickpeas in a large pot with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high, cover, and reduce heat to simmer until tender, about 90 minutes to 2 hours.

How To Cook Chickpeas In An Instant Pot?

  1. Rinse 1 cup of dried chickpeas, and add to the Instant pot along with 3 cups of cold water. \
  2. Secure the lid, moving the valve to, " SEALING. Select the pressure cook tab and cook for 50 minutes, then allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes.
  3. Turn the steam release valve to VENTING to release the remaining pressure. The floating valve lid will drop. Remove the lid and check to see if chickpeas are tender.
  4. Drain the black chickpeas after they have been boiled and then place them in a large bowl. 
  5. Stir in all the chopped vegetables, the tamarind chutney, the lemon juice, and the spices.
  6. Mix all the ingredients well and you're good to go!
Recipe author's Gravatar image

Michelle Blackwood, RN

Hi, I’m Michelle, I’m the voice, content creator and photographer behind Healthier Steps. I share vegan and gluten-free recipes because of past health issues. My goal is to help you make healthier choices and show you how healthy eating is easy and delicious.