Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Chickpea Salad on Baked Wonton w/ Tamarind Sauce | Indian Chaat

I love to snack and graze all day - which most healthy eating experts will tell you is just bad for weight management. So when I'm faced with a snack attack - I want to make something that's quick, healthy and most definitely tasty! 

With an indian palate, I gravitate towards complex sweet/sour/spicy flavors and Indian Chaat always comes to mind. Chaat is yet another street food found in India - which comprises of various dishes that are a combination of some kind of beans (mung, chana, white chana) with onions, boiled potatoes topped with spicy (green and red chilli) chutneys and sweet (tamarind/dates) chutneys to create the complex flavors.

The healthy factor of these dishes are debateable - my friend always argues with her nutritionist that Chaat contains legumes and salads and is therefore healthy, all the while ignoring elements such as a fried base and sweet (read sugary) sauces. Yeah, my friend argues with her nutrionist!



Not one to compromise on taste, I set out to make a healthier version of this snack and I think I've managed to cut back on the calories quite a bit. The flavors were very satisfying to the tummy and my nostalgic soul.
And I used up the last of my wonton wrappers!
This is a fairly easy recipe - the only work involved is in making the Tamarind Sauce/Chutney - but you could make it ahead and it will refrigerate very well for days. (5-8 days).




A little thief showed up while I was photographing!



INGREDIENTS

Chickpea Salad

- 1 can Chickpeas
- 1/2 Red Onion
- 1 Plum Tomato
- handful Cilantro
- 1/2 lime juice
- 1/2 tbsp Chaat Masala (or plain salt/pepper)

Tamarind Sauce
- 1/4 cup of raw peeled tamarind
- 1/4 cup Agave Nectar or Honey
- Pinch each of red chilli powder, cumin, coriander

- Wonton Wrappers
- Olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

- Preheat oven to 350
- On a baking sheet, place wonton wrappers in a single layer and brush them with olive oil (you could alternately fry them, tastes yummy but it beats the purpose)
- Bake for 6-8 mins - check at 6 mins to see if you have a light brown color. I got the above (overdone) color at 8 mins
- For the salad, chop onion, tomato and cilantro , mix all ingredients and set aside
- For the tamarind chutney - add 1/2 cup of water to the raw tamarind and microwave it in 2 batches of 30 secs.
- Let the tamarind cool a little and then mix the pulp into the water that it was cooked in.
- Strain using a strainer and then add Agave or Honey (or plain old sugar if you dont have either) and the spices.
- Taste it as you add the sweetner, you want the flavor to be sweet and tangy with a spicy undertone from the chillies.

To assemble, top the crispy wontons with salad and drizzle with the chutney.

This recipe would serve very well for a party too - serve it as a "chip and salsa" and let people dig into a bowl of the salad with wonton "chips". You could toss the salad with the tamarind sauce for ease - but do that when you are ready to serve. Dont let the salad sit in the sauce.

21 comments:

  1. Archana, I absolutely love the use of the wonton wrappers here! You know I love chaat so I have to try this out soon.

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    1. thanks Nik! I hope you do - its so easy to put together and you already have your Tamarind chutney made last week :)

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  2. this is just so creative. I will be making this soon.

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  3. I'm a snacker too during the day, and sometimes it turns dangerous. This is just perfect for those snacking days!

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    1. snacking is dangerous! I need to curb the habit a little.

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  4. scrumptious treat and what a wonderful idea to use baked wonton,loved the recipe and clicks thoroughly :-)

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  5. brilliantly done. wonton wrappers are so versatile.. i would never have thought of using it in Indian food. so smart.

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    1. thanks! Try them as samosa wrappers! Its on my list next..

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  6. I love this Archana! I am a bit of a chaat addict and this is right up my street. Nice photos too by the way!

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  7. I LURVE to snack and graze all day too!!! So so mouthwateringly good! Love the chickpea salad! And such a creative use of wonton wrappers!!!
    Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a Happy Long Weekend :)

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  8. I love Indian food but I have never heard of Chaat! This looks delicious and a great way to use up any extra chickpeas or wonton wrappers you have laying around. :)

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    1. Look it up and hope you get to try it. I'd be curious to know what you think of it!

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  9. Very unique way of using wonton wrapper, completely original. Love it. This is what is called combining different cuisines and flavors, love it my dear.

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  10. Very creative using Wonton wrappers. I really like chaat and the combination of flavours is so unique. But I can't eat it off the street, so this recipe is perfect !

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    1. Thanks Amelia! Although I envy the fact that you have access to chaat so easily :) these days there are so many nicer places that offer it.

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  11. Amazing. I am not a snacker but you can totally convert me with this recipe. Looks delicious!

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  12. This is so crazy good! Love the idea of using wonton wrappers here. Yum!

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