Basket Chaat

Full of sweet, spicy and tangy flavors, Basket Chaat is an explosion served in tiny baskets.

This single serve snack is definitely going to be rocking on the dinner table!

Chaat in India is more than just a category of food. It is a delight, and a mix of all the wonderful flavors a dish can have.

Chaat a great snack, appetizer or even a complete meal. It always has so many lovely components that come together wonderfully.

Whether you are digging into pani puri, ragda pattice or bhel puri; the flavors of any Indian chaat are unmatched.

Chaats generally have a ton of elements all piled on each other. We generally start with a base like puri, mathri or tikki. Then comes the veggies that are generally diced and added. Next comes the varied chutneys and the crunch. Sev, puri, boondi etc are perfect for crunch. Finally a sprinkle of chaat masala and toppings complete the chaats!

What is Basket Chaat

Papdi Chaat is a popular Indian snack that is easy to make and enjoy. Basket Chaat is a mess free way to enjoy Papdi chaat.

We start with store bought baskets that are generally made from wheat flour and a bunch of other ingredients.

We add in all the layers and build the basket per taste. I like to make them similar to papdi chaat with finely diced onions, tomatoes, potatoes and all the three popular chutneys.

I also like to add a dash of flavored yogurt along with sev and chaat masala. Together, they are perfect and have an explosion of flavors.

While I have added a bunch of ingredients, feel free to skip the ones you do not want to add. The recipe is super versatile!

This Recipe of Basket Chaat

• Comes together in a jiffy. Like most chaats, once you have the vegetables diced and the chutneys made, the recipe is literally a 10 minute one.
• Super customizable, make this basket chaat into dahi puri, bhel puri or sev puri. Only a couple ingredients vary in these recipes.
• This recipe can be served pre-made with all the fixings or served as a make yourself bar. This one works well for parties and get togethers.
• The baskets are single serve, thus making them easy pass around snacks as well.

While I made these baskets into chaats, these work well for a ton of recipes. Make a dip and serve these small tartlets for a party. Make these into dessert tarts with your favorite cheesecake or pudding recipe. Or make them into Mexican baskets with beans, corn and salsa!

Video Recipe

Ingredients

Chaat Puri: The primary ingredient here is Chaat Puri or basket. These are easy to find in Indian stores. Patel Brothers in our area always has a big stack of these.

If you cannot find them, use canapés. They work equally well too. These can made from scratch too.

Vegetables: Minced vegetables make the baskets filing, flavorful and colorful. I like to use onions, tomatoes, potatoes and raw mango. Together they are amazing in the recipe.

Yogurt: A dash of yogurt makes any chaat AMAZING! Skip this for a Vegan version but I would strongly recommend using it to make this basket chaat.

Chutneys: A mix of sweet, spicy and garlic chutney makes the recipe perfect. They balance out each other and the rest of the ingredients.

Use them in the proportion you are comfortable with. There is no set rule for how much of each we need.

I like to prepare the chutneys before hand and use these simple recipe to make my chutneys:

• Sweet Dates Tamarind Chutney: This is an easy chutney to make at home. I make mine using the Instant Pot and freeze it for months. It stays really well and comes handy for chaats.
• Spicy Cilantro Chutney: Another condiment that is great to have at hand, cilantro chutney is super quick and easy to make. Have some in the refrigerator always!
• Spicy Garlic Chutney: While this is easy to make at home (recipe coming soon), you can use this one as well.

Add-ins: Apart from the above ingredients we use some sev, cilantro, pomegranate arils and chaat masala. These are all great for adding flavor and texture to the baskets.

Step by Step Instructions to make Basket Chaat

1- In a bowl add yogurt, half the chaat masala and sugar.

2- Whisk till smooth and set aside.

3-Arrange the chaat baskets in a plate.

4- Add diced onions, tomatoes and potatoes.

5- Then top with sweet dates tamarind chutney.

6- Add seasoned yogurt on each basket.

7- Next, add some spicy and garlic chutney on them.

8- Top with sev, pomegranate arils, chaat masala and cilantro. Serve immediately.

Tips and Notes

• These are best to enjoy just after making, as the chutneys tend to make the baskets soggy.
• Add veggies of your choice and chutneys based on your taste. I love adding all the chutneys and add-ins so the baskets are full of flavor!
• I like to add the veggies first to make a layer between the baskets and the chutneys so the baskets do not get soggy fast.
• To make the recipes ahead of time, prepare the chutneys and chop the veggies. Then the recipe is a super quick and easy one.

If you would like to try more chaat recipes, these would be great for sure:

• Mumbai Bhel Puri: A mix of murmura, sev and a bunch of flavors, this is one of the MOST popular Chaats from India.
• Makhana Chaat: All the elements of chaat with roasted makhana, this chaat is super delicious!
• Dahi Batata Puri: Pani puris stuffed with potatoes, seasoned yogurt and sev, dahi batata puri is another favorite from the chaat family.