A sweet, tangy and super flavorful snack; Fruit Chaat uses seasonal fruits with minimal spices.
It is full of colors, textures and flavors. Enjoy as a snack or serve as an appetizer or side.
Chaats are the most loved food type in India. tangy, sweet, spicy and full of colors; this is loved by so many. Whether it is Bhel Puri, Dahi Batata Puri or Samosa Chaat, they are all loved by everyone. And Pani Puri is definitely the undisputed leader of the pack.
Chaats make the best snack, appetizer or even a complete meal. They are generally easy to put together and have elements that can be made in advance. However, it is best assembled and served immediately.
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What is Chaat
Chaat comes from the Hindi word 'Chaatna' which means 'to lick'. And no wonder thus that the snack is such that it will keep you licking your fingers.
Chaats are best enjoyed at street side vendor who make them lip smacking; with sweet, sour and spicy flavors all combined in every plate. They are generally full of textures, flavors and ingredients that are easy to find.
Chaat parties are not uncommon in Indian households and chaats are also the favorite 4 p.m. snack for many. It is something that can be made quickly for guests and friends as many folks have chutneys made and kept in the freezer year round.
About this Fruit Chaat
A rather unique recipe, fruit chaat is in reality a lip smacking chaat recipe; except that it uses fruits instead of other conventional ingredients.
Fruit Chaat is a slightly sweet, tangy and salty chaat made with bite size fruits. This fruit chaat or fruit salad is popular in India and Pakistan. It is common as an appetizer, a quick 4 p.m. snack and enjoyed for Ramadan Iftar along with the rest of the meal.
Season the fruits, mix them up and this Fruit Chaat is ready in minutes. It is such a wonderful recipe through the summers and beyond.
Why this recipe works
- It comes together in under 10 minutes.
- The recipe is really easy to make, kids can whip it up too.
- We only need some chopped fruits and masalas for the recipe.
- The recipe is Vegan friendly and gluten-free too.
- In this version, the recipe is even nut-free.
- We can serve this chaat as a snack, an appetizer or a side.
- Slightly sweet, tangy and salty; this can be made spicy too.
- It is also a great fasting or vrat friendly recipe with some modifications.
- It is a great way to include a lot of fruits in one go.
- This fruit chaat makes a colorful dish for any get together or picnic too.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Fruits: The prime ingredient here is fruits. Mixed fruits that are different colored work best. I love to use seasonal fruits as they are super flavorful. However, the ones that are available year round work wonderfully too. I have used cherry, strawberries, apple, banana, peach, pomegranate, orange and grapes. Use a mix of sweet and sour fruits for a delicious combination.
- Chaat Masala: What is a chaat without chaat masala? Add some for the perfect zing in the recipe. Pick any brand of your choice, they all tend to be similar in spices.
- Seasonings: Apart from chaat masala I like to add some rock salt, roasted cumin powder and aamchur. They add a lot of taste and balance the sweetness of fruits. I would recommend adding these and not skipping any of them.
- Lemon juice: To add some sourness and freshness to the chaat we add lemon juice. Fresh lemon works the best over the bottled one.
- Moreover, we can add some orange juice to the recipe. It does add a lot of flavor. And some mint leaves are perfect for a pop of color and flavor. Do not skip the mint!
See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.
What fruits work best
Fruits are the prime ingredient in the recipe. However, we need to pick and choose the fruits that will work well.
Apples, pears, stone fruits and berries are great for the recipe. And so are grapes and cherries. Add some mangos, pineapples and chickoo if you can get that.
That being said, we leave out squishy fruits like cantaloupe, watermelon and other melons as they water down the salad. Moreover, figs and avocados are generally not great in fruit chaats.
Moreover, adding some fruit juices in the chaat is great. Orange juice and mango juice are my favorites to add in the chaat. And of course, lemon juice is a must-have ingredient of the recipe.
How to make this recipe
1- In a large bowl add bite size chopped banana, pitted cherries, apples and grapes.
2- Then add diced peaches, pomegranate, strawberries and peeled and diced oranges.
3- Add the seasonings.
4- Add the lemon juice.
5- Mix everything well but make sure the fruits are not completely smashed.
6- Serve it with a sprig of mint.
Expert Tips and Notes
- Choosing the fruits: Apart from the ones I have used, chickoo, pineapple and pears work wonderfully in the recipe. However, watermelon, cantaloupe, figs etc. are generally not used in fruit chaat.
- Cutting the fruits: The hardy fruits can be cut earlier. However, banana, apples and pears work best when chopped right before adding. They tend to mush and turn brown when kept out for a long time.
- Size of fruits: Chop all the fruits evenly. They should be of similar size so they mix well. And keep them bite size for the best salad.
- Making this for kids: If this is made for kids, ensure the grapes are chopped. They tend to be a choking hazard for toddlers.
- Fruit juices: Orange juice and mango juice add a lot of flavor to the recipe. Add them if you like.
- Fast/Vrat friendly: While all the fruits are great for fasting, chaat masala, rock salt and aamchur may not be. So simply add sendha namak and black pepper powder; and leave out the aamchur and chaat masala. Balance the sweetness by adding more lemon juice.
- Sweetener: If you like the chaat slightly sweet, add a dash of maple syrup, honey or another sweetener of choice. This however is optional.
- More additions: The recipe is great to use with many other ingredients. Adding roasted chickpeas, peanuts, tamarind and cilantro chutney, boiled potatoes or even some cinnamon powder works great.
Recipe FAQs
While most hardy fruits and berries are perfect in fruit chaat; there are some that do not work very well. Fruits with high water content like cantaloupe or watermelon do not work too well. Plus, figs are not the best fruits to add in the fruit chaat.
All the fruits are vrat friendly. However, skip the aamchur, rock salt and chaat masala. Instead add sendha namak and some black pepper powder along with cumin powder to the recipe with some extra lemon juice.
It is best to make this fruit chaat just before serving. However, chop some of the fruits ahead of time. Simply chop the apples and banana just before adding so they do not turn brown.
Fruit chaat is not the best recipe to store. However, if there are leftovers, simply add to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. It will turn mushy after that.
Not really. We need the fruits to be fresh and crisp. Frozen fruits simply do not make fruit chaat too well. They release a lot of moisture as they defrost and will not taste the best.
There are several brands of chaat masala. However, MDH, Everest and Shan brands Chaat Masala do work well.
More Chaat Recipes
Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like it, consider a review in the comments whilst you are there, thanks!
Fruit Chaat
Ingredients
- 1 medium apple (chopped)
- 1 medium peach (chopped)
- 1 medium banana (peeled and chopped)
- 10-12 cherries (pitted and halved)
- 12-15 grapes (halved)
- 1 medium orange (peeled and chopped)
- 6-7 strawberries (chopped)
- ¼ cup pomegranate arils
- 1 tablespoon chaat masala
- 1 teaspoon rock salt
- ½ teaspoon aamchur
- 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- ½ lemon (juiced)
- 2-3 stalks mint leaves
Instructions
- In a bowl add bite size fruits.1 medium apple, 1 medium banana, 10-12 cherries, 12-15 grapes
- Then add the rest of the fruits.1 medium peach, 1 medium orange, 6-7 strawberries, ¼ cup pomegranate arils
- Add the seasonings.1 tablespoon chaat masala, 1 teaspoon rock salt, ½ teaspoon aamchur, 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- Add the lemon juice.½ lemon
- Mix everything well but make sure the fruits are not completely smashed.
- Serve it with a sprig of mint.2-3 stalks mint leaves
Video
Notes
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- Choosing the fruits: Apart from the ones I have used, chickoo, pineapple and pears work wonderfully in the recipe. However, watermelon, cantaloupe, figs etc are generally not used in fruit chaat.
- Cutting the fruits: The hardy fruits can be cut before hand. However, banana, apples and pears work best when chopped right before adding. They tend to mush and turn brown when kept out for a long time.
- Size of fruits: Chop all the fruits evenly. They should be of similar size so they mix well. And keep them bite size for the best salad.
- Making this for kids: If this is made for kids, ensure the grapes are chopped. They tend to be a choking hazard for toddlers.
- Fruit juices: Orange juice and mango juice add a lot of flavor to the recipe. Add them if you like.
- Fast/Vrat friendly: While all the fruits are great for fasting, chaat masala, rock salt and aamchur may not be. So simply add sendha namak and black pepper powder; and leave out the aamchur and chaat masala. Balance the sweetness by adding more lemon juice.
- Sweetener: If you like the chaat slightly sweet, add a dash of maple syrup, honey or another sweetener of choice. This however is optional.
- More additions: The recipe is great to use with many other ingredients. Adding roasted chickpeas, peanuts, tamarind and cilantro chutney, boiled potatoes or even some cinnamon powder works great.
Haemi says
Hey Smruti,
I Hope you're doing well. I love all of your recipes, I have recently tried this Fruit Chat with apples, pomegranate, and grapes. I kept it simple but the flavors were bang on. I loved it.
Thanks for sharing such a refreshing and simple recipe.
Smruti says
Thanks a lot Haemi. I am glad you liked the recipe!