Desi Nachos Chaat is a fusion appetizer that combines the chips and toppings from Mexican nachos with the vibrance and flavors of Indian chaat. It starts with a base of crispy corn tortilla chips, similar to traditional nachos, which are then layered with a variety of flavorful toppings inspired by Indian street food. Growing up, one of my favorite snacks my mom would give me was salty chips tossed with her freshly made cilantro-mint chutney. We could eat a whole bag of it in one sitting. That’s why you’ll want to be careful with this Nachos Chaat… I may or may not have eaten half the pan for dinner one time. Nachos Chaat sticks to the concept of chaat that we love - the harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, spicy, and crunchy elements. It’s a crowd-pleasing party appetizer and or snack for the whole family.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
What is Chaat?
A popular street food in South Asia, chaat translates to the verb “to lick” and also happens to describe an entire category of finger-lickin’ good Indian snacks. They’re the preferred vegetarian starter at any desi restaurant. It hits every flavor profile and texture that makes it craveable - sweet, spicy, tangy, salty, crunchy.
These vegetarian and gluten-free Indian Nachos are so flavorful and a wonderful fusion of Indian and Mexican cuisine. Nachos Chaat is perfect for game days, Cinco de Mayo, and generally hosting friends and family for a casual party. I provide you with instructions on how to make cilantro-mint chutney and tamarind-date chutney at home. I almost always have a batch of homemade chutneys in my refrigerator, but you can also purchase them from an Indian grocery store or from your favorite Indian restaurant. The post gives you all the substitutions! If you don’t like beans, if you prefer meat, other options for sauces, etc.
Chaat is essentially a quick snack you can make at any time with things that are already in your pantry. It starts with something crunchy that’s then layered with chutneys, spices like chaat masala, and toppings like fresh pomegranates and red onions. Usually, family and friends sit over a tablescape of different chaats with a cup of freshly brewed chai to gossip. A popular pun is, “let’s chat over chaat.” A few staples are Samosa Chaat, Papdi Chaat, Sev Puri Chaat, Fruit Chaat, Peanut Chaat, Aloo Tikki Chaat, Gol Gappa or Pani Puri, Raj Kachori, Bhel Puri, Dahi Vada… the list goes on and on.
Ingredients - Notes and Substitutions
Tortilla Chips - While I love store-bought or homemade yellow corn tortilla chips for this recipe, there are many Indian replacements for the crunch! You can use mini papadums or papdi. Chickpeas - Use up to a full can of chickpeas, being sure to drain and rinse them really well. Substitute with black beans. Jalapeños - You can use fresh jalapeños but pickled jalapeños are a must for me on nachos. Spices - A sprinkle of roasted cumin powder, chaat masala, and mild Kashmiri chili powder add those delicious chaat-style flavors to the nachos. Chutneys - We’re using a cilantro chutney and date tamarind chutney which are typical to chaats. They’re always best when homemade, but you can find both of them at Indian grocery stores. You may find the date tamarind chutney labeled as date chutney, meethi chutney, or imli chutney. Pomegranate molasses is also tangy and slightly sweet so it would work as a substitute for tamarind chutney. Chamoy is tangy and spicy and would be delicious as a substitute for tamarind chutney. Cheese - I use shredded Mexican cheese but sharp cheddar cheese is also another delicious option. Red Onion - Raw diced red onion is common to chaat, but you can also use pickled red onions. Toppings - Of course, nachos need guacamole and sour cream. Fire-roasted corn would also be delicious. Instead of sour cream, try drizzling Cucumber Mint Raita. I’d recommend grating or omitting the cucumber.
How to make Cheesy Nachos Chaat
1. Make the Chutney
To make the best Nachos Chaat, I always make my own chutney at home for the best, freshest flavor. If you choose to as well, these recipes make several servings, more than you’ll need for just the nachos. Be sure to scale it down if you don’t plan on using it up. To make the cilantro-mint chutney: To make the imli chutney:
2. Assemble the Nachos
Lastly, add ½ cup of guacamole and ¼ - ½ cup of sour cream on top of the nachos. Then, you’re ready to enjoy with your friends and family!
Serving Suggestions
For a Indian Mexican-inspired night, enjoy these nachos as an appetizer with a Spicy Passion Fruit Margarita or Chai Horchata if it’s earlier in the day. Follow it up with these Vegetarian Bean and Corn Enchiladas. For dessert, you’ll love this cozy Masala Chai Tres Leches Cake.
More Indian Snacks to try
Recipe
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