Masala boondi salad is crispy crunchy, tangy and spicy Indian chat. This super simple recipe is so easy yet so delicious.
We have an array of different drool worthy chat recipes on the blog. My favorites are Matar Chat, Delhi style Samosa Chaat, Ragda Pattice and Kutchi Dabeli along with this Vegetarian Masala Boondi Chat Salad.
What is Boondi?
Boondi is a popular Indian snack made with chickpeas flour. It is spicy , tangy and crunchy. These little puffs are so popular , you find them easily in most Indian grocery stores.
I am pairing them with some usual and easy to find fresh vegetables. Layer in typical Indian chutneys on top and voila ! Your boondi chat is ready.
What is Indian Chaat?
If you are new to Indian food, chaat ( also spelled as chat ) is a generic name used to describe a variety of snack / appetizer dishes. These savory dishes are very popular amongst street food lovers.
Recipe Inspiration
This recipe was first introduced to me by my friend Reena. We both are foodies and often like to hang out over lunches or cups of Masala Tea and easy snacks like Rice Krispies Chivda.
On one such occasion, she made this delicious recipe. It was love at first bite. We must have finished a couple of bowls in a hurry. It.was.delicious ! So I had to share it with you all.
Boondi Bhel Chat
This recipe is a cross between bhel and simple salad. Layering several different flavors makes it truly unique and scrumptious.
What I like most about this boondi chat bhel is that it is so simple but superbly delicious. It also is a no fuss recipe. No hard and fast rule about quantity and ingredients....use what you have readily available.
Easy Indian Party Appetizer
Indian food tends to be an elaborate affair which needs a lot of effort and planning. Having few easy recipes helps to take the burden off the hosting.
This semi homemade recipe is quick and easy. It is made in bulk so you can serve it for parties or potlucks. It also is a crowd pleaser snack/ appetizer. You need to have such recipes handy for last minute guests.
You can use it for Diwali, Holi or other Indian festive menu planning. It is also useful for potlucks and weekend dinner parties.
Storage Suggestions
Make this boondi chaat fresh and serve. Boondi will lose its crispiness and get soggy if you let it sit for too long with other wet ingredients.
So keep everything ready. Chop the veggies, have the chutneys and boondi ready. But mix it all only when you are ready to serve.
Ingredients
Boondi – Use spicy masala boondi if possible. I often use store bought Haldiram’s or Deep brand Masala Boondi. If you use plain boondi, add additional spices over the prepared chat. Red chili powder, roasted cumin powder and black salt work very well.
Veggie Salad Mix - finely chopped onion ( I like red onion for it's sharp pungent taste ) , red tomatoes , cucumber and cilantro. Fresh lime juice adds a lot of freshness and a tangy taste. Pomegranate arils are perfect for contrasting colors and lovely taste.
Sev - Sev is Indian spiced fried chickpea noodles. I like to add plain thin sev over the chat.
Spices - since we use masala boondi, not many spices are needed. Simple dusting of red chili powder, chat masala is sufficient.
Optional Garnishes - If you have raw or green mangoes easily available, add ¼ cup finely chopped pieces to this chat. The sour and tart taste is unique and very appealing.
Creamy thinned yogurt, mint cilantro chutney and date tamarind chutney are optional but highly recommended accoutrements. Mint cilantro chutney and sweet date tamarind chutney add bright, spicy, tart, and sweet flavors to the fried puffs. If you drizzle some yogurt over the top, it adds a cool feel and further enhances the taste.
How To Make
In a large mixing bowl, combine masala boondi, chopped veggies - onion, tomato, cucumber and cilantro.
Drizzle pomegranate arils and chat masala. Add lime / lemon juice and mix well.
Serve immediately with optional garnishes as desired. Drizzle of chutneys and yogurt is amazing and should be done just before serving.
Our Delicious Indian Food Ideas
We have several delectable Indian food recipes on this site. Ranging from scrumptious comforting curries to street food snacks and exotic desserts, these recipes will surely have you cooking something new often. Do try them all.
Instant Pot Indian Curry Recipes
Easy Indian Appetizers / Snacks
Delicious Indian Desserts
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📖 Recipe
Masala Boondi Chaat
Ingredients
- 10 OZ 283 grams Masala Boondi - fried spiced chickpea puffs
- 1 Medium Red Onion - finely chopped
- 2 medium red tomatoes - finely chopped
- 1 cucumber - remove seeds and thinly chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves - chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon Chat Masala
- ½ Lemon or Lime Juiced
- ½ cup thin sev - fried chickpea noodles
Optional Garnishes
- ¼ cup Cilantro Mint Chutney
- ¼ cup date tamarind chutney
- ¼ cup thinned yogurt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine masala boondi, chopped veggies - onion, tomato, cucumber and cilantro.
- Drizzle pomegranate arils and chat masala. Add lime / lemon juice and mix well.
- Serve immediately with optional garnishes as desired. Drizzle of chutneys and yogurt is amazing and should be done just before serving.
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