Description
Watermelon Fruit Chaat is a refreshing and healthy Indian dish that combines juicy fruits like watermelon, pineapple, mango, and pomegranate with bold spices like chaat masala, cumin, and cayenne. It’s a zesty, hydrating snack perfect for summer days or gatherings.
Ingredients
2 pounds watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup pineapple chunks
1 cup mango chunks
1 cup pomegranate seeds
¾ teaspoon whole cumin seeds
¼ teaspoon sweet paprika
¼ teaspoon finely ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon amchur powder
¼ teaspoon chaat masala
Pinch of ground cayenne
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Juice of 1 orange or mandarin (about ⅓ cup)
½ teaspoon finely chopped jalapeño pepper
3 to 4 fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the Fruits: Place the cubed watermelon, pineapple chunks, mango chunks, and pomegranate seeds in a large dish. Spread them out evenly.
- Toast and Grind Cumin Seeds: In a small pan, toast the cumin seeds on medium heat for about 3 minutes until fragrant. Then, coarsely grind the toasted cumin seeds using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, mix the ground cumin, sweet paprika, black pepper, amchur powder, chaat masala, ground cayenne, and sea salt. Add the citrus juice, chopped jalapeño pepper, and sliced mint leaves. Stir well to combine.
- Combine and Marinate: Pour the dressing over the mixed fruits. Gently toss to coat all pieces evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and let the chaat marinate in the fridge for 1 to 6 hours.
- Serve: Serve the fruit chaat chilled. For extra crunch, you can add roasted peanuts or crispy chickpea noodles just before serving.
Notes
Regional Twists: Add other fruits like kiwi, cucumber, or grapes for new textures and tastes.
Spice Level: Adjust the spice level by increasing or decreasing the cayenne, black pepper, or jalapeño.
Herb Options: Replace mint leaves with cilantro for a different flavor.
Add a Crunch: For extra crunch, sprinkle roasted peanuts, crispy chickpea noodles (sev), or sunflower seeds on top just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 80 kcal
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: undefined
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
