Sweet Potato Pakora Chaat is my take on the traditional Indian chaat. Chaat translated from Hindi means to lick—and this flavor and texture combination is very lick-able. This crispy chaat recipe is made with sweet potato, besan, rice flour and spices. It has a tangy taste from the tamarind chutney and coolness from the yogurt—and that sweet-tangy mixture is addictive. Garnished with crunchy sev, pomegranate seeds and fresh cilantro leaves, it’s an all-time favorite dish and the sweet potato keeps it seasonal for Diwali.
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 45 min |
| Active: | 45 min |
| Yield: | 8 to 10 servings |
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes
- 1 1/2 cups besan (gram flour)
- 1/2 cup rice flour
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Kosher salt
- 1 cup seltzer water
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons store bought tamarind chutney
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala
- 1/2 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1/4 cup fine sev
Instructions
- Fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven) about one-third full with the oil. Clip a deep-fry thermometer to the pot and heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
- Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into thin chips (about 1/16-inch thick on a mandoline).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the besan, rice flour, ginger garlic paste, fenugreek, chili powder, turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk in the seltzer just until combined. Add the sweet potatoes and toss to coat.
- Working in batches, fry the sweet potatoes until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer with a spider to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Bring the temperature of the oil back to 350 degrees F between batches.
- In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Drizzle the sweet potato pakora with the tamarind chutney and yogurt sauce. Sprinkle the chaat masala and cumin powder over top. Squeeze the lemon juice on top and finish with the chopped cilantro, pomegranate seeds and sev.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 10 servings |
| Calories | 388 |
| Total Fat | 23 g |
| Saturated Fat | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Protein | 6 g |
| Cholesterol | 2 mg |
| Sodium | 436 mg |