Fruit Chaat is an Indian spiced fresh fruit salad using your favorite chunks of fruit in a medley of tangy, mild spices and a dash of lemon juice for that extra tang.
Add any seasonal fruit of your choice to enjoy this refreshing bowl of oil-free yumminess and nutrition as a snack, appetizer or a complete meal!
Jump to RecipeBe it summer, winter or any time of the year, you are going to enjoy this lip smacking Indian fruit chaat or fruit salad, with a twinge of spice, every time!
This delicious fruit mix is almost on every Indian household’s menu especially during the burning heat of Indian summers when you will see street vendors selling chopped fruits sprinkled with chili powder, chaat masala powder, salt, pepper powder etc.
It is a wonderful make ahead salad and a delicious side for your backyard barbecues or even when family/friends get together.
WHAT IS CHAAT?
With a plethora of spices and sauces, "chaat" (literally has the meaning “lick”) represents a whole category of Indian street foods which are lip smackingly, finger licking good, be it samosas, pani puri, sev puri, aloo tikki, bhel puri etc.
Almost all of these have a special spice blend mix that adds to that unique “chaat/finger licking’ experience; "chaat masala powder".
This is actually a special combination of spices which lends a tangy, spicy and addictive taste to any dish you add it to. Easily available in Indian stores/online or you can make your own at home. I have used the store bought variety.
I love this spice mix so much, I add it to most of my curries to give it an uber taste!
The main ingredients in chaat masala are amchur powder (dry green mango powder), cumin powder, coriander powder and dry ginger powder with of course black salt or pink salt to give it that amazing taste!
Sometimes, to make it more flavorful, you may find black pepper powder, dried/fresh mint leaves etc.
It is an acquired taste and once you start to like it, there is no going back!
A sprinkle of this uber tasting chaat masala powder on wedges of fresh fruit, or on samosas etc. can make any Indian drool!
So, when we crave for street food like taste without all those calories (and of course when we need to finish all the last of the fruits), fruit chaat comes to the rescue!
INDIAN FLAVORED SUMMER FRUIT CHAAT:
Who doesn’t love fruits, especially fruit salad? But mixed with this special masala/spices powder, it takes the fruits to a different level altogether!
Sometimes, "chaat masala" overpowers the flavor of fresh fruit so much that when we want to just enjoy the fruits in all its natural flavors but at the same time need that spicy Indian oomph, I just stir in a dash of pink/black salt, some black pepper powder and a dash of roasted cumin powder (all elements in chaat masala) to the fruit mix and viola! All the taste of Indian street food in a fruit chaat or fruit salad without any strong spices overpowering the heady aroma and taste of freshly cut fruits!
All you need are some fresh seasonal fruits like in summer when you have watermelon, oranges, apples, strawberries, blueberries, mangoes etc. or even some pomegranate pearls along with what I would say actually makes my fruit chaat special, bananas.
Just chop fresh fruits (whatever you can get) into a large bowl, sprinkle some black pepper powder, roasted cumin powder, a dash of pink/black salt (not too much mind you) and freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice, mix and enjoy!
A shower of mint leaves (whole or chopped) adds to the freshness and flavor.
FRUIT CHAAT INGREDIENTS you will need:
Basically any seasonal fruit you have or can get. I have used some store bought and some from my backyard garden:
Strawberries – Find the freshest and vibrantly colored strawberries without any blemish.
Pomegranate pearls/arils: Among the gorgeous and tasty fruits we have in our garden, pomegranate is one of my favorites; deep red, juicy and almost seedless.
Oranges: Again from my backyard. You can get the juiciest ones you can find. Just peel, deseed and cut into small pieces or leave as segments.
Apples – Apples are always in my fruit basket; a variety of them but this time, although I like sweet, red apples, decided to go with the mildly tangy green Granny Smith apples.
Bananas – Store bought and make sure you use ripe bananas.
Blueberries – one thing about living in the US is you get to enjoy fresh strawberries and blueberries all year round and I am enjoying mine thoroughly.
You can also add chunks of mango, pineapple, kiwi fruit, guava etc.
For that added crunch, texture and more nutrition, walnuts are my go to in every salad, be it fruit salad or any green, savory salad!
Now, this being a fruit chaat, we need some basic chaat spices. I find that chaat masala powder (store bought or homemade) too overpowering sometimes with fruits (my whole family does not prefer it too), although you could add that too.
So, after I have chopped the fruits into a bowl, I like to add only some kala namak or black/pink salt, a sprinkle of roasted cumin powder (the essence of any chaat masala powder) and black pepper powder for that spicy kick.
A splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice (or even lime juice) adds that tangy element and keeps bananas and apples from browning too!
That is it!
Mix and serve this delicious, no-oil, healthy, refreshing and Instant fruit salad immediately, but is preferably enjoyed chilled. So, cut the fruits, mix, chill and then just before serving, sprinkle all the above mentioned spice powders, mix and enjoy!
You can swap these with any other fruit you have or like be it grapes, kiwi, watermelon, peaches, mangoes etc.
CAN FRUIT SALAD/FRUIT CHAAT BE MADE AHEAD?
Any cut fruit or salad is best eaten fresh but if you have to, once you have cut the fruits (leave bananas, apples for later), store in a covered container in the fridge for at the most 1 day, and when ready to enjoy fruit chaat, chop in some bananas, apples etc. or even some mangoes, sprinkle the spices, squeeze some lemon juice, mix and enjoy!
Happy Eating!
More Summer Salad Recipes from my blog:
- Easy Marinated Vegetable Salad
- Daikon and Carrot Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing
- Rainbow Garden Pasta Salad
- Zesty Macaroni Salad
- Healthy Raw Carrot and Beetroot Salad
- Mung Bean Sprouts, Mango and Corn Salad
HAVE A REFRESHING SUMMER BUT ENJOY THESE SALADS ALL YEAR LONG!
Fruit Chaat (Indian Spiced Fruit Salad)
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped strawberries
- 1 cup chopped apples I have used Granny Smith
- 1 cup chopped bananas
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- 1 cup peeled and chopped oranges
- ½ cup chopped dates
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- ½ to 1 tsp kala namak/black salt/pink salt or as needed
- ½ tsp to 1 tsp roasted cumin powder or as needed
- ½ tsp black pepper powder or as needed
- Juice from 1 small lemon or as needed
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish optional
Instructions
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In a large bowl, add all the chopped fruits.
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Add chopped dates and walnuts.
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Sprinkle salt, roasted cumin powder and black pepper powder.
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Squeeze fresh lemon juice and toss gently to mix.
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If using chilled fruits, serve right away.
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But if using room temperature fruits, chop fruits and chill.
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Just before serving, sprinkle and mix the spice powders, salt and lemon juice.
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Garnish with freshly chopped mint leaves if preferred and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
You can use any fruit you like. Make sure to add bananas, apples etc. at the end just before serving.
Toss to coat gently as fruits like strawberries and bananas could mush up easily.
Other options to add are dried raisins, cranberries, oranges, grapes, pineapple etc.
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It was nice to go through your post. Thanks for sharing the recipe here. Keep up the good work.