This bright and colorful Fruit Chaat is a zesty Indian-spiced fruit salad. Made with an assortment of sweet juicy fruits, and seasoned with a unique spice blend called chaat masala, lemon juice, and mint, this healthy snack comes together in just 10 minutes.
Customize it with your favorite fruits and try this Indian fruit salad to satisfy your sweet cravings.
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Fruit chaat brings back childhood memories for me. I had a bowl of this sweet-spicy snack every day after school.
Fruit chaat is also a popular street-food item, especially in Delhi. You'll find a vendor at most strip malls and outside college campuses.
Let's check out this easy 10-minute recipe to make this chaat at home.
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What is Fruit Chaat?
Fruit chaat is an Indian-spiced fruit salad that is seasoned with a unique spice blend called chaat masala and fresh citrus juice. It's a popular evening snack in Indian homes.
What is chaat masala? A spicy-tangy blend made by combining dry mango powder (amchur), black salt (kala namak), roasted cumin powder, pomegranate seed powder (anardana), red chili powder (cayenne)
Let's take a look at what we need to put this chaat together.
Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions
Which fruits to pick? Pick fruits that are not too juicy (example: watermelon) as they water down the salad.
Go for seasonal fruits for the best ripe flavor that naturally enhances the taste of this Indian fruit salad. I typically pick a balance of sweet and tart fruits.
Fruits: Apple, pear, banana, and mango are my go-to fruits for this salad. Depending on the season, I also add strawberries, oranges (or mandarine), and nectarine (or peach).
Other fruits that go well include guava, papaya, cantaloupe, grapes, and blueberries.
Salt: Himalayan salt (pink salt), or Kala namak (black salt) bring out the best flavor in fruits. If you can't get either, substitute with sea salt instead.
Chaat Masala: This popular finishing spice blend adds a salty-spicy-tangy flavor to the fruit salad. It is hard to substitute this spice, so look for it in your nearest Indian store or on Amazon.
Cumin powder: I prefer using roasted cumin powder for its sweet-smoky taste that balances the sweet juicy fruits. If you can't find it, add in an extra ¼ teaspoon of chaat masala.
Red Chili Powder (Optional): This is totally your personal preference. I love adding a pinch of red chili powder or cayenne for a little kick but feel free to skip it.
Lemon: Fresh lemon juice marries all these flavors with the fruits. Lime juice is the next best substitute. I wouldn't recommend using bottled juices here.
Scroll to the recipe card for a detailed list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Fruit Chaat
All it takes is 10 minutes to make this delicious snack. Let's take a look at the step-by-step photos and instructions:
Start by peeling mango, banana, and orange. For expert tips on easily peeling a mango, refer to this post: How to Cut & Peel a Mango. You can leave the peels of apple and pear intact.
Step 1: Cut the fruits into bite-size pieces and assemble them in a large serving bowl. Keep the size somewhat similar for evening seasoning.
Step 2: Add all the spices, chopped mint leaves, and freshly squeezed lemon juice (or lime) and gently toss everything to combine.
Adjust taste to your liking and enjoy!
How to Serve
Finish your fruit salad with some finely chopped mint and enjoy. It's the ultimate combination of beauty and taste! Optionally, top with a tablespoon of pomegranate seeds.
How to Store
After seasoning, fruit chaat can be refrigerated for 8-10 hours. The salt and lemon begin to break down the fibers in the fruits, which is why it does not stay well long after seasoning.
If you're planning on serving it later, cut the citrus, and strawberries ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, cut banana, apple, and pears and toss with seasoning.
Popular Variations
Tropical Fruit Chaat: Make it tropical themes and add mango, papaya, pineapple, guava, kiwi, and other preferred fruit combinations.
Fruit Chaat with Chickpeas: Chickpeas are a popular addition to add protein to this salad.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Freshness: Fruits like bananas, apples, and pears are best cut when ready to serve since they start browning after cutting due to oxidization. You can cut and assemble other fruits 2-3 hours ahead of time.
- Cutting Size: For best results, cut all fruit into bite-size pieces for even seasoning.
- Fruit choices: You can customize this recipe by picking your favorite fruits. Use this recipe as a guide for seasoning.
- Season: Toss the fruits with seasoning just before they are ready to serve, otherwise the fruits will begin to soften and break down.
Frequently Asked Questions
I would consider this fruit chaat healthy, provided it is had in moderation. Since we're keeping the peels intact for half the fruits, this dish is high in fiber and essential vitamins as well.
However, if you're watching your carbs and sugar intake, you might want to reduce the quantity, since each serving size contains 28 grams of net carbs.
Combine ¼ teaspoon each of cumin powder, dry mango powder, dry pomegranate powder, and kala namak (black salt). Add a few dashes of red chili powder and mix well.
I personally prefer Everest, MDH, and 24 Mantra brands for chaat masala.
Avoid fruits that have a high water content, for example, watermelon. They water down the salad after seasoning. Avoid delicate berries that may get squished while tossing the salad.
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📖 Recipe
Fruit Chaat (Indian Fruit Salad)
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Ingredients
- 1 apple diced
- 1 banana sliced
- 1 pear diced
- 1 small mango diced
- 1 orange diced
- 8 strawberries sliced
- ¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon chaat masala
- ¼ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- ⅛ teaspoon red chili powder optional
- 4-5 leaves mint leaves finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or lime
Instructions
- Peel mango, banana, and orange. You can leave the peels of apple and pear intact. Cut the fruits into bite-size pieces and assemble them in a large serving bowl.
- Add all the spices, chopped mint leaves, freshly squeezed lemon juice (or lime) and gently toss everything to combine. Adjust taste to your liking and enjoy!
Notes
- Freshness: Fruits like banana, apple, and pear are best cut when ready to serve since they start browning after cutting due to oxidization. You can cut and assemble other fruits 2-3 hours ahead of time.
- Cutting Size: For best results, cut all fruit into bite-size pieces for even seasoning.
- Fruit choices: You can customize this recipe by picking your favorite fruits. Use this recipe as a guide for seasoning.
- Season: Toss the fruits with seasoning just before they are ready to serve, otherwise the fruits will begin to soften and break down.
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