Boiled Peanut Chaat (Indian Peanut Salad)
Tender boiled peanuts tossed with onion, tomato, herbs, and chaat masala for a juicy no-fry snack or side.
Ingredients
For the boiled peanuts
- 1 lb raw peanuts in shell about 450 g; rinsed
- 6 cups water
- 2 tbsp fine salt for boiling; adjust to taste
For the chaat
- 3 cups boiled peanuts shell on or shelled; see notes; drained
- 1 small red onion about 120 g; finely diced
- 1 medium tomato about 150 g; deseeded and diced
- 1 to 2 green chilies optional; finely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice about 1 lemon
- 1 to 2 tsp chaat masala to taste
- 1/4 tsp roasted cumin powder bhuna jeera
- 1/4 tsp red chili powder or Kashmiri chili optional
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp date-tamarind chutney optional
- 1 tbsp green chutney optional
- 1/3 cup pomegranate arils optional
- Thin sev or crushed papdi (optional)
Instructions
Boil the peanuts
- In a pot, combine rinsed raw peanuts, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a lively simmer.
- Cook until peanuts are tender inside the shell, about 35 to 50 minutes depending on size and freshness. Cool slightly, then drain.
Assemble the chaat
- If serving shell-on, crack the shell enough for guests to pop the nut out, or provide a discard bowl. For less mess, shell most peanuts and keep a few in shell for looks.
- In a large bowl, combine boiled peanuts, onion, tomato, green chili (if using), and half the cilantro.
- Add lemon juice, chaat masala, roasted cumin powder, optional red chili, and salt. Toss gently.
- Drizzle chutneys if using, toss again, then top with remaining cilantro, pomegranate, and optional sev right before serving.
Notes
Salt and toss tomato and lemon close to serving so the bowl stays dry and perky.
Boiled peanuts keep in the fridge up to 3 days in lightly salted cooking liquid; drain well before chaat.
Kid-friendly: omit green chili, serve chutneys on the side.
Eat dressed chaat the same day; store undressed components separately up to 1 day.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!