I have just the thing for you to take to your next potluck or bbq! Black-eyed pea chaat, also known as lobia chaat, is a tangy, sweet, and spicy bean salad.
If you’re unfamiliar with chaat, it’s an Indian snack that’s normally made with fried food (like aloo tikki or samosa). I’m sharing a healthier chaat recipe that calls for black-eyed beans, potatoes, herbs, and spices. You can top this chaat with crispy sev (thin noodles made from besan chickpea flour) and pomegranate arils (diced mango works too!).
This chaat is light and refreshing but also filling and comforting. It’s the perfect appetizer for a summertime gathering. Or serve it as a snack with chai or even as a meal.
The best part about this recipe? You can make the beans and the potatoes at the same time in the same pot. When it’s done, mix in some spices, toss it with a really flavorful dressing, and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb all of that salty, tangy, herby goodness.
Have fun with this recipe. You can add other veggies to this if you’d like (cucumber or red bell pepper would be great) but if you do, make sure to adjust spices accordingly.
I’ve added green chutney and tamarind chutney to the dressing in the recipe below, but feel free to serve this chaat with additional bowls of chutney as well as extra toppings! That way, people can add what they like to their bowls (I tend to go heavy-handed on the crispy sev, lol). Enjoy!
Instant Pot Black-Eyed Pea Chaat (Indian Bean Salad)
Instant Pot Black-Eyed Pea Chaat (Indian Bean Salad)
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried black-eyed peas soaked for 3 hours
- 1 pound gold potatoes approx 3, peeled, leave whole
- 1 ½ cups water
Spices:
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon amchur dried mango powder
- 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- ¼ teaspoon black salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Dressing:
- 1-2 green chilis minced
- ½ cup cilantro leaves chopped
- ¼ cup chopped red onions green onions or regular onions work too
- 3 tablespoons tamarind chutney
- 3 tablespoons green chutney
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil optional
- 2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves optional
Garnish:
- Handful of pomegranate arils to taste (can also use diced mango!)
- Handful of sev besan noodles, to taste
- Cilantro
- Red onion chopped
- Serve with additional chutney optional
Instructions
- Soak the black-eyed peas in water for 3 hours. Drain and rinse.
- Add the black-eyed peas, whole peeled potatoes, and water to the instant pot.
- Secure the lid, close the pressure valve and cook for 10 minutes at high pressure.
- Naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, then open the valve to release remaining pressure.
- Remove the potatoes and allow them to cool. Once cool, chop them and set aside for now.
- Add the spices to the beans and mix well.
- Combine the dressing ingredients together in a bowl, then stir the dressing into the beans.
- Gently stir the chopped potatoes into the beans and allow it to all sit for 5 minutes (if there’s any water remaining in the pot, it’ll get absorbed).
- Serve warm or at room temp and garnish with pomegranate arils, sev, red onion and cilantro just before serving.
Notes
For all the parents working at home with kids… I feel ya, lol.
Protima says
Could I use canned black eyed peas instead? How would I modify the recipe/cooking time?
My Heart Beets says
Hi Protima, canned beans are already cooked so no need to cook them 🙂
Sharmila Gidwani says
I am looking forward to trying this! If I halve the recipe (we are empty nesters!), would i leave the time the same? Also what quantity would you recommend for potatoes?
My Heart Beets says
Hi Sharmila, I haven’t tried halving the recipe but I’m sure it’ll be fine – I’d use half of all of the ingredients listed, but keep the cook time the same. Let me know what you think!
Brandy says
I’m crazy about this and I’m about to make this for the third time in nine days. For the first time in my life the pleasure of eating chaat eclipses the guilt– this is pretty healthy IMO, but the full chaat experience. Thank you so much.
My Heart Beets says
Brandy, that makes me so happy to hear! Thanks for letting me know how much you like this chaat! 🙂
Maneesha says
Wow! This looks amazing! I love chaat and can’t wait to try this! I love the pics of your sons! so cute!
My Heart Beets says
Thanks, Maneesha! I can’t wait to hear what you think 🙂
Swathi says
This looks delicious! Would you be able to provide the nutrition info for this? I’m watching my carb and protein intake and would like to know if this could be a meal.
Thanks
Swathi