Chana Chaat (Spiced Chickpea Salad)

Ingredients

• 400 g cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 red onion, finely sliced
• 2 tomatoes, diced small
• 1 cucumber, diced small
• 1 boiled potato, diced (optional)
• 2 tbsp tamarind (imli), dissolved in 4 tbsp hot water
• 1 tsp dried mango powder (amchur)
• 1 tsp ground cumin, lightly toasted
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• 2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• Salt, to taste

Steps

1. Soak the tamarind in hot water for 10 minutes, then squeeze the pulp to extract its concentrated juice. Strain to remove fibres and seeds.
2. In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, red onion, tomatoes, cucumber and potato if using.
3. Add the tamarind juice, mango powder, toasted cumin, chilli powder and asafoetida.
4. Mix gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
5. Add the lime juice, season with salt, and adjust to taste.
6. Scatter with fresh coriander and serve immediately, chilled.