Matar Chaat- an easy Indian appetizer or snack made with white peas mixed with onions, tomatoes and spices! Served with kulcha, it makes a filling meal.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Total time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Snack
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried white peas ((safed matar), 200 grams, soaked overnight)
  • 1.5 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 medium onion (chopped)
  • 1 medium tomato (chopped)
  • 1 green chili (chopped)
  • 1 inch ginger (julienned)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kala namak (black salt)
  • 1/4 teaspoon chaat masala
  • 3 tablespoons sweet tamarind chutney
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro chutney

Method

  1. Soak 1 cup dried white peas (safed matar) in enough water (around 3 cups) overnight. Then in the morning, rinse and drain the water. Transfer the peas to the inner steel pot of your Instant Pot, add 1.5 cups (12 oz) water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir.
  2. Close the pot with the lid and press the pressure cook button. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes or if you prefer much softer peas do 20 minutes (with the pressure valve in the sealing position). Let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid and then using a strainer drain the water in which the peas were pressure cooker. But retain like 2 tablespoons of water so that the peas remain little moist and not become completely dry.
  3. Transfer to a large bowl and then add to it- chopped onion, chopped tomato, green chili, ginger juliennes, chopped cilantro, cumin powder, kala namak and chaat masala.
  4. Also add the sweet tamarind chutney and cilantro chutney. Mix everything together until it's all well combined. Serve matar chaat with kulcha or as a snack.

Stove-top Pressure Cooker Instructions

  1. If you want to use a regular stove-top pressure cooker, soak the peas overnight and then cook for 4-5 whistles on medium-high heat. Follow rest of the steps as it is.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.