One of the most iconic dishes found on the busy streets of Kolkata, Ghugni chaat is a popular snack food in Bengal. It’s made of dried white peas with chopped tomatoes, potatoes, onions, green chilies, cilantro and tamarind chutneys, ginger, and a wide variety of spices! Served with naan or as a chaat with some crunchy, tangy toppings, it’s beloved throughout the country!
It’s basically a spicy curry made with dried white peas, veggies, and spices like garam masala and chaat masala. It can be prepared in a quick 25 minutes in the Instant Pot, making it a perfectly feasible option for weekdays and even parties. It’s also packed full of healthy proteins, and is oil free!
Ghugni Chaat is a relished not only in Kolkata, but will soon be a favorite in your house too!
If you liked this, make sure to check out my other Instant Pot dishes:
- Instant Pot Palak Methi Chana Dal – Spinach Fenugreek Lentil Stew
- Dum Aloo – Potato Curry (Instant Pot or Stovetop)
- Paneer Coconut Masala – Instant Pot or Stovetop
- Saffron Rose Biryani – Instant Pot or Stovetop
- Nepali Kwati Daal (Mixed Lentil Stew) – Instant Pot or Stovetop
STEP BY STEP VIDEO:
One of the most iconic dishes found on the busy streets of Kolkata, Ghugni Chaat is a snack made of dried white peas, veggies and a medley of spices. Try this quick and easy Instant Pot recipe for a healthy meal which is nutritious and oil free! Enjoy this yummy Indian street food as a chaat or as a curry with some naan bread for the ultimate dish!!
- 2 cups dried white peas (vatana) , soaked in warm water for 6-8 hours
- 2 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 tsp ginger , minced
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 cloves
- 1 bay leaves
- 1/2 cinnamon stick
- 1 potatoes , medium size and chopped
- 1 cup onions , finely chopped
- 1 cup tomatoes , deseeded and finely chopped
- 10-15 strands ginger , julienned
- 2 green chilies , finely chopped
- 3 tbsp tamarind pulp
- 1 1/2 tsp jaggery or sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp red chili powder
- 1 tbsp chana masala
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp chaat masala
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp mango powder (amchur)
- salt to taste
- 1/4 cup cilantro , finely chopped
- tamarind chutney
- cilantro chutney
- lemons
- ginger , julienned
- tomatoes , chopped
- onions , chopped
- 1 tsp chaat masala and 1/4 tsp garam masala , mixed together
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Soak the dried white peas (white vatana) for 6-8 hours or ideally overnight in warm water.
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Drain the white peas. Put them into the Instant Pot with the potatoes, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric powder, bay leaves, minced ginger and water. Make sure to add a generous pinch of salt.
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Lock the lid , select the manual button and set it to 15 minutes on high pressure. Make sure your vent is on the sealing position.
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When the cooking is complete and the Instant Pot beeps, quick release the pressure and open the lid.
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Discard the bay leaves, cinnamon, and cloves.
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Now, put the Instant Pot on sauté mode. Add tomatoes, onions, ginger julienne, and green chilies. Save a little of each for garnishing. Also lightly mash the potatoes and white peas using the back of the spoon, to release some starch and thicken the gravy.
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Add red chili powder, mango powder (amchur), chana masala, chaat masala, tamarind pulp, and jaggery (or sugar). Mix it all in and adjust the salt to taste.
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Add cilantro and sauté for 5-7 minutes and it’s ready!
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Garnish with cilantro and tamarind chutneys, vegetables, and masala. Squeeze some lime and Enjoy!
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Instead of using the Instant Pot in step 3, cook it in a pressure cooker for 2 whistle, adding 1 more cup of water.
Recipe Video
- Do not over cook, do a quick release as soon as 15 minutes on manual finishes. Otherwise the peas will get mushy.
- Add chutneys and other spices for garnish as per your taste and preference.
- You can make the dish in advance - just don't add tomatoes and onions in the saute step. When you are ready to eat, mix tomatoes and onions, warm the ghugni chaat, then garnish and serve.
- Ghugni chaat can be enjoyed as a snack or as a curry with some bread (naan, parantha, bature or pav).
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DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
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Thanks for sharing this recipe.
It looks delicious.
You have a beautiful serving dish.
Where did you buy it from can you share the link?
Thank you! The serving dish is from a craft fair in Kolkata – it’s handmade.
Thanks Nidhi, for inspiring the non cooks like me to try differnt recipies. I made this yesteday and everyone in the house loved it. Your presentation is amazing with very easy directions. Looking forward to trying more recipies from your blog.
Thank you so much Ritu, So happy that you liked it😊
धन्यवाद विधि कीलिए
You are welcome!!
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Made it today, was so easy and delicious. Thanks!
You are welcome. So glad that you liked it!!💕
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