Gilo chatpata is a popular street food in Nepal that tingles the taste buds with its hot, spicy, tangy, and crispy flavours. This delightful snack is a hit among food enthusiasts for its mouthwatering appearance and irresistible blend of sweet and salty tastes, all while delivering a fresh, satisfying bite. Despite its seemingly complex nature, you can easily recreate this traditional Nepali treat in your own kitchen with the right ingredients and preparation techniques.
Making The Sauce
Cooking the sauce is the first step in cooking Nepali gilo chatpata, as it forms the foundation of the dish. 2 to 3 tablespoons of Besan (maida optional) should be combined with salt and Lal mirch powder for colour in a bowl. Taste and adjust the spice levels to your desired level. To ensure that the other ingredients are well coated, make sure the sauce has a thick consistency. To give the sauce a distinct flavour profile, you can also add homemade spice mixes made with cumin, coriander, dry red chilli, kalonji, and Timbur (Sichuan pepper).
Choosing And Preparing The Vegetables
The vegetable ingredients are essential for giving the gilo chatpata its crispness and freshness. Slice diced lemon, green chillies, onions, and tomatoes to give the meal a spicy twist. A hint of fresh coriander leaves lifts the flavour and scent throughout. To balance out the textures, adding boiling potatoes and boiled channa (chickpeas) adds a substantial and satisfying component to the snack. After the ingredients are thoroughly combined, pour the sauce over the mixture and gently mix to make sure everything is coated equally. When combining the ingredients, take care to preserve the individuality of each part by not mashing them. Make sure to add the lemon juice at this time as well, as its acidity intensifies the flavours.
Image Credit: sazufooddiary| Instagram
Adding Dry Ingredients
The dry ingredients used in Nepali gilo chatpata add to its unique texture and flavour, together with the sauce and vegetables. Every bite is satisfyingly crunchy thanks to the addition of peanuts, puffed rice, dalmut (a savoury snack mix), and wai wai noodles. To get the ideal texture balance, carefully incorporate these dry ingredients. These components as well enhance the boiled products’ softness while providing the products with more excellent contrasting tastes and a crunchy feel. Don't forget to set aside some of these toppings for garnish.
Also read: 3 Delicious Nepali Dishes To Try At Home
Enhancing The Flavour
To enhance the taste and heat of Nepali gilo chatpata, add mustard oil or dalle chilli oil. Pour enough chilli oil over the cooked food to give it a spicy, fiery touch that balances its tart and savoury flavours. The oil used brings out very strong flavours that add depth to the snack, and with every bite one is rewarded with lots of different flavours. For a customised experience, adjust the amount of chilli oil according to your tolerance for spiciness.
Serving And Garnishing
Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the Nepali gilo chatpata to add one last burst of brightness and acidity. This final ingredient allows you to mix all the preceding flavours together, and the ensuing taste is savoury, spicy, slightly sour, as well as sweet. Before serving, put some more fresh coriander leaves on top for colour and freshness; the dish's presentation is very important.
Image Credit: love.eat.repeatt| Facebook
Useful tips:
- To get the right level of spiciness, experiment with different amounts of red chilli powder.
- For the best flavour, use fresh herbs and veggies.
- Toss with soft veggies, creamy sauce, and crispy puffed rice for a well-balanced texture.
- Add the wai wai and puffed rice right before serving to maintain their crunch.
- Try varying the ingredients and flavours to make gilo chatpata your own special way.
Making Gilo Chatpata at home gives you the opportunity to explore and savour bright flavours while bringing the essence of Nepali street food inside your kitchen. While it is similar to bhel puri or jhal muri in a few ways, gilo chatpata can be customised to your taste preferences and made to have a powerful flavour in every bite with the correct ingredients and preparation methods.