Ever Had Avocado Ki Papdi Chaat? Here’s The Quirky Recipe To Pep Up Your Snack Time
Image Credit: Image credit: Chaat and Chai

Avocados are all the rage now, from your dips to your smoothies they are featuring everywhere. I have also tried yellow and green curries made with Avocado, so I can affirm that this is not a fad, the green stone fruit is here to stay. Avocado, also known as alligator pear or butter fruit has a firm green exterior. The fruit is fleshy and so buttery and creamy, that it makes for a great base for dips and dressings. Fun fact: Avocado is called ‘Makkhan Phal’ in India. The fruit in itself is not native to India. According to experts, Avocado is an American fruit which travelled around the world, it was brought over to India from Sri Lanka somewhere in the 20th century. Even now the fruit is not grown commercially on a wide scale. It is grown in very limited numbers in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Sikkim. Therefore, most of the avocados you see in the market are imported and slightly heavy on pocket too for many.

Why Is Avocado So Popular?

Then what is the reason behind the unflinching popularity of avocados? Avocados are replete with ‘good fats’ or the fats your body needs for good skin, heart and bones. They are also a treasure of other nutrients such as folate, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin and vitamin C.  Besides that, they are very easy to work with, once you ahve the flesh, you can directly start building on it. 

Avocado+Chaat? Yes, Please!

It may come across as ‘too American’ but with a little mix and match, you can make the fruit as 'desi' as ever. Here’s a fabulous recipe of Avocado Papdi chaat by Chaat and Chai, Gurugram. The restaurant known for its unique spin to traditional street food, uses a combination of whole wheat and all purpose flour for the papdis so that that it appeals the fitness enthusiasts and foodies equally.  The key highlight of the recipe is the topping. Dahi and sonth are replaced by avocado, tomatoes, boondi, jalapenos, chaat masala etc for a super eclectic treat.

So, without further a do, let’s get started with the recipe  

Avocado Papdi Chaat

PREP TIME 15 mins

COOK TIME 20 mins

SERVINGS- 6 people

INGREDIENTS

Papdi

• 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour

• ½ cup Maida  

• 1 ½ tablespoon oil/ghee

• 1/3 cup water or as needed to knead dough  

• Salt to taste

• Oil for frying

Topping

• 2 medium avocados mashed  

• 2 Tomato diced

• ¼ cup Onion finely chopped  

• ¼ Jalapeño chopped

• 3 tsp Lemon Juice

• ½ tsp Cumin Seeds roasted

• ¼ cup Boondi Store-Bought

• ½ tsp Chaat Masala

• Salt to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. You have to start by sifting and combining wheat flour and all-purpose flour. Make sure you add salt as per taste.

2. Now, add water gradually and mix, add ghee or oil to bind it. You have to mix until you get a semi-stiff dough. Divide the dough in equal parts.

3. Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface. Pull out a chunk from a dough and roll out thin, circular papdis with a rolling pin. You can use cutters too. Make as many papdis as you can. Prick each papdi with fork.

4. Gently fry all papdis in hot oil till they are golden brown on both sides.  

5. Drain on absorbent paper.  

6. Now to prepare your topping, mix all ingredients for the topping except boondi. Reirrigate for an hour or two to chill.

7. Once chilled, place papdis on a plate, plop the avocado mixture, sprinkle some boondi on top and serve.