Chaat lovers, get ready to enjoy the delicious Dahi Bhalla Papdi Chaat! This dish brings together various Indian flavors in a single recipe, giving you a taste of the popular street-style chaat known for its explosive mix of flavors.

This Bhalla Papdi Chaat is my go-to chaat recipe that goes perfectly with a warm cup of chai.

What is Dahi Bhalla Papdi Chaat

For those unfamiliar with the term Dahi Bhalla, Dahi stands for yogurt, and Bhalla means deep-fried lentil fritters.

Dahi Bhalla is a popular North Indian street food that consists of deep-fried lentil fritters served with yogurt. It is known by different names such as Dahi bara in Orissa, Dahi vada in the South, Dahi Bhalla in Punjabi, and dahi baray in Marathi.

Despite its various names, this recipe is easy to make, requires a short list of ingredients, and can be prepared quickly.

The term ‘chaat’ refers to a delicious snack/ appetizer dish that combines different ingredients with varied textures and flavors. The word ‘chaat’ comes from the Hindi word ‘chaatna,’ which means ‘to lick.’

Chaat dishes are known for being incredibly tasty, often described as ‘finger-licking delicious.

Dahi Bhalla Chaat is made with a mix of flavorful ingredients. First, soft bhallas are arranged on a plate. Then, they’re topped with crispy papdi, chickpeas, and other delicious ingredients.

The cool beaten curd provides a creamy contrast, while the fine sev adds a refreshing crunch. Chutneys give a sweet and tangy kick, and the spices add a variety of flavors to make each bite irresistible.

Reasons You’ll ♡ Dahi Bhalla Papdi Chaat Recipe

You will absolutely love this recipe from the very first bite. Here’s why —

Incredibly easy and quick to prepare, making it a perfect choice for busy days
Bursting with flavor
Addictively delicious and vibrantly textured elements that will leave your taste buds craving for more
A completely customizable dish
Can be easily adapted to suit a vegan diet, making it inclusive for all dietary preferences!

Dahi bhalla papdi Chaat is known for its tangy, spicy, and savory flavors. Each bite delivers a mix of crunchy, crispy, and soft textures, creating a visually appealing dish.

Moreover, it’s also a partially make-ahead recipe, allowing for some preparation in advance. Once all the elements are ready, this recipe takes no time to prepare as it is just assembling the different ingredients.

Trust me, there is no right or wrong way of making this Chaat, which makes it perfect for gatherings, potlucks, and events.

Dahi Bhalla Papdi Chaat Ingredient List

Papdi — These deep-fried, crispy, round flour crackers, mildly flavored with spices, are most commonly used in chaat recipes like papdi chaat, dahi bhalla, and bhel puri. You can make them from scratch, or store-bought works best.

Bhalla — Made with a blend of 2 different lentils – urad dal (split black gram without skin) and moong dal (split yellow lentils), these crispy deep-fried lentil fritters is the base ingredient for this recipe.

Curd — Use whipped plain yogurt with a pinch of salt for this recipe. It balances out the spice flavor while adding creaminess and a slight tanginess.

Chole — Also known as chickpeas or Kabuli chana, is boiled, drained, and added to the chaat. You can even toss it in dry spices and add it to the recipe. Either way, it is a great addition that brings crunch and texture to the recipe.

Green Chutney — Made with mint and coriander as the base ingredients, green chutney is a tangy condiment that adds tons of refreshing flavor with a slightly spicy touch to our Dahi Bhalla Papdi Chaat recipe.

Tamarind Chutney — Imli or tamarind chutney is the star ingredient of this recipe as it takes the chaat to just another level. It adds tons of sweet and sour flavors to the bhalla papdi chaat recipe.

Sev — A thin, crispy snack made with gram flour and spiced with seasonings is used as a topping that adds crunch and spiciness to the recipe. Try boondi; it also goes well!

Spice Mix — A blend of red chili powder, roasted cumin seeds, and chaat masala lends a unique flavor to the recipe and enhances its overall taste with a medley of flavors that it hosts (like spicy, tangy, and slightly salty).

Pomegranate arils — A few pomegranate arils are sprinkled over the dish for a pop of color and fun.

Dahi Bhalla Papdi Chaat Tips and Variations

Papdi — Thin, crispy papdi works best for this recipe. Thin papdis have a greater capacity to maintain their crispiness for a longer duration and they can retain their texture when immersed in curd. This ensures a delightful eating experience.

Gluten-free version possible — For a gluten-free version of this mouth-watering snack, swap the papdis with gluten-free papdi made with singhara (chestnut) flour and sabudana (tapioca) flour.

Use canned chickpeas — To save time on soaking and boiling, you can use canned chickpeas. Drain the aquafaba (the brine water preserved chickpeas) and use the chickpeas as mentioned in the recipe.

Kala Chana for a healthier option — I have used boiled chole as the filling; feel free to add sautéed pindi chole or kala chana ( Bengal gram) to make this snack more nutritious and flavorful.

The vegan version is equally delicious — For a vegan Dahi Bhalla Chaat recipe, replace the curd/ yogurt with any plant-based yogurt. Beat it to make it smooth, as mentioned in the recipe. Season it well, and it is all set to be used in the chaat.

Handy hacks — You can make chutneys at home from scratch or use store-bought tamarind chutney and cilantro chutney for a quick whip. They work well, too. However, taste them before adding them because they need to be adjusted to your liking.

Fixing the sourness in yogurt — If your yogurt tastes sour, add a tablespoon of sugar to sweeten the yogurt and whisk until completely dissolved. Yogurt drizzled on top of the bhalla papdi chaat should have a thin, batter-like consistency, making the recipe drool-worthy.

An adaptable recipe — This recipe for dahi bhalla Chaat is very versatile. Feel free to add or remove any ingredients you like! The sky is the limit when it comes to filling; you can fill this katoris with whatever your heart desires and dig into your tasty creations!

Toppings are the megastars in this recipe — Toppings and fillings are my favorite part of the dish. It makes them look so pretty, isn’t it? It allows you to create your version of Dahi bhalla papdi chaat with your combination of ingredients each time.

There is no fixed list of components for the stuffing, and you can add whatever is available at hand or can be prepared quickly.

However, for extra flavor and nutrition, you can also add boiled potatoes, sprouts, and Kala chana.

Boondis and some chopped tomatoes added to the chaat make a quick, light, and healthy appetizer.

Just assemble and serve — This bhalla papdi dahi chaat entices chaat lovers with its incredible mix of flavors and myriad textures, but besides this, it charms with the way it is assembled in front of the guests. When prepared correctly, it could be a speedy and easy dish to assemble and serve to your guests.