How to Make a Vegetarian Shami Kabab Chaat
Tamarind Chutney and Yogurt Add Moisture to the Otherwise Dry Kababs
Oct 31, 2009
In her August 2009 blog, "Shami kabab and our Friday Lunch" on her website, mykitchenaroma.blogspot.com, a young Indian woman named Srivalli describes a 'shami kabab' as a "favorite snack in India and Pakistan" made with minced meat and 'channa dal' (Bengal gram lentils), and shallow fried on an Indian non-stick skillet known as a 'tawa.' It is served with mint chutney, she adds.
Shami kababs can also be made exclusively with vegetables, and are therefore also good options for vegetarians and vegans. These vegetarian versions are usually made with a combination of lentils, vegetables, and spices, such as red beans, potatoes, chili powder, mint leaves, and cilantro leaves among many other delectable ingredients, as described by another young Indian woman named Sheela in her June 2007 blog, "Vegetarian Shami Kababs/Lentil Kababs" on her website, indianspicetrail.blogspot.com. The meat and vegetarian versions alike can be purchased at a good Indian grocery store, such as Patel Brothers (pronounced "Puh-tail"; the "a" sound is often phonetically a "u" sound, as in "fun", in Hindi and other Indian languages).
This recipe will focus on the vegetarian version of shami kababs, as chaat is usually vegetarian, and so is most Indian food, since many Indians are vegetarian and most of them follow a vegetarian diet at least one day a week and definitely during religious holidays.
Ingredients & Preparation Tips
- Frozen shami kababs are recommended, in order to cut down on preparation time. They can simply be baked in a conventional oven or heated up in a microwave without waiting for them to thaw. They are available at good grocery stores, such as the nationwide Patel Brothers, known in some regions as Patel Cash & Carry.
- Plain low-fat yogurt works best in the interest of flavor and nutrition alike. It should be beaten slightly since it may be too thick. It should be pure white and not have any tint; a blue-ish tint indicates a lack of freshness. It is available at any good grocery or convenience store, not strictly Indian.
- Tamarind chutney can be diluted since it may also be too thick on its own. It can also be found at the Patel chain stores or any other good Indian grocery store.
- Chivda, sev, or bhel can be added for crispness and in order to provide a variety of textures. Any of these snack foods are available at a decent Indian grocery store, such as the Patel chain, and at many Indian convenience stores.
Vegetarian Shami Kabab Chaat
Ingredients:
- 1 packet (1 cup) shami kabab 4 cups chivda, bhel, or sev (optional)
- 1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
- 1/4 cup tamarind chutney
- 1/3 cup cilantro leaves, chopped, for garnishing (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat conventional oven and bake shami kababs according to package directions, or microwave according to package directions.Beat yogurt slightly.
- Dilute tamarind chutney.
- Blend yogurt and chutney.
- Add chivda, sev, or bhel if using.
- Add kababs to the mixture and stir gently in order to avoid breaking them.
- Garnish with cilantro if using. Serve chilled immediately, with an Indian beverage such as mango lassi, if desired.
This light and tasty Indian snack serves 4.
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