Fruit Chaat with Chaat Masala, Lemon and Fresh Mint

Ingredients

• 2 apples, cored and cut into 2 cm cubes
• 3 bananas, peeled and sliced into thick rounds
• 2 guavas, cut into 2 cm cubes
• 250 g seedless grapes, halved
• 2 oranges, peeled and segmented, each segment halved
• 1 pomegranate, seeds removed (about 1 cup of arils)
• 2 lemons, juiced (about 4 tbsp)
• 1½ tsp chaat masala
• ½ tsp black salt (kala namak)
• ½ tsp roasted cumin powder
• ½ tsp red chilli flakes or red chilli powder, adjust to taste
• 1 tbsp sugar or honey, optional if fruit is not very sweet
• 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
• 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped, optional

Instructions

1. Wash all the fruit well and pat dry. Chill the fruit in the fridge for 30 minutes if you have time, as this gives a crisper, cooler chaat.
2. In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice, chaat masala, black salt, roasted cumin, chilli flakes and sugar or honey. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the dressing looks evenly speckled.
3. Cut the apples, guavas and oranges as described. Drop the apple cubes straight into the dressing bowl's lemon juice later, or toss them quickly with a spoonful of the dressing to stop them browning.
4. Put the apples, guavas, grapes and orange pieces in a large bowl. Slice the bananas last so they stay pale and firm, then add them to the bowl.
5. Pour the dressing over the fruit and add the mint and green chilli. Fold gently with a large spoon for about 30 seconds until every piece is lightly coated and no dry spice is left at the bottom.
6. Scatter the pomegranate seeds on top and rest the chaat for 5 minutes so the flavours settle. Taste and add a little more salt, lemon or chilli if needed, then serve straight away.

Tips

• Slice bananas and add the pomegranate last. Bananas turn soft quickly, and pomegranate arils bleed colour if stirred too much.
• Use firm, just-ripe fruit. Overripe fruit turns watery once the salt and lemon go in.
• Dress the chaat no more than 10 minutes before serving, because salt draws juice out of the fruit.
• Add a splash of fresh orange juice if you like a little more syrup at the bottom of the bowl.