Chip and dip are great for snacking as well as for a gathering. It makes a wonderful and filling appetizer. I love the Mexican 7-layer dip. So based on our likings, we love this combo of dip which sure brings you the satisfaction of having a great desi meal. The salty, spicy chole with creamy fresh paneer, topped with kosambari and lip-smacking chutney - perfect heaven for chaat and paneer lovers. All of the components that would be loved in a paneer chaat is here in a perfect combo. Plus, it is healthy too! Proteins from chole and paneer, with sprouts and veggies, make it nutritious and balanced. Serve with baked naan chips (would share the recipe in another post soon) for a perfect desi style nachos. Just scoop and top your roti or naan to make a perfect taco meal. A filling meal that one would want more and more:-).
The dip is not super spicy as my kids don't like to take that much heat. The heat can be adjusted with the addition of more cilantro - mint (green chutney) chutney to suit the individual taste palette. Feel free to use either homemade or store-bought chutneys. The purpose is to enjoy with family and any adjustments would be totally fine and delicious. This can be prepared ahead. Make all the layers except the sev layer. Refrigerate. Just before serving add the sev and serve, so that the sev doesn't become soggy. This can be a filling lunch or dinner for summer as this can be made ahead and served cool to beat the heat. Canned garbanzo beans can also be used for making chole. Perfect when there is a time constraint. By the way, they are great to make in single serve portions for parties!
I am posting this for Srivalli's Blogging Marathon #119 - Paneer Dishes. We love paneer and here is another way to enjoy paneer than just paneer makhani.
Update: My blogging friend Vaishali asked the difference between paneer and cottage cheese. There is a cottage cheese - small curd and large curd which exactly resembles our paneer, but it is creamier as it has cream and with a little bit of salt. I use these for a very long time and hence it slipped my mind to specify what it was. I use either Daisy or Knudsen brand. You can eat that as such . with veggies, or fruits too. Here is how it looks like.
Picture from wkqt.com |
Ingredients
Makes 2 - 9X7 dish
Chole layer
Garbanzo beans - 1 cup
Salt - 1 tsp
Chole masala- 1 tsp
Turmeric- 1/4 tsp
Onion- 1/2 cup
Garlic - 1 tsp
Ginger - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 2 tsp
Cumin - 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida - 1/8 tsp
Paneer Layer
Fresh Paneer - 1.5 cups
Cottage cheese -1/2 cup
Sour cream - 1/2 cup
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice - 1/2tsp
Potato Layer
Potato - 4, medium ones, cooked and diced 2 cups
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Black salt - 1/2 tsp
Chat masala - 1 tsp
Lettuce Layer
Lettuce - 2 cups, shredded
Kosambari Layer
Sprouts - 3/4 cup
Onion - 2 tbsp, finely chopped
Tomatoes - 1/2 cup, finely chopped
Cucumber - 3/4 cup, small dices
Cilantro - 1-2 tbsp
Lemon juice - 1/2 tsp
Black salt - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Green chilli - 1, chopped fine, optional
Chaat masala - 1/4 tsp
Chutney Layer
Green chutney
Sweet chutney
Sev Layer
Sev - 1/4 cup
Cilantro - 2 tbsp
Pomegranate arils - optional
Chaat masala to sprinkle on top
Method
Soak the garbanzos overnight. Wash a couple of times and pressure cook with three cups of water. Drain and keep aside. In a pan, heat oil, add cumin, asafoetida, onion, ginger, garlic, and sauté till onions are translucent. Add 1/4 tsp salt, turmeric, cayenne, chole masala and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Cool. Add the masala and the cooked beans, and 3/4 salt to a food processor, reserving a little beans. Add a couple of tbsp water and process to a puree. Add the rest of the beans and run a couple of times to retain a little texture. Set aside.
Take the paneer, cottage cheese, sour cream, salt, and lemon juice in a bowl. Mix and set aside.
To the diced and cooked potatoes, add chaat masala, black salt, and salt. Mix and set aside.
Mix the sprouts, onion, tomato, cucumber, chaat masala, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl and keep aside.
For layering:
Take a dish in which you want to have the layer dip.
Layer 1: Add the chole layer and smoothen it.
Layer 2: Next, add the paneer mixture and smoothen it.
Layer 3: Sprinkle the lettuce evenly.
Layer 4: Spread the potatoes.
Layer 5: Add the kosambari.
Layer 6: Drizzle the sweet chutney and green chutney. Add as much as you wish.
Just before serving:
Layer 7: Sprinkle the sev, cilantro, and chaat masala. Add pomegranate arils if preferred. Serve immediately.
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