A - Z Indian Street Foods ~ X For 'X'tremely Easy Fruit Chaat / Fruit Salad

Vendors selling fruits in the neighborhoods or street corners is a common feature in Indian cities and towns. Fruits sold with a sprinkle of salt or salt and red chili powder / black pepper powder is a common sight in southern regions. One can see cucumber slices sold with a sprinkling of salt and red chili powder near bus stations where as I used to eat pineapple slices sold with salt and pepper in Bangalore during my college days though now they have another version, pineapple masala. 

There are also versions where a melange of spice powders are used to flavor the fruit pieces in other regions called a fruit chaat / fruit salad. A fruit chaat happens to be the easiest of the chaats that one could assemble if one is not talking about the Delhi version. Delhi fruit chaat uses tubers as well. We are talking about the other version today where only fruits are used and are sprinkled with spice powders to make it more flavorful. 

It is quite an easy recipe and I chose to go with an adjective for my alphabet 'X' today. The variety of fruits used in this chaat are obviously the local ones that are available abundantly. They are the typical tropical fruits like pineapple, papaya, mango, banana, orange, pomegranate, grapes, apple and others. However one can feel free to go with any seasonal and available fruits. Also I have given the list of spices below that are commonly used for a fruit chaat. However one can use only the spice powders they prefer or can with the combo they prefer. I prefer only chili powder while my husband prefers chili powder and black salt.  

Use refrigerated fruit or chill them for few minutes if using fruits at room temperature. This colorful and refreshing chaat is a welcome treat on a sunny day or serve it as a healthy snack in between meals.

Ingredients: (3 servings)
3 cups of mixed fruits (I used banana, grapes, green and red apple, orange, pear, pineapple and strawberries.)
Salt to taste (optional)
1 tsp. lemon juice (optional)
(And use all or any of the spices below you prefer. The quantities can be increased or decreased as per taste.)
1/2 tsp. black salt 
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. chaat masala
1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder

Method:
* Peel the banana and slice them into discs. Grapes can be halved or used as whole. Strawberries are hulled and sliced. Pineapple, apple, pears, mango are cubed. Orange slices are halved.
* Combine mixed fruits in a bowl. Add salt, black pepper powder
* If using lemon juice, add that as well. Toss the fruits a few times to coat them with the spices used.
* Divide them into 3 serving bowls and serve.

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