S01 · Snacks · Pan-Indian and modern
Roasted Chana-Peanut Chakna
The classic Indian dry mix, weighted towards roasted chana, the best protein-for-calories option among dry snacks, with peanuts for crunch and curry-leaf tempering for aroma.
- Region
- Pan-Indian
- Diet
- Strictly vegetarian, egg-free
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Time, as written
- Prep 5 min · Cook 10 min
- Serves
- 10 (about 37 g, a small katori, each)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Status
- Traditional
- Good for
- Office drawer, travel, evening tea
Nutrition
Good source| Per serving | kcal | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Sat fat | Fibre | Sugars | Protein per 100 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per serving | 155 | 8 g | 14 g | 7 g | 1 g | 5 g | 1 g | 5.5 g |
Tier: Good source. Calorie-dense: measure the portion rather than eating from the jar. IFCT 2017 has no roasted-chana entry; Bengal gram dal values are used. Values checked against IFCT 2017 on 14 Oct 2026.
Values are estimates calculated from the listed ingredients and quantities (IFCT 2017 and product labels), not laboratory measurements. How the numbers were calculated.
Ingredients
Method
Dry-roast peanuts in a heavy kadhai on medium-low for 8–10 minutes, stirring, until the skins crack and the nuts smell toasty. Cool slightly.
Heat oil on medium. Add curry leaves and red chillies; fry 30 seconds until the leaves are crisp.
Lower the heat. Add turmeric and chilli powder, then the roasted chana and peanuts. Toss 2 minutes until evenly coated.
Off the heat, sprinkle chaat masala, black salt and amchur. Toss again.
Cool completely before storing.
Protein optimisation
- Where the protein comes from
- Roasted chana supplies 5.5 g per serving and peanuts 3 g (8 g in all).
- Boost
- Add 50 g roasted soy nuts to the batch (about +2 g protein and +20 kcal per serving; adds soy).
- Where the protein comes from
- Keep the ratio chana-heavy; switching to more peanuts or cashews raises calories faster than protein.
Variations, serving and storage
- Regional
- Gujarati-style — add 1 tsp sugar and 1 tsp sesame seeds with the spices (adds about 5 kcal per serving).
- Substitution
- Roasted moong dal or roasted matki in place of some chana.
- Storage
- 3 weeks in an airtight jar.
- Food safety
- Store dry; discard if it smells rancid.
- Meal prep
- Excellent; pre-portion into 37 g bags.
Allergens
Peanuts
Labels: Good source · Quick · Meal-prep friendly · Dairy-free · Soy-free · Whey-free · Gluten-free* · No added sugar
Gluten-free* means gluten-free only when certified gluten-free hing is used; most hing contains wheat flour.