Chaat-Spiced Chex Mix Recipe

By
Sohla El-Waylly
Sohla El-Waylly

Sohla El-Waylly is a culinary creator, video host, and CIA graduate whose work can be found on Serious Eats, Bon Appetit, The New York Times, Food52, YouTube, and more.

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Updated May. 28, 2020
20170921-chaat-vicky-wasik-70.jpg
Photograph: Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • The chaat masala is a spice blend that adds funky, salty, spicy, and sour flavors to the Chex mix.
  • Adding the chaat masala to the cereal after it has toasted, while it's sticky and warm, keeps the spices from burning.
  • Mix and match cereals, nuts, and crackers to accommodate your tastes.

Update your classic Chex mix recipe with the addition of chaat masala, the spice mixture used throughout South Asia for the popular street foods known as chaat. The spice blend combines funky, salty, spicy, and tart flavors, transforming anything it's sprinkled on. Feel free to mix and match your favorite cereals and snacks, using the recipe below as a template. Toasting the cereals low and slow with the butter and sugar mixture gets them extra crisp and sticky, ready for you to shower on the spices.

Recipe Facts

4.4

(8)

Active: 15 mins
Total: 60 mins
Serves: 12 to 16 servings
Makes: 3 quarts

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups (120g) corn Chex (see note)

  • 3 cups (90g) rice Chex (see note)

  • 1 cup (30g) wheat Chex (see note)

  • 2/3 cup (96g) peanuts

  • 1 cup (40g) pretzel sticks

  • 2 cups (90g) bagel chips

  • 2 cups (60g) small rice crackers

  • 2/3 cup (155g) unsalted butter

  • 2/3 cup (135g) light brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh juice from about 2 limes

  • 1 tablespoon (15g) kosher salt

  • 6 tablespoons (70g) chaat masala spice mixture

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine Chex cereals, peanuts, pretzels, bagel chips, and rice crackers.

  2. In a small saucepan or in the microwave, melt butter with brown sugar, then remove from heat and stir in lime juice and salt.

  3. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture and toss to coat evenly.

  4. Spread mixture in an even layer on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake, tossing every 15 minutes, until dry and crisp, about 45 minutes.

  5. Sprinkle chaat masala over Chex mix while still warm, tossing to evenly coat. Let cool and eat, or store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Special equipment

Rimmed baking sheet, mixing bowl

Notes

Feel free to use any kind or combination of Chex cereals, as long as the total amount is maintained.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
222 Calories
13g Fat
26g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 16
Amount per serving
Calories 222
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 16%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 21mg 7%
Sodium 442mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 47mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 166mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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