Green pigeonpea salad
Green pigeonpea salad, often called 'green pigeonpea chaat' or 'lilva chaat', is a vibrant and refreshing Indian street food snack. It features tender green pigeonpeas (lilva) as the star ingredient, tossed with crunchy onions, tomatoes, fresh cilantro, and a zesty blend of chaat masala, lemon juice, and sometimes a touch of green chutney. This dish is a popular seasonal treat, especially during the winter months in regions like Gujarat and Maharashtra.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This salad is a nutritionally balanced dish, being a good source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber while being relatively low in fat. A typical serving provides a solid boost of protein, complex carbohydrates, and essential minerals like iron and potassium, with a calorie count that usually falls between 150-200 kcal.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 180 kcal |
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbs | 25 g |
| Fat | 3 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 350 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Potassium | 400 mg |
| Folate (B9) | 80 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Magnesium | 45 mg |
| Phosphorus | 120 mg |
| Zinc | 1.5 mg |
| Vitamin K | 10 mcg |
Per 1 cup (approx. 200 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
What makes this chaat unique is its celebration of a seasonal, fresh legume rather than a dried or cooked pulse, offering a delightful texture and a fresh, earthy flavor. Nutritionally, it's a powerhouse, combining the protein and fiber of pigeonpeas with the vitamin C from lemon juice and tomatoes, which significantly enhances the absorption of iron from the legumes.
