Lip-smacking and healthy Oats Chivda made with nuts. This easy Indian snack mix takes only 30 minutes to prepare and has the goodness of whole grains, unrefined oils, natural fats, and protein. If your family, kids, or guests are high on munching on savory snacks, this Oats Chivda recipe is much healthier than any store-bought Indian trail mix.
Why Oats Chivda is so Nutritious
Oats Chivda is an Indian snack mix that contains oats and nuts, which are heart-healthy foods. Oats are often referred to as power foods since they are full of proteins, fibers, and complex carbohydrates and are a source of many vitamins and minerals. Nuts contain heart-healthy fats, protein, vitamins, fiber, and minerals. They also have L-arginine, making arteries less prone to blood clots and more flexible. Nuts are rich in antioxidants and are a strong anti-inflammatory food. You can be assured this homemade Indian snack mix recipe has no adulterants or unhealthy saturated fats.
Homemade Trail Mix – Oven Roasted Oats and Nuts
Lip smacking and healthy homemade trail mix made with oven roasted oats and nuts.
Oats Chivda (Indian Snack Mix) Ingredients
This recipe contains nutritious oats, nuts, and a variety of spices and seasonings, which give this Indian snack mix a delicious taste that's hard to resist and so much healthier than store-bought Indian trail mix brands.
- Rolled oats
- Nuts - I use peanuts, cashew halves, slivered almonds, whole pistachios, and walnuts in this Indian snack mix.
- Pumpkin seeds
- Coconut chips
- Golden raisins or Munakka
- Spices and seasonings - This snack mix recipe uses a variety of spices, including curry leaves, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, white sesame seeds, chaat masala, dry mango powder, sugar or honey, salt, pepper, and oil. I use coconut oil, but you can swap that for your oil of choice.
How to Roast Oats Chivda in the Oven
This recipe comes together quickly in 30 minutes in the oven without any labor of string continuously, unlike the stovetop method.
- Mix the oats and all the nuts except the raisins in a mixing bowl. You can also add the coconut chips if they are thick. If they are on the thin side, add them towards the end, 8-10 minutes before the roasting process ends.
- Add either sugar or honey to the mixture and combine all the ingredients.
- Begin the tempering process by heating oil in a pan. When it's hot, add the mustard, cumin, sesame, and curry leaves to the pan and let them splatter.
- Add the tempered mixture to the nuts and oats, stirring well to combine the ingredients.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, evenly spread the Oats Chivda mixture, and place it in the oven. Stir the mixture every few minutes to ensure even roasting. It may take up to 20 minutes, but the time can vary depending on your oven.
- This Indian snack mix cooks at a very low temperature and requires frequent stirring. High temperatures can cause ingredients like nuts, oats, and seeds to burn before they can properly dry out and get crispy. To get crispy Chivda, roast it slowly at a low temperature, stir it to ensure that all the oats and nuts get exposed to heat evenly, and then let it cool.
- When almost done, 5-10 minutes away to switch off the oven, add the coconut chips if you haven't already done so, and stir them into the mixture.
- When it's done, remove from the oven and add the raisins (or munakka) and all the spices (pepper, salt, chaat masala, and dry mango powder). Combine all ingredients and spread evenly on the sheet.
- Return the pan to the oven, but turn the oven off and keep the oven door slightly open by inserting a wooden spatula between the door. This will ensure that the Chivda cools down slowly and evenly to remain crispy. There will not be any sudden temperature change that can make Chivda go soggy.
- The Oats Chivda is ready, but let it cool down completely before storing it in an air-tight container.
How to Store
Oats Chivda can also be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for three to four weeks. To last even longer, it can be refrigerated or frozen.
Oats Chivda, Oven Roasted Spicy Indian Snack Mix
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rolled oats
- ¼ cup Peanuts
- ¼ cup Split cashews
- ¼ cup Silvered almonds
- ¼ cup Whole pistachios
- ¼ cup Pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup Walnuts Add pecans if you like
- ¼ cup Coconut chips
- ¼ cup Golden raisins or Munaka
Spices
- 4 sprigs Curry leaves
- 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1 tbs White sesame seeds
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Chaat masala
- 1 teaspoon Dry mango powder
- 1 tbs Sugar/honey
- ¼ teaspoon Salt As per taste
- ¼ cup Choice of oil I used coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275°F.
- Mix oats and all the nuts except raisins (or munakka) in a mixing bowl.1 cup Rolled oats, ¼ cup Peanuts, ¼ cup Split cashews, ¼ cup Silvered almonds, ¼ cup Whole pistachios, ¼ cup Pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup Walnuts
- If your coconut chips are thick, add now if thin, then add towards the end of the roasting process.¼ cup Coconut chips
- Now add sugar to it.1 tbs Sugar/honey
- For tempering, heat the oil in a small pan. When the oil is hot, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, and curry leaves. Let them splatter for a few seconds.4 sprigs Curry leaves, 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds, 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds, 1 tbs White sesame seeds, ¼ cup Choice of oil
- Add this tempering to the nuts and oats mixture and, then give it a good mix.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread this mixture evenly on it.
- Place the baking sheet on the center shelf and keep stirring the mixture every few minutes for even roasting. It took me 20 minutes, ; you might need to adjust the time for different quantities and different ovens.
- If you did not add the coconut chips in the starting, then add them now. Around at 15-16 minutes mark.
- When done, take the baking sheet out of the oven and add raisins (or munakka) along with all the spices. Mix the whole mixture and again spread evenly on the sheet.¼ cup Golden raisins or Munaka, ¼ teaspoon Black pepper, ½ teaspoon Chaat masala, ¼ teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon Dry mango powder
- Switch off the oven and place the baking sheet back into the oven with the slightly cracked door.
- Spicy Oats Chivda is ready, Let it cool down completely before serving or storing. Store in an air-tight container for three to four weeks.
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