Chaat is an essential part of Indian street food culture that has evolved over the years to cater to the diverse taste buds of different regions in India. It’s a dish loved by Indians and is a staple version in almost every state and district. When I visit Mumbai, it is the food I crave.
Chaat’s multifold layers of complex flavors – sweet, spicy, tangy, and savory – are packed in one dish, making it irresistible to taste. It consists of various ingredients, such as potatoes, chickpeas, and yogurt, which are mixed and topped with a variety of spicy and tangy sauces. Chaat is typically served as a street food and is often eaten as a snack or light meal.
The word “chaat” comes from the Hindi word “chatna,” which means “to lick.” This refers to how chaat is typically eaten, with the tangy and spicy sauces and toppings licked off the fingers. The origins of chaat can be traced back to the royal kitchen of Mughal emperor Shahjahan’s palace; today, Old Delhi’s chaat is famous for its unique taste and is a must-try for visitors.
Types of Chaat
Chaat is a versatile and flavorful snack, with many variations of the dish. Some common types of chaat include:
- Aloo chaat: Aloo chaat is made with boiled and diced potatoes mixed with onions, tomatoes, and spices and topped with chutney, yogurt, and sev (a type of fried noodle).
- Bhel puri: Bhel puri is a popular chaat dish that consists of puffed rice, vegetables, and fried snacks, which are mixed and topped with chutneys, sev, and other ingredients.
- Dahi vada: Dahi vada is made by soaking lentil dumplings in yogurt and spices and then topping them with chutneys, sev, and other ingredients.
- Papri chaat: Papri chaat is a layered chaat dish that consists of crisp fried dough wafers (papris) that are topped with boiled potatoes, chickpeas, yogurt, and chutneys.
- Pani Puri: Pani Puri consists of small, crisp fried dough balls filled with potatoes, chickpeas, and spices and topped with flavored water or yogurt, chutneys, sev, and other ingredients. Pani Puri is often garnished with herbs and digestive spices,
Chaat, is one of my favorite Indian street foods and often an after-school snack to tide me over till India’s late dinners.