Description
Chaat Masala is the quintessential Indian spice blend, a tangy condiment that perks up the flavors of salads, legumes, fruit, grilled fish and meats, potatoes and other vegetables. Chaat masala (Hindi also spelled chat masala) is a masala, or spice mix, used in Indian cuisine. It typically consists of amchoor (dried mango powder), cumin, Kala Namak, coriander, dried ginger, salt, black pepper, asafoetida and capsicum. The ingredients are combined and served on a small metal plate or a banana leaf, dried and formed into a bowl; at chaat carts (especially in Southern-India).
Chaat masala has a pungent smell and tastes both sweet and sour. It is used to flavour all the popular fast foods of India like bhelpuri, golgappa, aaloo chaat and Dahi puri. It is somewhat of an acquired taste and can be added to all sorts of everyday foods or even eaten on its own. In other words it is pretty much an all purpose Indian seasoning. Curries salted with Chaat Masala will develop a deliciously authentic flavour and fragrance. Chaat Masala can be used either before or after cooking or used in place of regular salt. In India, chaat refers to both a spice blend and a salad that uses the spice blend.
