Papri chaat served with boiled potato, coriander chutney, tamarind chutney, yogurt and topped with sevPapri chaat (right) with dal and empanadas
Papri chaat is traditionally prepared using crisp fried dough wafers known as papri, along with boiled chickpeas, boiled potatoes, dahi (yogurt) and tamarindchutney[1][6] and topped with chat masala and sev.[1][7] The papri are typically prepared with refined wheat flour (maida) and ghee or oil.[8][9] Mint,[6] cilantro[10] and spices[11] may also be used. The dish has sweet, sour, tangy and spicy flavors and a creamy and crunchy texture.[1][6]
Etymology
Papri refers to the wafers, and the word chaat is derived from the Sanskrit verb caṭ which means tasting with a fingertip and represents the sound made; thereby, it refers to several fast food dishes and snacks. Chaat is a thick cream in Hindi.[1] The term also refers to a variety of dishes in India.[1]
A recipe for papri (as purika) is mentioned in Manasollasa, a 12th-century Sanskrit encyclopedia compiled by Someshvara III, who ruled from present-day Karnataka.[12]
Street food
Papri chaat is often purveyed and consumed at mobile food stalls in India.[6] In India, it is more popular in the northern region of the country compared to other areas.[11]