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Chaat
Dahi puri, Doi phuchka.jpg
Dahi puri, a variation of Panipuri
Alternative namesSaat (Sylhet)
TypeSnack
Place of originIndia
Region or stateOdisha, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh

Chaat, or chāt (IAST: cāṭ) (lit. 'lick, tasting, delicacy') is a family of savoury snacks that originated in India, typically served as an hors d'oeuvre or at roadside tracks from stalls or food carts across South Asia in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.[1][2] With its origins in Uttar Pradesh, India,[3] chaat has become immensely popular in the rest of South Asia.

Etymology

Chaat masala is a distinct spice blend used specifically in chaat snacks.
Chaat masala is a distinct spice blend used specifically in chaat snacks.

The word derives from Hindi cāṭ चाट (tasting, a delicacy), from cāṭnā चाटना (to lick, as in licking one's fingers while eating), from Prakrit caṭṭei चट्टेइ (to devour with relish, eat noisily).[4]

Overview

Panipuri is one of the popular chaats in South Asia.
Panipuri is one of the popular chaats in South Asia.
Dahi vada chaat with yogurt
Dahi vada chaat with yogurt

The chaat variants are all based on fried dough, with various other ingredients. The original chaat is a mixture of potato pieces, crisp fried bread dahi vada or dahi bhalla, gram or chickpeas and tangy-salty spices, with sour Indian chili and saunth (dried ginger and tamarind sauce), fresh green coriander leaves and yogurt for garnish, but other popular variants included alu tikkis or samosa (garnished with onion, potatoes, coriander, peas, hot spices and a dash of yogurt), bhel puri, dahi puri, panipuri, dahi vada, papri chaat, and sev puri.

There are common elements among these variants including dahi (yogurt); chopped onions and coriander; sev (thin dried yellow salty noodles); and chaat masala, typically consisting of amchoor (dried mango powder), cumin, kala namak (Himalayan black rock salt), coriander, dried ginger, salt, black pepper, and red pepper. The ingredients are combined and served on a small metal plate or a banana leaf, dried and formed into a bowl.

History

Some of the dishes now categorized as chaats, such as Dahi Vada, can be traced back to ancient periods. A recipe for a dahi vada analogue called kshiravata is mentioned in Manasollasa, a 12th-century Sanskrit encyclopedia compiled by Someshvara III, who ruled from present-day Karnataka.[5][6] According to food historian K.T Achaya, descriptions of dahi vada also appear in literature far ealier from 500 BC.[7]

Chaat as an organized phenomenon or distinct group of dishes, according to culinary anthropologist Kurush Dalal, originated in northern India (now Uttar Pradesh) in the late 17th century during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The royal doctors had asked the people of Delhi to consume spicy and fried snacks, as well as dahi, as a countermeasure to the alkaline water of the Yamuna river that coursed through the city. Thus, chaat was invented.[8]

Most chaats originated in some parts of Uttar Pradesh in India,[9] but they are now eaten all across South Asia and neighboring countries. Some are results of cultural syncretism.

Regions

Chaat is famous in South Asia in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Variations

Bhelpuri is a popular puffed-rice chaat.
Bhelpuri is a popular puffed-rice chaat.
Raj Kachori chaat
Raj Kachori chaat
A plate of Masala puri made by street vendors in the chaat stalls near Bangalore
A plate of Masala puri made by street vendors in the chaat stalls near Bangalore
Katori Chaat
Katori Chaat
Dahi puri chaat
Dahi puri chaat

See also

References

  1. ^ Thumma, Sanjay. "Chaat Recipes". Hyderabad, India: Vahrehvah.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  2. ^ "The Chaat Business". infokosh.bangladesh.gov.bd (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  3. ^ "10 Best Recipes From Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi/ Agra / Mathura )". NDTV. 25 October 2013. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  4. ^ Oxford English Dictionary. Chaat. Mar. 2005 Online edition. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  5. ^ K.T. Achaya (2003). The Story of Our Food. Universities Press. p. 85. ISBN 978-81-7371-293-7.
  6. ^ Vishal, Anoothi. "Chaat Masala: Gourmet Indian street food". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  7. ^ Krishna, Priya (17 August 2020). "Chaat Is More Than the Sum of Its Many Flavors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  8. ^ Ramadurai, Charukesi (3 June 2020). "Pani Puri: India's favourite street food... at home?". BBC Travel. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  9. ^ "10 Best Recipes From Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi/ Agra / Mathura )". NDTV. 25 October 2013. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  10. ^ Moghul, Sobiya N. (25 October 2013). "Beetroot and potato chaat recipe". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  11. ^ D.Nath, Subha. "Dhaka chaat" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  12. ^ Saravanan, S.P. (28 October 2015). "Salem's own evening Snack". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Watch: Viral Video of a Famous Street Food Disapproved by the Internet; Here's Why".

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