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Chaat, or chāt (
IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during ...
: ''cāṭ)'' () is a family of savoury
snack A snack is a small portion of food generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged snack foods and other processed foods, as well as items made from fresh ingredients at home. Traditionally, snacks are ...
s that originated in
North India North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Cen ...
, typically served as an
hors d'oeuvre An hors d'oeuvre ( ; french: hors-d'œuvre ), appetiser or starter is a small dish served before a meal in European cuisine. Some hors d'oeuvres are served cold, others hot. Hors d'oeuvres may be served at the dinner table as a part of the ...
or at roadside tracks from stalls or
food cart A food cart is a mobile kitchen set up on the street to prepare and sell street food to passers-by. Food carts are often found in cities worldwide selling food of every kind. Food carts come in two basic styles. One allows the vendor to sit o ...
s across
South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;; ...
in
North India North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Cen ...
,
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
,
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
and
Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mo ...
. With its origins in
Uttar Pradesh, India Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
, chaat has become immensely popular in the rest of South Asia.


Etymology

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 The Prakrits (; sa, prākṛta; psu, 𑀧𑀸𑀉𑀤, ; pka, ) are a group of vernacular Middle Indo-Aryan languages that were used in the Indian subcontinent from around the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE. The term Prakrit is usu ...
''caṭṭei'' चट्टेइ (to devour with relish, eat noisily).Oxford English Dictionary. ''Chaat''. Mar. 2005 Online edition. Retrieved 18 February 2008.


Overview

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 Dahi vada is a type of '' chaat'' (snack) originating from the Indian state of Karnataka. It is prepared by soaking vadas (fried lentil balls) in thick dahi (yogurt). Names Dahi vada is also known as "dahi vade" () in Marathi, ''dahi barey/dah ...
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 A samosa () or singara is a fried Indian pastry with a savory filling, including ingredients such as spiced potatoes, onions, and peas. It may take different forms, including triangular, cone, or half-moon shapes, depending on the region. Sam ...
(garnished with onion, potatoes, coriander, peas, hot spices and a dash of yogurt), bhel puri, dahi puri,
panipuri Panipuri (originally known as ''jalapatra'' from Mahabharata times) (), phuchka (), gupchup, golgappa, or ''pani ke patashe'' is a type of snack originating in the Indian subcontinent, where it is an extremely common street food. Ingredients ...
,
dahi vada Dahi vada is a type of '' chaat'' (snack) originating from the Indian state of Karnataka. It is prepared by soaking vadas (fried lentil balls) in thick dahi (yogurt). Names Dahi vada is also known as "dahi vade" () in Marathi, ''dahi barey/dah ...
,
papri chaat Papri chat or papri chaat (ISO: ) is a popular traditional fast food and street food from the Indian subcontinent, in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Many various additional dishes throughout India are also referred to as papri chat. Some ...
, and
sev puri Sev puri is an Indian cuisine snack and a type of chaat. It is a speciality that originates from Pune, Maharashtra, India. In Pune and Mumbai, sev puri is strongly associated with street food, but is also served at upscale locations. Recently, ...
. There are common elements among these variants including dahi (yogurt); chopped
onions An onion (''Allium cepa'' L., from Latin ''cepa'' meaning "onion"), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus '' Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the on ...
and
coriander Coriander (;
; sev (thin dried yellow salty noodles); and
chaat masala Chaat masala, also spelled chat masala, is a powder spice mix, or masala, originating from South Asia, typically used to add flavor to chaat. It typically consists of amchoor (dried mango powder), cumin, coriander, dried ginger, salt (often blac ...
, typically consisting of amchoor (dried
mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It is believed to have originated in the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in Sout ...
powder),
cumin Cumin ( or , or Article title
) (''Cuminum cyminum'') is a
kala namak Kala namak is a kiln-fired rock salt with a sulphurous, pungent smell used in the South Asian Subcontinent. It is also known as "Himalayan black salt", ''Sulemani namak'', ''bire noon'', ''bit loona'', ''bit lobon'', ''kala loon'', ''sanchal'', ...
(Himalayan black rock salt),
coriander Coriander (;
, dried
ginger Ginger (''Zingiber officinale'') is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems (false stems made of the rolled bases of ...
,
salt Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quant ...
,
black pepper Black pepper (''Piper nigrum'') is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, known as a peppercorn, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about in dia ...
, 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 Dahi vada is a type of '' chaat'' (snack) originating from the Indian state of Karnataka. It is prepared by soaking vadas (fried lentil balls) in thick dahi (yogurt). Names Dahi vada is also known as "dahi vade" () in Marathi, ''dahi barey/dah ...
, 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 Someshvara III (; ) was a Western Chalukya king (also known as the Kalyani Chalukyas), the son and successor of Vikramaditya VI. He ascended the throne of the Western Chalukya Kingdom in 1126 CE, or 1127 CE. Someshvara III, the third king in t ...
, who ruled from present-day
Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO 15919, ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reor ...
. According to food historian K.T Achaya, descriptions of dahi vada also appear in literature far ealier from 500 BC. Chaat as an organized phenomenon or distinct group of dishes, according to culinary anthropologist Kurush Dalal, originated in northern India (now
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 195 ...
) in the late 17th century during the reign of Mughal Emperor
Shah Jahan Shihab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram (5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), better known by his regnal name Shah Jahan I (; ), was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, reigning from January 1628 until July 1658. Under his emperorship, the Mugha ...
. 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 The Yamuna ( Hindustani: ), also spelt Jumna, is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of about on the southwestern slopes of Ba ...
that coursed through the city. Thus, chaat was invented. Most chaats originated in some parts of
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 195 ...
in India, but they are now eaten all across
South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;; ...
and neighboring countries. Some are results of cultural
syncretism Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thu ...
.


Regions

Chaat is famous in
South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;; ...
in
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
,
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
,
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
and
Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mo ...
.


Variations

* Alu chaat - Potatoes (''alu'' in Hindi) cut into small pieces, fried till crisp and served with
chutney A chutney is a spread in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Chutneys are made in a wide variety of forms, such as a tomato relish, a ground peanut garnish, yogurt or curd, cucumber, spicy coconut, spicy onion or mint dipping sauce ...
* Alu tikki * Bedmi -
Puri Puri () is a coastal city and a municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as '' ...
stuffed with dal and fried till crisp. Typically served with alu sabji and eaten for breakfast * Bhalla/ alu tikki *
Bhelpuri Bhelpuri is a savoury snack originating from India, and is also a type of chaat. It is made of puffed rice, vegetables and a tangy tamarind sauce, and has a crunchy texture. Bhel is often identified as a 'beach snack', strongly associated wit ...
* Ragda patties (alu tikki chaat) * Cheela-
Besan Gram flour or kadala maavu is a pulse flour made from a variety of ground chickpea called Bengal gram or ''kaala chana''. It is a staple ingredient in the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent, including in Indian, Bangladeshi, Burmese, Nepali, ...
(chickpea flour) pancakes served with
chutney A chutney is a spread in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Chutneys are made in a wide variety of forms, such as a tomato relish, a ground peanut garnish, yogurt or curd, cucumber, spicy coconut, spicy onion or mint dipping sauce ...
and sooth (sweet chutney) * Chotpoti, mixture of boiled diced potatoes, boiled chickpeas and sliced onions and chillies with grated eggs on top. Many kinds of roasted spice powder are used in its preparation. * Dahi puri *
Dahi vada Dahi vada is a type of '' chaat'' (snack) originating from the Indian state of Karnataka. It is prepared by soaking vadas (fried lentil balls) in thick dahi (yogurt). Names Dahi vada is also known as "dahi vade" () in Marathi, ''dahi barey/dah ...
* Kachori- or Kachauri, with variants such as Khasta Kachuari * Mangode - Similar to pakora, but
besan Gram flour or kadala maavu is a pulse flour made from a variety of ground chickpea called Bengal gram or ''kaala chana''. It is a staple ingredient in the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent, including in Indian, Bangladeshi, Burmese, Nepali, ...
paste is replaced with yellow moong paste * Pakora - Different things such as paneer, vegetable dipped in
besan Gram flour or kadala maavu is a pulse flour made from a variety of ground chickpea called Bengal gram or ''kaala chana''. It is a staple ingredient in the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent, including in Indian, Bangladeshi, Burmese, Nepali, ...
(chickpea/gram flour) paste and fried. *
Panipuri Panipuri (originally known as ''jalapatra'' from Mahabharata times) (), phuchka (), gupchup, golgappa, or ''pani ke patashe'' is a type of snack originating in the Indian subcontinent, where it is an extremely common street food. Ingredients ...
* Masalapuri * Chana chaat *
Papri chaat Papri chat or papri chaat (ISO: ) is a popular traditional fast food and street food from the Indian subcontinent, in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Many various additional dishes throughout India are also referred to as papri chat. Some ...
- This contains fried patty called papri as an extra ingredient. * Samosa chaat -
samosa A samosa () or singara is a fried Indian pastry with a savory filling, including ingredients such as spiced potatoes, onions, and peas. It may take different forms, including triangular, cone, or half-moon shapes, depending on the region. Sam ...
is broken into pieces with green and sweet chutney added to it. *
Sevpuri Sev puri is an Indian cuisine snack and a type of chaat. It is a speciality that originates from Pune, Maharashtra, India. In Pune and Mumbai, sev puri is strongly associated with street food, but is also served at upscale locations. Recently, ...
* Vada pav * Dahi bhallay ki chaat (bhallay, potatoes, chickpeas, imli chutney, chaat masala, onions, tomatoes, dahi etc.) * Beetroot & potato chaat * Dhaka chaat * Paneer chaat puri * Thattu Vadai Set *Dal ki chaat - Made with moong dal mixed with spices and chutney and accompanied with wheat biscuits. Popular in Meerut *Raj kachori - a big hollow ball made with wheat and filled with sprouts, chickpeas, potatoes, bhalla and chutneys (sweet and green). *Basket chaat - Edible bowl made with potato and filled with sprouts, chickpeas, potato and chutneys . Popular in Lucknow
Daulat ki chaat
- A sweet preparation made from keeping condensed milk in winter mist. *Ram ladoo - Round fitters made from mong dal and served with radish and grey chutney. *
Dabeli Dabeli, kutchi dabeli or double roti (, Devnagari: दाबेली,कच्छी दाबेली) is a popular snack food of India, originating in the Gujarat. It is a sweet snack made by mixing boiled potatoes with a special dabeli masa ...
- a sweet and sour burger like Gujrati snack made with potatoes, sev , groundnut and pomegranate *Barule - whole potato coated with besan is deepfried and served with green chutney.


See also

* List of Indian snack foods * List of tapas (Spanish snacks) *


References


External links

* {{Portal bar, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Caribbean, Food Bangladeshi snack foods Bangladeshi fast food Pakistani snack foods Pakistani fast food Indian snack foods Bihari cuisine Nepalese cuisine Uttar Pradeshi cuisine Indian fast food Appetizers Gujarati cuisine Street food Pakistani cuisine Bangladeshi cuisine Indo-Caribbean cuisine