I have an immense passion for chaats. I am the type of person who, upon encountering a chaat stall, finds it impossible to resist salivating.
Chaat is a delightful snack that tantalizes the taste buds with its sweet and sour flavors, commonly available at street stalls and carts throughout the country. The love for chaat among Indians is profound, and the variety of Indian chaats is truly remarkable.
Below are the top 10 chaats that you must experience while in India.
Pani Puri
The ultimate chaat, this dish embodies sheer joy on a plate. Commonly referred to as gol-gappa, phuchka, or batashe, pani puri consists of a crunchy hollow puri filled with zesty mashed potatoes and immersed in a flavorful, tangy water.
Sev Puri
Sev Puri originates from the streets of Mumbai, Maharashtra. It’s pretty much similar to Pani Puri, except it is served dry. Hollowed puris stuffed with potatoes, tamarind and mint chutneys and topped with chopped onions and sev (of course).
Dahi Puri
Another lip-smacking chaat from the family of Puris, Dahi Puri is an advanced version of Sev Puri, topped with rich, beaten yoghurt. The addition of yogurt takes this chaat to a different level, and it is one of the most savored chaats across India.
Bhel Puri
Bhel Puri is a popular chaat born at the beaches of Mumbai. It is a mixture of crispy puffed rice, boiled potatoes, chopped onions and tomatoes, and sweet and sour chutneys. It has several delicious versions across different parts of India.
Papdi Chaat
Moving on from the Puri family, papdi chat is another flavorsome evening snack. Papdi chaat is typically a crispy fried wafer mixed with boiled potatoes, chickpeas, thick yoghurt, chaat masala, and sweet and sour chutneys.
Samosa Chaat
Samosas are the fried version of love. Blend the crispy, hot Samosas with the tangy, mouthwatering elements of a chaat, and what you get is a heavenly snack you’ll want to come back for over and over again.
Aaloo Tikki Chaat
Aaloo Tikki Chaat is a shallow-fried potato patty topped with boiled chickpeas, mint and tamarind chutney, chopped onions, yogurt, and sev. The crunch of the Sev, the sourness of the tamarind chutney, and the melt-in-mouth potato patty are all worth the extra calories gained.
Dahi Bhalla Chaat
Dahi Bhalla is Delhi’s most popular chaat, prepared with deep-fried dumplings of fermented Urad Daal batter (known as Vada). The vada is topped with fresh, thick yogurt, sweet and tangy chutneys, and sev. This tangy chaat is a burst of flavors in the mouth and is a must-try.
Pakora Chaat
Pakoras, pakodas, or bhajias are vegetables coated with a batter of gram flour (besan) and fried until crispy. These pakoras are topped with yogurt, chaat masala, onions, sev, and sweet and sour chutneys. Palak (spinach) pakora chaat, moong (green gram) pakora chaat, and onion pakora chaat are some of the famous and much-loved versions.
Fruit Chaat
Something on different lines from the regular savory chaats, fruit chaat is a bowl of fresh, seasonal fruits (as the name suggests), chopped and seasoned with chaat masala, black salt, and lime juice. It is a mix of sweet and tangy flavors, ideal for the diet-conscious folks.
