Some examples of well known snack foods from India.
Indian children love the Khomcha-Wallah. He wanders the streets, the
busier the better, basket of goodies on his head and a cane stool under
his arm. When he encounters a likely crowd he sets down his basket on
the stool and starts to trade. The basket will contain the
half-prepared ingredients of what is known in northern India as chaat -
savoury snacks from traditional Hindu cuisine - which may be served in
a banana leaf bowl.
One item might be Aloo Chaat which is fried, golden-brown potato cubes
tossed with chilli powder, roasted cumin powder and chaat masala**.
Another, Dhai Baras which are split-pea patties. They will be already
fried and softened in warm water. To complete the dish the
Khomcha-Wallah may add beaten, creamy plain yoghurt with salt on top,
and a choice of spice mixes. One mixture will be aromatic and probably
contain roasted cumin, black pepper and dried mango powder, another
will be hot a fiery with chillies, another sweet and sour like tamarind
chutney.
Some Indian cities have become renowned for a certain sort of chaat -
Jaipur for Paapri Chaat (similar to Dhai Baras but served with cubed
potatoes chick peas) and Mumbai for Pau Bahji (spicy potato and
vegetable curry served in a bun) but it is Delhi which is the chaat
capital of India.
Some other chaats are:
Aloo Samosa - little pastry triangles filled with a spicy mixture of
small diced potatoes and peas with chillies, chilli powder, fresh
coriander, cumin and garam masala.
Keema Samosa - similar to above but including minced beef or lamb.
Aloo Tikki - mashed potato mixed with peas, cumin powder, corn flour,
chilli powder and salt, formed into patties and fried until crisp and
golden.
Tandoori Chicken Chaat - Tandoori chicken, shredded and mixed with
diced green mango, onions, green chillies, coriander leaves and chaat
masala**, dressed with lemon juice, oil and chilli powder.
**Chaat Masala is a spice mix made by combining the following ingredients.
4 tsp powdered dried mango
3 tsp cumin seeds, roasted and ground
3 tsp salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp coriander seeds, roasted and ground
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp fennel seeds, roasted and ground (optional)
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
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