What chaat means
Chaat is a general name for a large family of savoury snacks from India, especially popular as street food in the north of the country and across South Asia. The word is often said to come from a Hindi word meaning to lick, describing how delicious the food is. Chaat dishes combine contrasting textures and flavours in each mouthful: crisp, crunchy fried elements, soft boiled potatoes or chickpeas, cool yoghurt, sweet and sour tamarind chutney, fresh green coriander and mint chutney, chopped onion and tomato, and a sprinkle of tangy spice. Popular types include papdi chaat, made with crisp fried wafers, potatoes, chickpeas, yoghurt and chutneys; aloo tikki chaat, based on fried potato patties; samosa chaat, with crushed samosas; bhel puri, a mix of puffed rice, sev and chutneys; and pani puri or golgappa, hollow crisp puris filled with spiced water.
Fruit chaat is made with seasoned fresh fruit. Most chaat is seasoned with chaat masala, a tangy blend of dried mango powder, black salt, cumin and other spices. The dishes are usually assembled just before eating so the crisp parts stay crunchy. Chaat is sold from street stalls and specialist shops and is often eaten as an afternoon or evening snack.
It has become popular in Indian restaurants in Britain. You will see chaat in Indian street-food recipes and restaurant menus.