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Tuesday, 7 October 2008       

 
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Indian Snack Food

By:Liz Canham


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



For all your Indian cooking needs why not visit my Asian Food Online Store.



Article Source: http://www.dailynewarticles.com

Liz Canham is the webmistress of Asian Food and Cookery and Travellers' Tales.








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