What Is Chaat Masala Powder? Complete Guide And Uses

If you’ve ever prepared Indian food, you’ve probably come across recipes that call for chaat masala powder. Chaat masala is used to add a spicy flavour to many Indian dishes.

It’s one of those spices that only has one use in a recipe. A fascinating aspect of this unique spice mixture is that Indians prefer to buy it premixed and off the shelf rather than preparing their own flavoured chaat masala.

You can try various homemade chaat masala recipes, but it may be tough to duplicate the combination and balance of the flavour and taste of pre-made chaat masala of various brands.

What is chaat masala powder?

Cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and chilli powder are combined with other common spices to create the tangy chaat masala. Yet, the number of spices used in a dish might range from 8 to 12. This particular seasoning or spice is more frequent in Indian cuisine and less recognised outside the country.

A study has revealed that this delightful spice may have come from the royal kitchens of the Mughal empire (since they were the original food lovers). Chaat masala is a popular ingredient in street-food dishes. Most of the ingredients in chaat masala, such as amchoor powder (dry mango powder) and black salt, are often sour.

How should you prepare powdered chaat masala?

Chaat masala is a spice blend, but it is also a seasoning in the culinary world. Unlike most Indian spices, it does not need to be cooked and can be added to a meal or sprinkled on top of a finished dish.

Chaat masala is not just used to make chaat dishes in India. It’s a flavour-enhancing condiment you can “pick up and sprinkle” on almost any savoury or fruity dish. Chaat masala powder can be used for a variety of mouth-watering savouries, including:

• • Samosas, chutneys, puffed rice chaat, aloo tikki, and papri chaat, among other Indian chaat dishes

• • Lentils, beans, or vegetable dishes (sabzi)

• • Seasoned stir-fry or deep-fry dishes such as patties, pakoras, and colourful vegetables like carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, etc.

• • Fruit salad, green salad, eggs, cheese, and sauces

• • Beverages, especially buttermilk or lemonade, to give them an energising tangy, spicy flavour

• • Avocado, tomatoes, cheese sandwiches, and so forth

Which meals and spices go best with chaat masala?

• • Chaat masala should be used sparingly because it is a condiment with a strong flavour. Use it carefully if you want to add some tang to your recipe or beverage.

• • The best foods to enjoy chaat masala with are fruits, fried foods, beans, pumpkin, eggplant, peas, potatoes, legumes, curries, and rice.

• • Asafoetida, cumin, chile, coriander, dried chilies, fennel, and mustard seeds are the best spices to pair.

The health advantages of chaat masala

• • It aids digestion – Mango powder, ginger powder, and coriander powder all include antioxidants that treat acidity, gas, and constipation.

• • Detoxifying properties – Vitamins A, C, D, B6, and iron abound in this potent blend of spices. They are beneficial for cleansing the body, regulating anaemia, and treating nervous system problems.

• • Control high blood pressure – Coriander seeds, an ingredient in chaat masala, are proven to lower blood pressure and protect against heart attacks and strokes.

• • Amchur, an antioxidant, increases metabolism, while mango powder contains fewer carbs. Each of these characteristics promotes weight loss.

Wrapping up

As previously said, chaat masala is a popular and commonly used Indian spice which also is quite reasonable. The chaat masala price ranges from Rs.73 to Rs.160 per 100g.  If the supermarket does not have an Indian section, it may be challenging to find. This spice is found in every Indian grocery store. Wherever you obtain it, make sure it’s from a reliable source like Naubahar Masale.

Most chaat masalas are powdered and range in colour from light beige to darker beige.

1. Check that the powder is smooth and free of lumps.
2. Check the manufacture date because older packages’ blends tend to smell less.
3. Check that the jars or packets are well closed.

The chaat masala can be found online or in any Indian store.