Spice Up a Variety of Dishes With Chaat Masala Seasoning (2024)

Zingy, tangy, and slightly hot, chaat masala is an Indian spice mix that adds a boost of flavor to a variety of dishes. The powdery spice gets its distinctive flavor from black salt. Sometimes used as a spice in cooking, chaat masala is most often sprinkled as a garnish on salads, chaats (savory Indian-style snacks), drinks like Indian-style lemonade, and meals like curries and dals.

This is a basic recipe, but once you've made it a few times and become familiar with the ingredients and how they taste, you can experiment with the spices, increasing some and decreasing others to make your own custom blend. ​Some of the spices go by different names in Hindi and English, and either may be used on the packaging; to help you when shopping, both common names are included in the ingredient list. This recipe for chaat masala makes just under 1 cup, so multiply the ingredients if you need more.

What You'll Need to Make This Chaat Masala Recipe

A Sturdy Skillet
A Handy Dandy Spice Grinder
An Airtight Storage Jar

"Homemade spice mixes are my favorite. They streamline recipes and add excitement and nuance to anything. I tried what the developer suggested and sprinkled a hint of this spice mix into my lemonade and WOW! Such a subtle but spectacular difference. I'll never have regular lemonade again!" —Renae Wilson

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A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

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  2. Heat a flat griddle or skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds.

  3. Dry roast the seeds until they begin to turn a little darker and give off their aromas. Stir often while roasting to prevent the seeds from burning, about 3-5 minutes.

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  4. Remove the seeds from the griddle and spread on a plate to cool.

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  5. Mix the dry roasted seeds with dried mango powder, black salt, black pepper, ginger, ajwain seeds, dried mint, and asafetida powder in a clean, dry, spice grinder, coffee grinder, or food processor and grind until a fine, smooth powder forms.

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  6. Transfer to a glass container with a tight seal and store in a cool, dark place. Use in your favorite recipes and enjoy.

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How to Use Chaat Masala

  • Sprinkle chaat masala on almost any green salad for an added kick.
  • Add a pinch of chaat masala to lemonade and stir it in to give the lemonade an instant lift.
  • Indian vegetarian dishes taste particularly good with a small garnish of chaat masala. After the dish is cooked and you have turned off the heat, sprinkle a few pinches of chaat masala over the top of the dish and cover immediately. Let sit for 2 to 3 minutes and serve.

How to Store

  • Homemade chaat masala should be used within two to three months of making it, as the ingredients will lose their potency if kepttoolong. Place in a glass container and store in a cool, dry place.
  • Do not store chaat masala with other spices as the ingredients (especially the black salt) are highly aromatic, and the other spices will take on the aromas.

Is chaat masala the same as garam masala?

While chaat masala and garam masala are both popular Indian spice blends, they have different flavor profiles and are used very differently. Garam masala is a spice mixture that combines cardamom, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, clove, turmeric, and other spices for an aromatic, savory blend. It's used in curries and other hot dishes. Chaat masala contains some of the same spices as well as dried mango powder, black salt, and other spices, and is sprinkled on finished dishes and used to top chaat (savory snacks).

What can be used instead of chaat masala?

Chaat masala has a distinctive flavor that is hard to replicate since it is a blend of several spices. While there aren't any perfect substitutes, the best option is to use as many of the spices present in chaat masala as you can in the correct proportion. If you don't have dried mango powder, try adding a little lemon or lime juice.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
11Calories
0g Fat
2g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16to 24
Amount per serving
Calories11
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 2mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 2g1%
Dietary Fiber 0g2%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 4mg19%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 1mg4%
Potassium 41mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • seasoning
  • indian
  • weeknight
  • spice mix

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Spice Up a Variety of Dishes With Chaat Masala Seasoning (2024)

FAQs

What can you use chaat masala for? ›

It works great in traditional chaat recipes, such as papri chaat and pani puri, but can also simply be sprinkled over fruit or vegetables or used as a spice for snack foods, like Chex mix.

What is the purpose of chaat masala? ›

Chaat Masala powder is a strong aromatic spice, which adds flavor to any dish. Modern Agro Chaat Masala Powder is prepared from the most assorted spices, which ensures organic freshness and a natural taste. Chaat Masala powder is a strong aromatic spice, which adds flavor to any dish.

What does chaat masala taste like? ›

and what does it taste like? Chaat Masala has a very distinct and easily recognizable taste. I'd describe it as a complex blend of tart, spicy, salty, tangy, and sour with a hint of sweetness.

What spice can I use instead of chaat masala? ›

If you don't have chaat masala, you can create a substitute by combining equal parts of cumin powder, coriander powder, and amchur (dried mango powder). Optionally, you can also add a pinch of black salt for a similar tangy flavor.

What goes well with chaat masala? ›

Amchur (dried green mango powder), salt and chilli powder give the blend its characteristic tangy, salty, spicy zing. Uses: Sprinkle over salads or chaat (fried snacks) or use in place of salt on your chips. Also delicious on fruit - try a pinch on mango or pineapple.

What is chaat served with? ›

Crispy Topping

No chaat dish is complete without something crispy and fried on top. Popular toppings include fried potato bits, deep-fried noodles made from chickpea flour called sev, or seasoned, fried chickpeas. While each component of chaat is relatively simple, it's pure magic when combined.

What are the disadvantages of chaat masala? ›

Chaat masala

According to Dr Dhir, chaat masala and other such seasoning masalas often come with a high content of salt. The sodium in salt can impact the kidneys and lead to water retention in our bodies. This extra stored water raises BP and puts a strain on kidneys, arteries, heart, and brain.

What's the difference between garam masala and chaat masala? ›

The two masalas have entirely different flavor profiles. They use different whole spices. Garam masala consists of earthy, warm spices. Chaat masala is a blend of spices that give sour, tangy, and tart flavors.

What is the most popular chaat? ›

1. Aloo tikki. This renowned chaat dish, popular not only in New Delhi but also in various North Indian regions, stands out as a top favourite among people.

Does chaat masala contain garlic? ›

Rarely, some brands of chaat masala include garlic, so if you do not wish to include garlic check for that too in the ingredients list. Also, ensure the package is tightly sealed and well within the use-by date.

What spice is similar to masala? ›

For a fast and simple garam masala substitute, mix 1 part ground cumin with ¼ part ground allspice. Simply combine: 2 teaspoons cumin powder. ½ teaspoon allspice powder.

Can you buy chaat masala? ›

Rajah Chaat Masala 80G - Tesco Groceries.

What is the difference between masala and chaat masala? ›

Garam masala is used to enhance the aroma and flavour of the dish and is mainly added to curries, while chat masala is added to enhance the dish's flavour only and make them tangier. You can sprinkle on chaats like Bhel puri, masala puri and fruits.

Should chaat masala be kept in fridge? ›

Chaat masala should be stored in a cool and dry place, away from moisture and sunlight. It does not need to be refrigerated but should be kept in an airtight container to preserve its freshness. Is chat masala keto-friendly?

What is catch chat masala used for? ›

Catch Chat Masala is a staple masala in Indian kitchen. Chat masala is an all-in-one seasoning. Compliments Salads, Sandwiches, Fresh fruits, Finger chips, Snacks, Soft drinks, Sprouted beans.

Can we eat chaat masala in fast? ›

Yes, you can have your favorite chaat while fasting too! All you need to do is replace that regular salt with rock salt along with chaat masala and a drizzle of lemon over some boiled potatoes. Toss it all well and you'll have crispy, chatpat chaat to relish on.

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