Chaat masala
A tangy, salty North Indian blend with black salt and amchur, sprinkled on fruit and street snacks.
Also: chat masala, street-food spice, sour spice mix
Chaat masala is a ground mix built for sourness and savoury punch. Typical ingredients are amchur, cumin, coriander, black salt (kala namak), dried mint, black pepper, ginger, chilli, asafoetida and sometimes anardana. The black salt carries a sulphurous, eggy note that gives the blend its distinctive taste. It is dusted on fruit chaat, fried snacks, yoghurt dishes, papdi chaat, grilled corn, cut cucumber and even drinks of lime and soda. Because the flavours are volatile and the salt draws moisture, the blend is best kept airtight, and added at the last moment before serving.