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Chaat Masala

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An Indian spice blend with a very unique taste, chaat masala will take a dish from ordinary to extraordinary.

If you’re a fan of snack cuisine, Indian style, this brilliant mix of flavours is for you. Chaat masala is a super simple spice mix recipe and will change the way you approach Indian cooking.

How to make chaat masala

This recipe takes just a few minutes from start to finish. All you need to do is toast a specific selection of spices in a frying pan. 

Once toasted, you add the spice mix to a bowl and then whizz them up with the help of a special gizmo…  

K-Mojo DigiMaster

While it’s good to roll your sleeves up in the kitchen and get stuck in, sometimes you need all the help you can get. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of laborious tasks like grinding up spices.

It can be really taxing on the old wrists and I’m often left with big chunks of seed, rather than a fine fragrant powder.

That’s where the K-Mojo DigiMaster comes in. A state-of-the-art digital food processor, it’s got ten different functions, meaning you can juice, slice, chop, emulsify, knead, blend, grate, shred, whisk or grind till your heart’s content!

Of course, with this recipe, we are using the grinder attachment. With this super sleek, powerful gadget, it takes mere minutes to get your special spice mix down to a ground aromatic powder. 

Not only is the K-Mojo DigiMaster powerful and effective, it also looks the part. A beautiful, elegant, compact design means it’ll slot right into your kitchen.

Power, speed, elegance and control. What else could you wish for in a modern kitchen appliance? 

What is chaat masala made of?

Chaat masala is made from a variety of spices, each bringing their own unique taste into the mix.

Mint brings a subtle freshness, which balances well with the earthiness of the spices. Dried garlic, either crushed or powdered, brings its own deep unique flavour.

Ajwain or carom seeds have a very strong flavour – quite bitter. They smell almost like thyme, yet taste a little like oregano, with a slight anise undertone. 

Asafoetida is a very strong, aromatic spice. It’s from the fennel family, but it brings a similar strong savoury flavour as garlic or onion. 

Amchur powder is another crucial element. A lot of people will be wondering “what is amchur powder?” It’s actually another name for mango powder and is made from dried unripe mangos. It brings a citrus kick to the spice blend.

Black salt is another key part of chaat masala. Black salt, also known as kala namak or Himalayan black salt, has a sulphur-like smell. It’s very pungent and is much more like a spice than regular salt. 

Some recipes call for tamarind or lemon juice to bring a sour dimension to the spice blend, both of which you can add to this recipe.

Is chaat masala the same as garam masala?

No, the two are very different. One is used to season curries at the end of cooking and the other is used to flavour savoury snacks. They are made from a very different mix of spices.

What can I substitute for chaat masala?

Many people think that, because of the name similarity, you can swap garam masala in for chaat masala. Chaat masala is pretty unique though, and hard to replace and garam masala is definitely not a good place to start.

Masala is a generic term for the mix of spices. Masala means ‘hot’, while chaat loosely translates to ‘snack.’ The two bring totally different flavours.

If you want a substitute for this recipe, your best bet is to start with ground cumin seeds, add some amchoor (dried mango powder), red chilli powder, black pepper and finally a little black salt.

If you only have basic spices, the key parts are cumin, salt, pepper and mango powder or lemon juice.

Is chaat masala healthy?

Yes, it’s a great source of vitamins and minerals, inducing iron and calcium. Also, the spices in this recipe contain lots of antioxidants with proven health benefits.

More great Indian recipes

  • Aloo chaat – add your delicious spice mix to this traditional Indian recipe 
  • Mushroom pakora – this extremely tasty recipe will taste even better with your spice mix added in
  • Potato bhajis – a classic Indian starter
  • Mung bean curry – a nutritious and delicious vegan curry
  • Mixed vegetable curry – if you’re a veggie curry lover, this one’s for you

GIVEAWAY

This week one winner will receive 1 selection of plastic kitchen gadgets!

A versatile set of heat-resistant plastic kitchen utensils with stainless steel handles including a Serving Spoon, Slotted Spoon, Turner, Soup Ladle and Slotted Turner.

Well suited to a contemporary kitchen, easy to clean and dishwsher safe, ideal for using safely with non-stick surfaces, a comprehensive set to cover all essential cooking and service functions, includes loops for hanging out of the way and maintaining a cooking space without clutter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entering is easy, just follow the instructions below.

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Competition Question: What would you make with K-Mojo DigiMaster’s grinder attachment?

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chaat masala in a jar

Chaat Masala

★★★★★

4.9 from 9 reviews
  • Author: Michelle Minnaar
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: Makes 175g (1½ cups) 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Chaat Masala is a unique spice blend that is commonly used in Indian street food and snack recipes. Learn how to make chaat masala and use it in dishes such as Aloo Chaat. 

Scale

Ingredients

  • 18g (3 tbsp) cumin seeds
  • 15g (3 tbsp) coriander seeds
  • 5g (1 tbsp) ajwain/carom seeds
  • 5g (1 tsp) red chilli powder
  • 29g (4 tbsp) amchur powder
  • 51g (3 tbsp) fine black salt
  • 7g (1 tbsp) ground black pepper
  • 1g (¼ tsp) asafoetida
  • 10g (1 tbsp) dried mint flakes
  • 10g (1 tbsp) garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Using a dry frying pan, roast the cumin, coriander and ajwain seeds over a medium heat. Ensure to continuously move the seeds around with a wooden spatula. After a few minutes, the seeds will release their aromas.
  2. Tip the toasted seeds in a bowl and allow to cool down.
  3. Place the seeds in the K-Mojo DigiMaster spice grinder attachment and process until finely ground.
  4. Add the remaining ingredients with the ground seeds and blend further until all ingredients are well incorporated.
  5. Tip into airtight containers and store in a cool dark place. Use as needed.
  • Category: Spice Mix
  • Method: Grind
  • Cuisine: Indian

Keywords: chaat masala, chaat masala powder recipe, homemade chaat masala, how to make chaat masala

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  21. Susan B says

    I would probably start with a simple vegetarian curry but I like the idea of grinding a few spices to add to breadcrumbs for a coating on bland meat substitute pieces.

    Reply

  40. Sheila Shepheard says

    The Chaat Masala looks like a good one to start with. I’ve made Garam Masala but never Chaat. Love the look of the grinder too.

    Reply

  41. Sheila Shepheard says

    The Chaat Masala looks like a good one to start with. I’ve made Garam Masala but never Chaat. Love the look of the grinder too. Much easier to use than my one.

    Reply

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