Chaat Masala

Name: Chaat Masala
Yield: makes about 2 tablespoons
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons amchoor (dried mango powder); 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon hing (asafetida); 1/4 teaspoon cayenne; Pinch of salt

December 14, 2011

You can probably buy premade chaat masala more easily than you can find some of its ingredients, which may include ground pomegranate seeds and other exotica. But this is a good, simple version, contributed by my friend chef Suvir Saran. The sourness, which is its defining characteristic, is provided by the distinctive amchoor, a powder made from dried mangoes. If you have the time, toast together in a dry skillet (as for Hot Curry Powder, page 592) whole cumin and coriander seeds, then grind them before mixing them with the other ingredients.

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