History of the Origin of Chaat in Delhi: Why Delhiites love ‘Chaat’ | sanjay Pasari.

 One of the oldest cities in the world, Delhi, has long served as a cultural crucible. The word chaat, which means to lick clean, has roots in the word chaatna and is an essential component of Delhi-culinary NCR's heritage. 'Delhi has specific enclaves of migrants/immigrants, and they are typically a surprise package when it comes to cuisine,' says Shirin Mehrotra, a Delhi-based food writer who is a major proponent of learning a city through its culinary culture.

According to one legend, cholera broke out in the 16th century under the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. Medical professionals and sorcerers tried desperately to manage it. Making meals with a lot of spices to destroy the bacteria within was one proposed cure. Thus, the spicily tangy chaat was created, which is thought to have been eaten by the whole population of Delhi. A slight variation attributes it to Hakim Ali, the court physician, who realized that the unclean water in a local canal could cause serious water-borne diseases and believed the only way to prevent it was to add a liberal number of spices to the food, such as tamarind, red peppers, coriander, and mint. As a result, the dish became known as chatpati (tangy).

If you are living in Delhi, then you must try these few chaats from different outlet o famous indian snacks café or restaurants.

1: Aaloo chaat

This is the one the most loved chaat in delhi. This particular snack has potatoes (aaloo) diced in medium sized and deep fried in oil in one big frying pan. The vendor mixed some spices, herbs, sauces and curd with the fried potatoes and served with some green coriander and bhujiya (ready to eat snack made with gram flour).

2: Raj Kachori

This is the biggest snack you have ever seen. The Raj Kachori is a look like a ball filled with different type of stuffing such as green lentins,  herbs, vada (made of lentines), curd, green and red suaces, chili powder, Chaat masal, salt to taste, some pomegranate seeds and sev.

3: Pani Puri

Pani Puri is not just famous in Delhi but the whole India. This Indian snack has two main things the first one is small ball made of wheat flour and tangy water that make this Pani puri worth trying. This water is mixed with tamarind sauce, salt, mint sauce, mint leaves, coriander leaves, and some boondi as well. You can have this water along with the small balls inside. Indian prefer this snack to eat in whole along with the watetr at a time without breaking or spilling the water from the balls.