Papri chaat is traditionally prepared using crisp fried dough wafers known as papri, along with boiled chickpeas,
boiled potatoes,
dahi (yogurt) and
tamarindchutney[1][6] and topped with
chat masala and
sev.[1][7] The papri are typically prepared with refined wheat flour (
maida) and
ghee or
oil.[8][9] Mint,[6] cilantro[10] and spices[11] may also be used. The dish has sweet, sour, tangy and spicy flavors and a creamy and crunchy texture.[1][6]
Etymology
Papri refers to the wafers, and the word chaat is derived from the Sanskrit verb caṭ which means tasting with a fingertip and represents the sound made; thereby, it refers to several fast food dishes and
snacks. Chaat is a thick cream in
Hindi.[1] The term also refers to a variety of dishes in India.[1]
A recipe for papri (as purika) is mentioned in Manasollasa, a 12th-century Sanskrit encyclopedia compiled by
Someshvara III, who ruled from present-day
Karnataka.[12]
Street food
Papri chaat is often purveyed and consumed at mobile
food stalls in India.[6] In India, it is more popular in the northern region of the country compared to other areas.[11]