Let’s chat about chaat. (Stop groaning, you know I had to go there). Chaat, the roadside Indian snack usually served as an appetizer in most restaurants in Curry Hill can also be found in Midtown. I first heard about the chaat at Indus Express on Midtown Lunch. Since then, the Samosa Chaat ($4.95) has been my go-to chaat on days I want a filling, but not gut-busting meal.
The Samosa Chaat consists of two potato samosas topped with chickpeas, diced red onions, tomatoes, mangoes, fresh cilantro, and sev (small crunchy noodles made from gram flour). A spicy mint chutney and a thin yogurt is included on the side. Tangy and spicy, with added crunch from the sev, it’s a satisfying little meal, spice and texture-wise. Once my order of samosas was a little doughy on the inside, but it wasn’t egregiously so.
However, now that summer is practically upon us, I’ve been craving cool foods, cool foods that still have flavor. (No salads please.) Luckily, I recently ordered the Chicken Chaat ($4.95) on one of the hotter days this month, and was happy to discover it was served cold. Ingredients are similar to the Samosa Chaat (with diced tandoori chicken replacing the samosas), but cold, the spicy medley tasted crisp and refreshing. I especially liked the sweet mango in the mix. It’s a nice contrast to the heat, and cold, it just makes more sense. Tamarind and mint chutney is included on the side.
It’s supposed to be close to ninety this week. May I suggest the chicken chaat?
Indus Express
48 W 48th Street (b/n 5th & 6th Ave; map)
NY, NY10036
(212) 221-7952
Tags: cheap, Indian, NYC
