Many years ago, I had an amazing chaat (an Indian snack often made of finely chopped vegetables, lentil flour chips, and spices) that I couldn't get out of my mind. One day, when my mom was visiting me, I made a version of it and she loved it, which meant that it was a success; my mom holds Indian food to high standards, and why shouldn’t she – she’s been cooking it forever and makes the absolute best South Indian food ever (and I’m not just saying that because she’s my mom). This salad relies on the chaat masala, but if you can't find it, try making your own spice blend with cumin, coriander, chili powder, and, the critical ingredients, black salt and amchur (dried green mango) powder. The latter give the mix a smoky, sulphuric, and sour taste that are critical to chaat. Additionally, the fried okra are optional (if you hate frying like I do), but they really do make this chaat go from great to wow, so I recommend you make them.

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