11 Street Food Classics You Can Make Safer (and Tastier) at Home

4. Chaat Bowls: Fresh Toppings, Safe Dairy

Chaat is a balance of crunch, tang, and cream, so keeping ingredients fresh makes a big difference in both safety and taste. Use pasteurized yogurt for raitas and dahi-based chutneys, and keep yogurt-based components chilled until assembly to prevent spoilage. Store fried elements like papdi or sev separately to preserve crispness; only add them at the last minute. Acidic dressings made with lemon or tamarind add flavor and can slow bacterial growth slightly, but they don’t replace refrigeration. To add depth, quickly pan-roast chana dal and cumin before crushing them into a finishing masala — that technique brightens aroma in the same way roadside vendors use spice to finish the dish. Portion chaat into small bowls when serving a crowd so leftovers don’t sit out. These habits make chaat bowl service cleaner and keep the familiar street tang intact.