Indian street food
Indian chutneys, explained.
Most Indian street food is finished with three chutneys: sweet tamarind, fresh green mint-coriander and fiery garlic. Between them they provide the sweet, sour, herby and hot notes.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 2 min read
Sweet
Tamarind (imli)
Fresh
Mint and coriander
Hot
Garlic and chilli
Cool
Yogurt
01
Tamarind chutney (imli)
Made from tamarind pulp cooked with jaggery or sugar, dried ginger and spices, this chutney is dark, sticky and sweet-sour. It is the sweet counterweight to spice, and it is the brown drizzle you see on samosa chaat and papdi chaat.
02
Green chutney
Blended fresh mint, coriander, green chilli, lemon and sometimes a little yogurt or cumin. It is bright, herby and sharp, and brings the heat. It is essential on chaat, in sandwiches and with samosas, and it is the base of the water in pani puri.
03
Garlic chutney
A dry, red chutney of garlic, red chilli and often dry coconut, pounded to a powder or paste. It is the signature of vada pav in Mumbai, where it is smeared inside the bun. Use sparingly.
04
Yogurt: the cooling partner
Not a chutney, but always nearby. Whisked sweet yogurt calms the heat and binds the other flavours, which is why it appears on dahi puri, chaat and dahi bhalla.
05
Where to taste them
You will meet all four at Tapri Chai. Samosa Chaat ($12.99) combines tamarind, mint, yogurt and onions; Vada Pav ($5.49) carries the chutneys in the bun; and Dahi Puri ($11.99) fills crisp shells with yogurt, mint and tamarind. Find us at 200 Kennevale Dr in Barrhaven, Ottawa.
Questions, answered.
What is imli chutney?
Imli is tamarind. Imli chutney is a sweet and sour sauce made from tamarind pulp, jaggery or sugar and spices.
What is in green chutney?
Mint, coriander, green chilli, lemon juice and salt, sometimes with cumin or yogurt.
Are Indian chutneys spicy?
The green and garlic chutneys carry heat. Tamarind chutney is sweet and sour.
Are chutneys vegetarian?
Yes. They are made from fruit, herbs, spices and sometimes yogurt. All of Tapri Chai’s food is vegetarian.
Which chutney goes with samosas?
Green chutney and tamarind chutney are the classic pair.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.