Craving Indian street food? Learn to make 10 delicious dishes at home. Easy, flavorful, and fun! Read on for the recipes
Craving that chatpata, tangy, and downright delicious Indian street food but too
lazy to brave the traffic and crowds? Or maybe you’re missing your favorite roadside treat from back home while living abroad? Fret not, my friend!
You can recreate the magic of Indian street food right in your own kitchen. It's easier than you think, and often healthier too, as you control the ingredients and hygiene.
So, put on your chef's hat, gather your spices, and let's embark on a culinary journey through the vibrant streets of India, one delicious dish at a time! We're focusing on vegetarian options here, ensuring everyone can join in the fun.
Experience the burst of flavors with Pani Puri, a spicy Indian street food delight
First up, we have Pani Puri, the ultimate Indian street food experience. These little crispy spheres filled with a tangy, spicy water and a mixture of potatoes, chickpeas, and chutneys are a burst of flavor in every bite.
The key to perfect Pani Puri is in the puri itself – you can find ready-made puris in most Indian grocery stores, but if you're feeling ambitious, you can make them from scratch using semolina, flour, and a little bit of oil.
The pani (water) is a blend of mint, coriander, green chilies, ginger, and spices like cumin and black salt. Don't be shy with the chilies if you like it spicy! The filling is a simple mix of boiled and mashed potatoes, boiled chickpeas, and a touch of tamarind chutney for sweetness.
Assemble just before serving to keep the puris crispy and prevent them from getting soggy. Nothing beats the satisfaction of popping a whole Pani Puri into your mouth and savoring the explosion of flavors. Remember to have a glass of water ready, just in case it’s too spicy!
Making Pani Puri at home allows you to adjust the spice level to your liking and ensure the water is made with clean, filtered water.
Bhel Puri: a crunchy, tangy street food favorite for all occasions
Next on our list is Bhel Puri, a lighter, more refreshing street food option. This popular snack is a delightful mix of puffed rice, sev (thin crispy noodles made from chickpea flour), chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander, and a variety of chutneys.
The magic of Bhel Puri lies in the balance of textures and flavors – the crunchiness of the puffed rice and sev, the sweetness of the tamarind chutney, the tanginess of the green chutney, and the freshness of the vegetables.
To make Bhel Puri at home, simply combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and toss well. You can add a squeeze of lime juice for extra zing. Experiment with different proportions to find your perfect Bhel Puri blend.
Some people like to add boiled potatoes or sprouts for extra substance, while others prefer to keep it light and crunchy. Bhel Puri is a great snack to enjoy on a warm evening, and it's also perfect for parties or gatherings. It's quick, easy, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Making Bhel Puri at home ensures you use fresh ingredients and can control the amount of oil and salt.
Aloo Tikki: Crispy potato patties with spices, served with chutneys and yogurt
Moving on to something a little heartier, we have Aloo Tikki. These potato patties are a staple of North Indian street food, and for good reason. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, Aloo Tikkis are typically served with chutneys and a dollop of yogurt.
To make Aloo Tikkis at home, boil and mash potatoes, then mix them with spices like cumin, coriander, chili powder, and garam masala. Add a binding agent like breadcrumbs or cornflour to help the tikkis hold their shape.
Form the mixture into small patties and shallow fry them until golden brown and crispy. Serve with a generous helping of mint-coriander chutney and tamarind chutney, and a spoonful of yogurt for cooling effect. You can also add some chopped onions and tomatoes for extra flavor and texture.
Aloo Tikkis are a great snack or appetizer, and they can also be served as part of a larger meal. Making Aloo Tikkis at home allows you to control the amount of oil used and adjust the spice level to your preference.
You can also experiment with different fillings, such as peas, paneer, or even grated vegetables.
Dahi Puri: Creamy, tangy Indian street food with yogurt, sev, and chutneys
Our fourth dish is Dahi Puri, a close cousin of Pani Puri but with a richer, more creamy flavor profile. Like Pani Puri, Dahi Puri consists of small, crispy puris filled with potatoes, chickpeas, and chutneys. However, the main difference is the addition of yogurt (dahi) and sev.
The yogurt adds a cooling and tangy element to the dish, while the sev provides extra crunch. To make Dahi Puri at home, start with the same base as Pani Puri: puris, potatoes, chickpeas, and chutneys.
Then, generously top each puri with yogurt, followed by a sprinkle of sev, chopped coriander, and a pinch of chili powder. Dahi Puri is a delightful combination of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors, and the creamy yogurt balances out the heat of the chutneys.
It's a perfect snack for a hot day, and it's also a great option for those who prefer a milder street food experience. Making Dahi Puri at home ensures you use fresh, high-quality yogurt and can adjust the sweetness and tanginess to your liking.
You can also add pomegranate seeds for extra flavor and texture.
Popular Ragda Pattice street food from Maharashtra: potato patties with white pea stew
Number five on our list is Ragda Pattice. This street food is popular in Maharashtra and consists of potato patties (pattice) served with a white pea stew (ragda). The ragda is made by soaking white peas overnight and then cooking them with spices like ginger, garlic, turmeric, and chili powder.
The pattice are similar to Aloo Tikkis, but they are often slightly larger and flatter. To make Ragda Pattice at home, start by preparing the ragda. Soak white peas overnight, then pressure cook them until soft.
In a separate pan, sauté ginger, garlic, and spices, then add the cooked white peas and simmer until the stew thickens. For the pattice, follow the same recipe as Aloo Tikkis. Serve the pattice topped with the ragda, chutneys, chopped onions, coriander, and a squeeze of lime juice.
Ragda Pattice is a hearty and satisfying street food that's perfect for a filling snack or light meal. The combination of the soft pattice and flavorful ragda is simply irresistible. Making Ragda Pattice at home allows you to control the spice level and ensure the ragda is cooked to your liking.
You can also add vegetables like carrots, peas, or cauliflower to the ragda for extra nutrition.
Explore Mumbai's iconic street food, Pav Bhaji - a rich vegetable curry served with buttered buns
Let’s explore further culinary delight Pav Bhaji which represents the heart of Mumbai street food. This is a rich and mashed vegetable curry(bhaji) served with buttered toasted soft bread rolls (pav). This is one of the most soul satisfying street food.
To prepare Pav Bhaji at home you need a variety of vegetable, potatoes, peas, cauliflower, carrots and capsicum, all cooked together with onions,tomatoes,ginger garlic paste and a generous amount of Pav Bhaji masala.
The bhaji is mashed until smooth and creamy, then simmered with butter until the flavors meld properly. The Pav breads are slightly toasted in butter on a flat pan until light golden.
Served hot with a dollop of butter, chopped onions, coriander and lemon juice, Pav Bhaji is a delicious and satisfying meal, perfect for any occasion. Making Pav Bhaji at home enables experimenting with the kind of vegetables and allows controlling the level of oil and spice.
Also, some people love to add cheese to give it a cheesy flavor.
