Introduction
Street food is the heart of Indian cuisine. Without it, it seems like an incomplete place. They are filled with all types of cuisines that are spicy, sweet, and tangy, and include a burst of flavors in the mouth of the devourer. This taste can be found nowhere else. Some of the street food stalls have been in existence for over 100 years. Many of them have been set up recently and are providing both traditional as well as modern versions of food. During the pandemic, many street food stalls were closed as gathering crowds could be dangerous. But now that things are improving and the situation is going back to normal, we can again enjoy the flavorsome food items. So here’s a list of the best Indian street food that you can enjoy with your friends and family.
Indian chaat
One thing that is irresistible is the mouthwatering and delicious Indian chaat. It is available in so many varieties that one may not even be able to count them. But here are some of the most popular Indian chaat dishes that you will love.
Golgappa
The first dish is undoubtedly the best one with a lot of names like puchka, Pani puri, and golgappa. It is made of ball-shaped puris which are made of semolina or Rava dough and fried in hot oil. The puris are also available readymade but, and the street shops generally prefer buying them. The puris are filled with a potato and chickpea mixture along with sweet and spicy water. The sweet water is made of tamarind and jaggery whereas the spicy one is made of mint and coriander.
Papdi chaat
The next dish is another famous street food found in almost every street of the Indian subcontinent. Papdi chaat is made using crispy fried wafers known as papdi. Then, it is topped with a potato mixture and two kinds of chutney sweet chutney and spicy chutney. It is also garnished with some fresh coriander, sev, and chaat masala. During the summer season, raw mangoes are also used as a topping to increase the tanginess of the dish.
Bhel masala
Bhel masala is a savory snack in both dry and wet forms. The dry version is made of puffed rice as the base and mixed with a few spices and herbs. It is also mixed with some coriander, sev, lemon, and chaat masala. The wet version is made of the same ingredients but adds sweet and spicy chutney, which enhances the dish’s flavor and makes the rice soft and moist.
Tikki chaat
If you visit the northern region, one thing that will be found in almost every region is the Tikki chaat. It is made of Tikki as the base and mixed with various kinds of chutney. The tikka is made of a potato mixture that is shaped in a circular form and fried in hot oil until it turns brown and crispy. This crispy tikkis are then topped with some chutney, coriander, chaat masala, and sev. It is a popular dish and is available at reasonable prices in every Indian street food stall.
Kebabs
After talking about some tanginess, let us move on to the spice stage. Kebabs are available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions and they are grilled in a hot tandoor or oven. The vegetarian version is made of vegetables, cottage cheese, or soya bean and the non-vegetarian version is made of chicken, mutton, or any other meat. The mixture is marinated with spices so that the flavor enhances and then inserted in a skewer. The skewer is placed in the tandoor and cooked until it turns brown. Kebabs can be served with rumali roti which is a kind of Indian flatbread. They can also be served with mint chutney and had on their own.
Dabeli
Dabeli has a long history and has been in existence for quite a long time. It is a sweet dish that is made of pav filled with a potato mash mixture. The potato mixture is prepared using boiled potatoes, and spices like dabeli masala, coriander, sev, pomegranate seeds, and peanuts. The dish is served on its own and is widely popular in the state of Gujarat. The dish is sweet hence, you do not have to worry about the spice level and if you’re allergic to peanuts then you may ask the vendor to not add it to your dish.
Vada pav
The last dish is popular in the state of Maharashtra and resembles a burger. It is also known as the Indian version of a burger. Vada pav consists of a bun known as pav and a potato dumpling made of potato mash as the filling and covered with gram flour batter. The balls are then fried in hot oil and placed inside the bun along with some chutney. This dish originated in Mumbai city and that is why people from all over the world visit this city. Everyone loves this amazing mouth-watering snack.
The bottom line
In conclusion, we all love snacks, and to have it after a busy day and get some relaxation, Indian street food is the best. But you can obviously not visit India to enjoy these delicious dishes every time. So enjoy the best food by either preparing it at home or ordering from a restaurant. Try to find an Indian restaurant that provides the most authentic and traditional food and provides the best services keeping hygiene and cleanliness in mind.
One such restaurant is Shiva Shakti, which is situated in Singapore and has been providing traditional Indian food for many years. They make all kinds of dishes and create some fusion at times with the help of expert chefs and staff. The staff is super friendly and ensures that the diners go with a wide smile and satisfied tummy from the restaurant.
Indian street food has wide popularity so why miss out on it when you can have it from a famous Indian restaurant like Shiva Shakti?