The Yummy Yummy Indian Street Food

No one knows better than an enthusiastic traveler how useful a quick bite is while he explores a location. Food served in a restaurant is no doubt good, but nothing can parallel the variety of street food available in various parts of India. These unique items not only satisfy your endocrine glands but also enhance your travel experience

Gol Gappe

The most spicy and popular food – Gol Gappe

A hot favourite among people of all ages because of its spicy and tangy taste – Small quantities of mashed potato mixed with coriander leaves (dhania), fried cumin (jeera) powder, green chillies and other spices are stashed into little hollow balls made of suji or flour (atta), and dipped in a yet spicier water and consumed in one go! The main ingredient of the water is tamarind (imli) or mint (pudina) leaves. All over the country you would get this snack, albeit with a local improvisation and new names: Gol Gappe, Pani Puri, Phuchka, Gup-chup, etc. There’s a famous roadside vendor in Delhi who offers you 8 different types of liquid to accompany your bite!

So popular is this dish that food giants Haldiram and Bikaner Chatwala have included Golgappe on their menu!

Aloo Chaat

Aloo Chaat

An easy to make yet tasty treatment of mundane potatoes come as a surprise element, mainly available in North India. The potatoes are chopped in small pieces of about half an inch blocks and deep fried. The usual practice adopted by the vendors is they carry out a preliminary round of frying, and as the aroma attracts a hungry customer, they would re-fry a definite quantity, put salt and tangy chutneys of pudina, garnish with onions and serve it to him within minutes.

Chuck your worries about those extra calories and dig into this delicacy. Aloo Chat is also popular with people on fast who are allowed to consume potatoes without salt.

Aloo Tikki Chaat

The Most Delicious – Aloo Chaat

This is actually the original version of Aloo Chat. Mashed potato mixed with chopped green chillies and spices is made into cakes and fried, and served with pudina chutney, imli chutney, curd and onions. This is available in North and Western India, and such is its popularity that it is almost a must in the menu of North Indian weddings!

Dahi Bhalle and Papri Chaat

The yummy Dahi Bhalle

These two dishes are found almost anywhere in India. The use of curd and chutneys of tamarind take you to another world as you bite into a spoonful of soft balls made out of daal or papris made of flour. Perhaps the most popular and oldest snack known to Indians, these are also available in snack joints of Haldiram’s and others of this league.

Pao Bhaji

Pao Bhaji

This is also available all over the country and is a very popular dish. Pao or Bread is served with Bhaji or a curry made out of tomatoes and onions. A dollop of butter enhances the taste significantly.

Vada Pao

The Most popular Dish in Maharashtra

The Western Indian version of Burgers is so popular that it is almost synonymous with this part of the country. It is basically a fried ball of variety of ingredients such as mashed potatoes, daal, chillies and served with a bun. The Vada-Pao of Chowpatti and Juhu Beach in Mumbai are famous. It is an age old snack that finds mention in movies also!!

Poha

Poha

A favourite of Central India and Western India, this preparation from Chirwa (flattened rice) is a popular breakfast snack. Some love it so much that they would have poha anytime of the day!

Bhelpuri/ Sevpuri

Bhelpuri

Essentially a Western Indian snack, Bhelpuri and Sevpuri can be found in variety of localized forms all over the country. Basically it is puffed rice mixed with spicy chutneys and namkeen. It is best enjoyed while talking a leisurely walk in a park, or enjoying a gathering with friends.

Idli and Vada

Idli and Vada

This is right from the heart of South India where Idlis (rice cakes) and Vada (made of rice and daal) are served with a bowl of hot sambhar (a very watery lentil preparation with vegetables and tamarind). Its available all over India, with local improvisations – the spice loving North Indians add onions, the East Indians add a secret sweet tinge to the sambhar. It is a popular saying that if you have original South Indian food in South India itself after having tasted the preparations elsewhere, you may be in for a surprise!

Bread Omlette

Bread Omelette

A snack that you can dig into anytime of the day in a short break between work or while scurrying to complete an errand. Yes, you have to be non vegetarian or atleast an eggeterian (vegeterians who eat egg) to enjoy this. There’s nothing like a freshly made omlette served hot with chopped onion and green chillies, sandwiched in bread slices on a chilled winter evening!

Kebabs

Kebab

A discussion of non vegetarian street food is incomplete without mentioning kebabs. The practice of making kebabs date back to the days of Mughal rule in India. Today, you can see pieces of chicken (and mutton) strung on long iron rods ready to be grilled. Shammi Kebabs, Tandoori kebabs, Tikkas are popular variations, served with onions, lemon and pudina chutney.

The vegeterians are not deprived at all – paneer tikkas made by roasting big chunks of paneer, capsicum, tomatoes and onion are extremely popular.

Momos

Momos

This is a healthy snack for the calorie-conscious people: steamed dumplings. Momos owe their origin to North Eastern India, Sikkim, China and Tibet, but have gained popularity in all over India. They were originally non vegetarian, made mostly out of minced lamb or chicken; but due to local demand, vegetarian versions in paneer and cabbage can be found. The local improvisation to pacify the taste buds of the customers, fried momos are also available at some places!

The dumplings are served with a spicy hot sauce made of red chilli paste and a slightly less spicier sauce. They are extremely popular among the younger generation and nothing can be better than a plate of hot momos over a conversation with friends or on the way back from tuitions.

Samosa and Pakoda

Samose and Pakode

The inclination towards fried food of Indians is realized in the fried snacks that are available in almost every nook and corner.

Leading from the front in this league is Samosa or triangular fried snacks with fillings of mashed potato, cauliflower, peas and innovative items. Non vegetarian versions are also gaining popularity gradually.

Also, pakodas made by dipping almost anything and everything in besan (gram flour) and deep frying it is something an Indian cannot live without: Chilli Pakodas, Aloo Pakodas, Gobhi Pakodas, and many more! Fried balls of moong dal (Moong Daal ke Laddu) is also popular.

The East Indians have their own palette in Fried Food: Aloo Chops, Beguni (brinjal pakodas), Pynaji (onion chops), Fish Cutlets, Chicken Kabirazis, Egg Devils and many more.

Lassi

Lassi

There’s nothing like a glass of Lassi or whipped curd to beat the summer heat. Largely popular in North India, this drink is almost the mascot of Punjab. Available in sweet, salted or mixed versions, with or without that extra dollop of malai, Lassi is a popular and widely available in the Indian plains.

Jalebi and other sweets

Well, as you can make out, this list is actually endless. The more we discuss, the more items come to our minds. So let us wrap this post up on a sweet note. The Indians are fond of sweets and no meal is complete without at least a drop of something sweet. Also, when you are hungry, a quick sweet provides that extra dash of energy for you to keep going.

Try the juicy jalebis (fried flour rings dipped in sweet juice), gulab jamuns, rasgullas and dry sweets (called “Sandesh” in East India) for a sweet finishing!

If you want to be notified next time, subscribe to the RSS feed or say hello via Twitter @theotherhome. You can plan your dream holiday with us, visit The Other Home.

Format

No one knows better than an enthusiastic traveler how useful a quick bite is while he explores a location. Food served in a restaurant is no doubt good, but nothing can parallel the variety of street food available in various parts of India. These unique items not only satisfy your endocrine glands but also enhance your travel experience

Gol Gappe

The most spicy and popular food – Gol GappeA hot favourite among people of all ages because of its spicy and tangy taste – Small quantities of mashed potato mixed with coriander leaves (dhania), fried cumin (jeera) powder, green chillies and other spices are stashed into little hollow balls made of suji or flour (atta), and dipped in a yet spicier water and consumed in one go! The main ingredient of the water is tamarind (imli) or mint (pudina) leaves. All over the country you would get this snack, albeit with a local improvisation and new names: Gol Gappe, Pani Puri, Phuchka, Gup-chup, etc. There’s a famous roadside vendor in Delhi who offers you 8 different types of liquid to accompany your bite!
So popular is this dish that food giants Haldiram and Bikaner Chatwala have included Golgappe on their menu!
Aloo Chaat

Aloo ChaatAn easy to make yet tasty treatment of mundane potatoes come as a surprise element, mainly available in North India. The potatoes are chopped in small pieces of about half an inch blocks and deep fried. The usual practice adopted by the vendors is they carry out a preliminary round of frying, and as the aroma attracts a hungry customer, they would re-fry a definite quantity, put salt and tangy chutneys of pudina, garnish with onions and serve it to him within minutes.
Chuck your worries about those extra calories and dig into this delicacy. Aloo Chat is also popular with people on fast who are allowed to consume potatoes without salt.
Aloo Tikki Chaat

The Most Delicious – Aloo ChaatThis is actually the original version of Aloo Chat. Mashed potato mixed with chopped green chillies and spices is made into cakes and fried, and served with pudina chutney, imli chutney, curd and onions. This is available in North and Western India, and such is its popularity that it is almost a must in the menu of North Indian weddings!
Dahi Bhalle and Papri Chaat

The yummy Dahi BhalleThese two dishes are found almost anywhere in India. The use of curd and chutneys of tamarind take you to another world as you bite into a spoonful of soft balls made out of daal or papris made of flour. Perhaps the most popular and oldest snack known to Indians, these are also available in snack joints of Haldiram’s and others of this league.
Pao Bhaji

Pao BhajiThis is also available all over the country and is a very popular dish. Pao or Bread is served with Bhaji or a curry made out of tomatoes and onions. A dollop of butter enhances the taste significantly.
Vada Pao

The Most popular Dish in MaharashtraThe Western Indian version of Burgers is so popular that it is almost synonymous with this part of the country. It is basically a fried ball of variety of ingredients such as mashed potatoes, daal, chillies and served with a bun. The Vada-Pao of Chowpatti and Juhu Beach in Mumbai are famous. It is an age old snack that finds mention in movies also!!
Poha

PohaA favourite of Central India and Western India, this preparation from Chirwa (flattened rice) is a popular breakfast snack. Some love it so much that they would have poha anytime of the day!
Bhelpuri/ Sevpuri

BhelpuriEssentially a Western Indian snack, Bhelpuri and Sevpuri can be found in variety of localized forms all over the country. Basically it is puffed rice mixed with spicy chutneys and namkeen. It is best enjoyed while talking a leisurely walk in a park, or enjoying a gathering with friends.
Idli and Vada

Idli and VadaThis is right from the heart of South India where Idlis (rice cakes) and Vada (made of rice and daal) are served with a bowl of hot sambhar (a very watery lentil preparation with vegetables and tamarind). Its available all over India, with local improvisations – the spice loving North Indians add onions, the East Indians add a secret sweet tinge to the sambhar. It is a popular saying that if you have original South Indian food in South India itself after having tasted the preparations elsewhere, you may be in for a surprise!
Bread Omlette

Bread OmeletteA snack that you can dig into anytime of the day in a short break between work or while scurrying to complete an errand. Yes, you have to be non vegetarian or atleast an eggeterian (vegeterians who eat egg) to enjoy this. There’s nothing like a freshly made omlette served hot with chopped onion and green chillies, sandwiched in bread slices on a chilled winter evening!
Kebabs

KebabA discussion of non vegetarian street food is incomplete without mentioning kebabs. The practice of making kebabs date back to the days of Mughal rule in India. Today, you can see pieces of chicken (and mutton) strung on long iron rods ready to be grilled. Shammi Kebabs, Tandoori kebabs, Tikkas are popular variations, served with onions, lemon and pudina chutney.
The vegeterians are not deprived at all – paneer tikkas made by roasting big chunks of paneer, capsicum, tomatoes and onion are extremely popular.
Momos

MomosThis is a healthy snack for the calorie-conscious people: steamed dumplings. Momos owe their origin to North Eastern India, Sikkim, China and Tibet, but have gained popularity in all over India. They were originally non vegetarian, made mostly out of minced lamb or chicken; but due to local demand, vegetarian versions in paneer and cabbage can be found. The local improvisation to pacify the taste buds of the customers, fried momos are also available at some places!
The dumplings are served with a spicy hot sauce made of red chilli paste and a slightly less spicier sauce. They are extremely popular among the younger generation and nothing can be better than a plate of hot momos over a conversation with friends or on the way back from tuitions.
Samosa and Pakoda

Samose and PakodeThe inclination towards fried food of Indians is realized in the fried snacks that are available in almost every nook and corner.
Leading from the front in this league is Samosa or triangular fried snacks with fillings of mashed potato, cauliflower, peas and innovative items. Non vegetarian versions are also gaining popularity gradually.
Also, pakodas made by dipping almost anything and everything in besan (gram flour) and deep frying it is something an Indian cannot live without: Chilli Pakodas, Aloo Pakodas, Gobhi Pakodas, and many more! Fried balls of moong dal (Moong Daal ke Laddu) is also popular.
The East Indians have their own palette in Fried Food: Aloo Chops, Beguni (brinjal pakodas), Pynaji (onion chops), Fish Cutlets, Chicken Kabirazis, Egg Devils and many more.
Lassi

LassiThere’s nothing like a glass of Lassi or whipped curd to beat the summer heat. Largely popular in North India, this drink is almost the mascot of Punjab. Available in sweet, salted or mixed versions, with or without that extra dollop of malai, Lassi is a popular and widely available in the Indian plains.
Jalebi and other sweets

Well, as you can make out, this list is actually endless. The more we discuss, the more items come to our minds. So let us wrap this post up on a sweet note. The Indians are fond of sweets and no meal is complete without at least a drop of something sweet. Also, when you are hungry, a quick sweet provides that extra dash of energy for you to keep going.
Try the juicy jalebis (fried flour rings dipped in sweet juice), gulab jamuns, rasgullas and dry sweets (called “Sandesh” in East India) for a sweet finishing!
If you want to be notified next time, subscribe to the RSS feed or say hello via Twitter @theotherhome. You can plan your dream holiday with us, visit The Other Home.
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