One of the best ways to experience its rich and vibrant heritage is through its street food, which offers a variety of flavors, textures, and aromas that reflect the local traditions and influences.
Streflavours in India have a long and fascinating history that dates back to ancient times.
Samosa
A triangular pastry filled with spiced potatoes, peas, onions, or other ingredients and deep-fried until crisp. It is usually served with chutney or ketchup.
Chaat
A term for a variety of savory snacks that combine sweet, salty, spicy, and sour flavors. Some common types of chaat are papri chaat (crispy wafers topped with potatoes, chickpeas, yogurt, and chutneys), dahi puri (hollow puris filled with yogurt and chutneys), Katori chaat (edible bowls made from fried dough and filled with potatoes, sprouts, and chutneys) and vada pav (spicy potato fritters sandwiched between bread rolls).
Pani puri
Also known as golgappa or phuchka, this is a popular snack that consists of hollow puris that are filled with flavored water (pani), tamarind chutney, potatoes, onions, and chickpeas. The puris are eaten whole in one bite for a burst of flavor.
Kebab
A term for grilled or roasted meat or vegetable skewers that are marinated in spices and herbs. Some popular types of kebabs are seekh kebab (minced meat shaped on skewers), shami kebab (patties made from minced meat and lentils), paneer tikka (cubes of cottage cheese marinated in yogurt and spices), and hara bhara kebab (vegetarian kebabs made from spinach, peas, and potatoes).
Dosa
A thin crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter that is cooked on a hot griddle until crisp. It is usually served with sambar (lentil stew) and coconut chutney. Some common varieties of dosa are masala dosa (stuffed with spiced potato filling), rava dosa (made from semolina batter), cheese dosa (sprinkled with cheese), and paper dosa (very thin and large dosa).
Pav bhaji
A dish that consists of pav (bread rolls) that are toasted with butter and bhaji (a thick vegetable curry) that is cooked with mashed potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, green peas, cauliflower, capsicum, and various spices. It is garnished with coriander leaves, lemon juice, and butter.
Pav bhaji
A dish that consists of pav (bread rolls) that are toasted with butter and bhaji (a thick vegetable curry) that is cooked with mashed potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, green peas, cauliflower, capsicum, and various spices. It is garnished with coriander leaves, lemon juice, and butter.
Indian street food is not only delicious but also an integral part of the social and cultural life of the country. It brings people together from different backgrounds and classes and creates a sense of community and belonging. It also showcases the creativity and innovation of street vendors, who constantly adapt to changing tastes and preferences.
