Pani Puri

I had this strong urge to have pani puri the other day. On impulse I bought some puri’s home. I already had some ready made tamarind date chutney and mint chutney. All that was needed was the pani masala. For a change I wanted to make this fresh.

Pani puri is a fast food found on a road side stand in busy street corners in India. Usually a plate would comprise of 6 – 10 pani puri’s and each is assembled  as you eat it. An incision is made to perfect puffed puri and filled with a little potato stuffing, cooked chickpeas, mint and tamarind date chutney. This is then dunked into a large bowl of masala flavored cold water and eaten.

My friend was in town visiting and it was fun to sip some spicy cardamon tea, assembling and dunking puri’s and relishing them as we exchanged news and reminisced.

Ingredients:
1 box of pani puri’s
1 medium potato
1/2 can garbanzo beans or cooked beans

Masala Ingredients:
1 tsp corainder seeds
3-4 dry red whole chilli
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black salt
1 tsp dry mango powder (amchur)
1 tsp whole black pepper
salt to taste
pinch of asafoetida

Boil the potato with the skin. Peel the boiled potato, and mash with a spoon. Add some cumin, and mango powder, salt and cayenne pepper and mix. Set aside.

If using raw chickpeas, soak overnight and cook. If using canned, drain the liquid and transfer to a bowl.

Optionally can also use chopped onion and tomato. Place each ingredient in a separate bowl.

To make the masala, dry roast cumin, coriander, black pepper, and red chili. Grind into a smooth powder. Mix in black salt, salt, mango powder, and asafoetida.

When ready to eat, set up the assembly line of all ingredients in individual bowls. Take a large bowl of cold water and add 1-2 tbsp of masala and mix well. Can also add some ice to chill the masala water. Let each person assemble their puri’s with the ingredients of preference. Finally dip into the masala water and transfer the complete puri into the mouth before biting in to relish all the various flavors and refreshing aroma of the spices.

Mouth watering! Try it!