Pani Puri; Gol-Gappe; Pakodi; Pakori

Pani-Puri - ummm.. where do I start??? This was/is/will be my most favorite street food and I can have it any and every time of the day... I can never have enough of these...

These small puris - filled with mashed potatoes and black chana with loads of chaat masala - dipped in spicy water - a few drops of sweet tamarind chutney - make sure to gulp it in one try otherwise it will break down and will be pretty messy...

Back home - the best pani-puri would be the ones serve by Bhaiyas on carts (laris).. The best one I had was Mahendar Bhaiya's Pakodi center near our house in Ahmedabad... it was/is just awesome... last weekend I spoke to my sister-in-law and she said "Oh we were just thinking about you as we were over at Mehendar's Pakodi center" - I was like "Didi jale per namak chidak rahe ho" (sister, you are making me jealous)...

I am drooling as I am writing this entry... Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients

1. Pani-puri - about 40-50 pcs (store bought - easily available at all Indian Stores)
2. For filling: 1 large potatoe - boiled and mashed; Black chana - soaked over night and boiled; salt; chaat masala
3. For Pani: a bunch of fresh mint leave, coriander, 2 green chilies, chaat masala, one and a half cup cold water and salt per taste
4. For tamarind chutney: 3 tblsp tamarind pulp; 8 deseeded dates; 1/4 cup jaggery and salt per taste

Process

Filling

1. Mix togather mashed potatoe, boiled chana, chaat masala and salt
2. Keep aside

Pani

1. Grind togather mint leaves, coriander and green chilies.
2. Add into chilled water
3. Mix in chaat masala and salt
4. Keep aside

Tamarind Chutney

1. Grind togather dates, tamarind pulp and jaggery - adding a little water as necessary
2. Mix in salt per taste
3. Keep aside

Serving Pani-puri

1. Poke a hole in the center of the puri
2. Add in the potatoe filling
3. Either dip in filled puri into pani or spoon in the pani into puri
4. Spoon in tamarind chutney - a drop or two.
5. Hurry - put it in your mouth or it will break apart!!!
6. Enjoy the yummy taste of all the goodness in the world!!!

Tips: Stir the pani well before dipping in the puris or spooning it into the puris as the spices tend to settle down at the bottom...

Sending this to Mother's Day Cooking Celebration event held by Panch Pakwan...

ENJOY!!!

Reposted this recipe at http://desizayeka.blogspot.com/2012/07/ramadan-collections.html
Submitting to the following events (see further details at the link above):

Joy from Fasting to Feasting - V

Ramadan Friendly Recipes