If food is the Emotion, then Pani puri is its interjection. There is something comforting when we talk about the small mouth-watering crispy pockets made of wheat flour or semolina served with deliciously spicy stuffings and a little tangy water.
This lip-smacking blend of various flavors gives it a magically twisted taste and makes every Indian heart skip a beat.
In fact, it is a much-loved delicacy savored by everyone around the world. This appetizer is a manifestation of simple joy for people.
In India, Pani puri is called by different names in different states and is also served with various different ingredients. Each region has its own twist to the dish with different flavored water. Let’s have a look at the common variants of our all-time favorite dish:
1. Pani Puri
It is made up of hot ragada curry or white chickpeas along with a blend of spicy chutney and a little tangy water. It is served differently in different places.
In Gujarat, grams/ boiled moongs are added to the stuffing. In MP, mashed potatoes are added but there is no boondi in the water served with pani puri. In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, onions are mixed with the normal stuffing.
2. Gup Chup
This type of pani puri is mostly found in Chattisgarh, Telangana, Hyderabad, Odisha, South Jharkhand, etc.
The name “Gup Chup” is because of the interesting sound the pani puri makes when the small crisp breaks into our mouths.
Unlike normal Panipuris, it does not contain potatoes. Rather, it consists of white chickpeas served with tangy water and onions are added to taste.
3. Pakodi
It is known as Pakodi in Gujarat. It is the perfect Khatta-Meetha combination snack in here. Green chilly, mint leaves, onions, sweet chutney are the additions made to our favorite lip-smacking Pakodi.
Apart from this, what’s additional here is the “Sev” for all the Gujju food lovers!
4. Patashi/ Batashe
People in Rajasthan, Haryana, and parts of UP call our all-time favorite food item Patashi. The stuffing here consists of potato, gram, and chickpeas.
It is served with less tangy water and this water is made up from dry mangoes and spices are added to taste.
You can find the most famous Patashi in Hazaratganj, Lucknow. The place here is famously known as “Paanch Swaad ke Batashe”
5. Dahi Puri
Dahi puri is a type originated by the Mumbaikars and the people living in Delhi and is now available all across India.
Instead of the tangy water thick curd is used with the sweet chutney. It provides a different blend to the appetizer altogether.
6. Sev Puri
Well, another variant of Pani Puri commonly available in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad.
This type of Pani Puri consists of mashed potatoes mixed with onions, garlic, chilies, and tamarind added to the evergreen Gujarati food item “Sev”. Seasoned with pomegranate seeds and a hint of lemon which brings in a tangy flavor and a bit of chaat masala sprinkled on it to top it all off.
7. Phuchka
Pani puri is known as Phuchka in West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar, Bangladesh, etc. This is the most famous street food available in these local markets. The stuffing here is made up of boiled grams, green chilies, tamarind and mashed potatoes with spicy water and tangy chutney.
The puffy mini puris served here are a bit darker in color and bigger in size as compared to the other ones.
Apart from these normal flavored pani puris, there are some kickass transformations you would love to know about:
1. Chocolate Golgappe:
Imagine your favorite spicy food-item available in a whole new avatar. Chocolate Golgappa is a dessert form of panipuri.
It is a chocolate coated puri filled with fruits and whipped cream. The water to dip in is a perfect blend of betel leaf, fennel seeds, and vanilla ice cream.
The water dip is served in small shot glasses filled with a coffee milkshake with the stuffed puris gracefully placed on the top of each glass and served.
For all the chocolate lovers out there, this is a must try!
2. Fruit Panipuri:
Perfect for fruit lovers, this unique pani puri provides a zesty taste of fruits in the soulful street food.
The mashed potatoes here are replaced with chopped fruits and the tangy water is replaced with a fruity liquid. The fruity flavors of orange juice and apple juice are served with the fruit stuffed puris. It is a perfect tastemaker snack.
3. Pani Puri with Black Grapes:
The pani in this recipe is tasty and is made healthy by using black grape juice instead of our regular tamarind water.
The combination of mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chilies along with grape juice enhances its flavor and unusualness.
4. Thai Pani Puri:
The traditional puri stuffings are replaced with mixed vegetables dipped in coconut sauce.
It is garnished with fresh spring onions. These puris are crispy from outside and creamy from inside with an exciting texture and finger-licking taste.
5. Pizza Pani Puri:
Imagine two of our favorite food items merged into one!
Byte size pizza in golgappa is a very innovative snack best served as starters. The stuffing consists of capsicum, onions, olives with pizza sauces and seasonings in accordance with the taste.
It is then garnished with the heart of pizza i.e. Cheese. This is must try for all the Pizza lovers, you’re just gonna love this mini one bite pizza.
Pani Puri has truly crossed all geographic boundaries and is becoming famous throughout the world. Here is how it is served in different parts of the USA:
1. Healthy Panipuri:
There is a healthier take on Indian staples in Los Angeles. Here, it is stuffed with sprouted mung beans and house-made chutneys. And unlike the tamarind water, cumin and mint infused water is made to dip the puri in. You can find this is in a very famous café there named “The Bombay Café”.
2. Vodka Panipuri:
Panipuri is served as part cocktail and part snack in Cambridge. They mix lime and spiced honey paste to vodka instead of the regular flavored water. Later, pour it down to the martini glasses and serve it with the plate in which the stuffings are to be self-filled in the puris.
3. Dahi Avocado Chaat:
This is the local version of Philadelphia (USA). The puffed puri is stuffed with the chickpeas and addition of fresh avocado, red onions, home-made chutney, and tangy yogurt, which gives it a unique flavor.
4. Puri + A Sexy Cocktail:
There is a unique style of serving panipuri in Houston (USA). They use the puffed wheat crisps and fill them with the stuffing of tender potato and garbanzo medley, and savor it with homemade tamarind and mint water. What makes it different is the fact that it is served along with the Kama Sutra cocktail.
Pani puri is a snack which is loved by the young, appreciated by the old and it continues to fill their lives with the perfect blend of tastes and flavors. It brings a smile on millions of faces and acts as a perfect appetizer before the meals.
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