If I were to describe Indian street food with just one word it would be “colorful”. It’s an assault on the senses in the best ways possible. India is a vast country boasting a diverse group of regional foods. I’ve been a fan of Indian food for most of my adult life.

Historically, it’s been known to produce up to 75% of the world’s spices, leading to some of the tastiest and most interesting dishes you’ll find anywhere on the planet. There is so much interesting street food to be experienced in this country. Different foods of India make our country stand apart from others. Street food of India is the most tempting part of the culinary delights of the country. Sold in public areas like markets or stalls, street foods are mostly ready to eat food. They can be found at very small price and are really delicious in taste. Each city of India has its own specialty of all time much desired snacks that are favorite of all. Exploring some major street foods of India offered by different cities.

1. Samosa

Aloo Tikki is a popular Indian street food that originates from North India. It’s a delicious and flavorful potato-based patty or cutlet, typically served hot and crisp. It’s widely available throughout India as street food or as a snack at restaurants, cafes. Samosa refers to a pastry filled with savory ingredients like potatoes, peas, onions, lentils, meat, herbs, and spices. It’s often shaped like a triangle or pyramid. Samosas can be baked or fried and often served with tamarind chutney or green coriander chutney. Samosa may not be Indian in origin but it’s very much a part of Indian cuisine now. Its irresistible taste and the blend of spices make it a favorite among people of all ages.

2. Vada Pav

Vada Pav, also called Bombay Burger, is a beloved street food of Mumbai that is famous worldwide. It’s like an Indian slider which is made with spiced potato fritters that are fried to golden perfection and sandwiched between the Indian bread, along with some spicy and tangy chutney. This is an authentic Marathi dish that heats up your belly, all thanks to the spicy chillies inside it. To add more to its taste, Vada Pao is served with different chutneys, coriander being the most common one. When in Mumbai it becomes necessary to have one.

3. Aloo Tikki

Be it a wedding, a house party, a market stroll, or a visit to the mall; everything is incomplete without having the delicious Aloo Tikki. Though its exact origin is unknown, you’ll find it in every corner of the country. No matter you find any other street food item or not, Tikki is something that’ll catch your glimpse every time you are on a street food stroll. The mashed potatoes mixed up with spices are fried to get hot and crispy Tikkis. Sometimes served with Tamarind chutney and sometimes with a combo of tamarind and mint, this dish is a bomb of flavours. There are a few vendors who also garnish the dish with reddish and onion adding more to its taste.

4. Momos

If you are in Delhi, you won’t find a single street that doesn’t have a momo stall. Momos in Delhi are as famous as Nick and Priyanka’s wedding is on social media. Though it is a Tibetan Dish, the North Indians here love it to the core. Adding the twists of masalas and stuffings, a massive variety of momos are sold in the state. Every shop or stall you visit there are types of Momos like chicken, veg steamed, paneer, afghani, fried peri peri, etc. From Dolma Aunty’s Momos in South Delhi to Momos Point in North Delhi, you’ll find hundreds of varieties of this one particular dish. You can’t resist the hot piping stuffed dumplings. Mutton, Paneer, Wheat, Tandoori, Fried, Gravy, etc. you name the type, and it will be served. No matter how much you eat these, they’ll never be enough!

5. Aloo Chaat

Crispy potatoes tossed in a mix of spicy and sweet chutneys; this street food dish is a pleasure for your taste buds. The sour, and flavorful the cubed fried potatoes are served with variations in different states. It’s best to have them with coke in summers and masala chai in winters. At times lemon water is added to make Tangier and yum.

6. Daulat Ki Chaat

Daulat ki Chaat is a super light, rich and delicious sweet dish. The texture of this Chaat is one of its major highlights. It is made with the froth of very creamy milk, that is cooled beforehand. The foam is created by hand-whisking the milk, and separating the delicate froth when it’s just the right time. Stuff like khoya, saffron, cardamom powder and nuts are added to this sweetened cloud of goodness to elevate the flavour. This brings about the perfect balance of flavours and a bit of crunch as well, making it all the more delectable. Usually, almond flakes, pistachios and rose petals are used to garnish this heavenly Chaat. Served in donas or kulhads on the streets of Chandni Chowk in Delhi, and various other cities.

7. Chole Bhature (Delhi Ki Special Dish)

Capital city of India is the best place to enjoy street foods in India as it offers them in plenty. You can find an array of roadside food stalls. Chole bhature is a popular Punjabi dish but loved by maximum people of India. Chole bhature is a popular breakfast item and can be found any road side food-stall and even restaurants. Some other street foods of Delhi are Aloo Chaat, Dahi Bhalle and stuffed parathe.

8. Pav Bhaji

Pav bhaji was one of my favorite street foods in India. It’s a simple dish but it’s comforting and absolutely delicious. Pav bhaji is originally from Mumbai where it was invented as a quick lunchtime dish for the city’s textile mill workers in the 1850s. The dish caught on and started appearing on restaurant menus in Mumbai and throughout the country. Pav bhaji consists of a thick spiced curry made with potatoes and vegetables like onions, peas, bell peppers, and tomatoes. The potatoes and vegetables are cooked with spices before being mashed and served with a soft buttery bread roll. Pav means “bread roll” while bhaji refers to vegetables or vegetable-based dishes.

9. Delhi’s famous Ram Ladoo

Ram Ladoo is a famous street food item in and around Delhi. It is another term for moong dal ke pakode or fritter. Although the core element are the fritters, the dish has more to it. The hot and crispy fritters are topped with various other interesting elements before serving. There’s a ‘salan’ made with radish, coriander, chillies and lemon juice. Along with this unique topping, there’s a super spicy green chutney and a tangy tamarind chutney as well. A few slices of onion for more crunch and a dash of chaat masala at the end. This is how Ram Ladoo is prepared, offering a burst of different flavours that are enjoyed by every food lover

10. Chole Kulche / Matar Kulche delhi famous dish

Matar Kulcha is another widely famous street food dish that is kin to Chhole Kulche. The difference lies in the white peas (also used to make Ragada in Ragada Patties) that are used in place of the Chhole. Stuff like chopped onions, tomatoes, loads of lush coriander leaves, spices, lemon juice and green chutney are added to the Matar. All of this elevates the flavour of the bland peas. The perfect accompaniment to go with this is a Kulcha. It is a very soft, leavened flatbread made with refined flour. Unlike a bhatura, it is not deep-fried but roasted on a tawa with some ghee or butter. The kulcha tends to absorb the flavours of the matar with its delicate, soft texture. This one is a lip-smacking combination for sure!

 

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