Street Food

Gota (fritters)

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Gota (fritters) are made with chickpea flour and vegetables. The most common type of gota is methi (fenugreek) ni bhaji (greens) na gota (fritters). Fenugreek greens are widely available during winter months. Gota is very popular street food and usually eaten as a snack with hot tea. When you buy gota from a street vendor or farsan (savory food) shop, you will also get kathi chutney,  Green Papaya Cachumber and stir fried green chilies, especially in Gujarat.

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Methi ni Bhaji na Gota

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Serves: 4

Fenugreek greens fritters
Ingredients
  • 2 cups chickpea flour or more
  • ½ cup coarse whole wheat flour or cream of wheat
  • ¼ cup yogurt or buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups packed chopped methi ni bhaji (fenugreek greens either fresh or frozen, thawed)
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 jalapeno or serrano chili, minced
  • 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted and crushed
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 4 teaspoons sugar
  • Water as needed
  • Canola or similar oil for frying
Directions
  1. In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup water, olive oil and yogurt or buttermilk. Add chickpea flour and ¼ cup of wheat flour or cream of wheat. Combine flour with water, if some dry flour remains, it is fine.
  2. Add spices, greens and rest of ingredients (except water). Combine with flour and if batter is too dry gradually add more water until thick fritter batter forms. Let batter rest for an hour.
  3. Heat oil in a frying pan until ready to fry.
  4. Just before frying, add remaining wheat flour or cream of wheat. Check the consistency of batter. If it too thick, add more water to thin out. If it is too thin, add more chickpea flour. Taste seasoning and adjust according to taste. If you want to make spicier, add more chili powder.
  5. Once oil is hot enough to fry, drop about 2 tablespoons of batter for a fritter with your hands or small ice cream scoop. Drop 6-7 fritters in hot oil and fry them until golden brown and crunchy, 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat until all batter is gone. You can let excess oil drip from fritters on a paper towel lined plate or wired racked pan.
  6. Serve warm and accompanied with any one or more condiments like cilantro chutney, kathi chutney, green papaya cachumber and cucumber raita. Can be served as a snack or an appetizer.
Notes
You can also make this same recipe with spinach.

 

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Recipes, Street Food

Pav Bhaji

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Pav Bhaji

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Serves: 6

Pav (bread) Bhaji (mixed vegetables) is a street food available all over India. The bhaji should be soft and mashed which you can scoop up with a pav. This recipe uses small quantity of variety of vegetables which is great use of left over vegetables. You can also use left over mashed potatoes for this recipe.
Ingredients
  • Quarter of cabbage, shredded
  • 3 to 4 florets cauliflower, roughly chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, shredded
  • 1 Japanese eggplant or ½ of large eggplant, peeled and ½ inch diced
  • ½ dhoodhi (Indian squash), peeled, deseeded and ½ inch diced (optional)
  • 2 medium russet potatoes, boiled and mashed
  • 2 large red onions, finely diced (reserve ½ cup for serving)
  • 3 large Roma tomatoes, ¼ inch diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 tablespoons canola oil or butter
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt or to taste
  • ¾ cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 2 teaspoons pav bhaji masala
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro, for serving
  • 1 lime, cut into quarters for serving
  • 6 soft buns (pav), any kind
  • Butter for brushing on buns
Directions
  1. Combine cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, eggplant and doodhi in a large microwave safe bowl or large soup pot or Dutch oven. Cook vegetables in microwave (7 to 8 minutes) or stove top (10 to 12 minutes) until soft. Vegetables will release some liquid, keep that liquid. Mashed vegetables with potato masher and set aside. (You can use same soup pot or Dutch oven to make bhaji. You can transfer cooked and mashed vegetables to a mixing bowl).
  2. Heat oil or butter on a medium high heat in a large soup pot or a Dutch oven until oil is shimmering and butter is melted, 2 minutes. Lower heat to medium, add garlic and sauté it until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add onions and sauté them until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Next add all dry spices except pav bhaji masala and sauté with onions and garlic for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and sauté them until softened, 2 minutes.
  3. Add mashed potatoes and combine with sautéed vegetables. Let potatoes warm through before adding rest of mashed vegetables, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add rest of mashed vegetables, season with salt, stir and cover with a lid. Let bhaji cook for 7 to 10 minutes on low heat until flavors meld, stirring frequently. If bhaji is sticking to bottom, add some water. Uncover, add peas, pav bhaji masala and let bhaji cook for 5 to 6 minutes on low heat.
  4. Spread butter on buns and toast them on a griddle or frying pan until light golden brown but still soft.
  5. Serve hot bhaji with pav (buns). Garnish individual serving of bhaji with 1 tablespoons of cilantro. Serve reserved onion and lime on side.

 

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Recipes, Street Food

Bhel

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Bhel

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Serves: 4

Bhel is a street food mostly available all over India. Bhel mix is mixture of puffed rice, crispy chickpea flour noodles and whole wheat flour crackers. It's party favorite food.
Ingredients
  • 6 cups bhel mix
  • 1 large russet potato, boiled and cut into ½ inch dice
  • 1 medium red onion, cut into ¼ inch dice
  • 2 medium Roma tomatoes, cut into ¼ inch dice
  • 1 large carrot, shredded
  • 1 medium beet, shredded (optional)
  • 1 15oz. can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup cilantro chutney
  • ½ cup garlic chutney
  • 1 ½ cups date and tamarind chutney
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 cup thin sev (crispy chickpea flour noodles) (optional)
Directions
  1. To serve, first put one cup bhel mix, top with ¼ cup each potatoes and chickpeas. Next top with 1 tablespoon each of onion, tomato, carrot and beet. Top with 1 tablespoon cilantro chutney, 1 teaspoon garlic chutney and ¼ cup date tamarind chutney. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon thin sev and then cilantro top. Everything should be mixed before eating. You can add more chutney and other ingredients according to your taste. You can also let everyone serve themselves according to their taste. You can increase amount of ingredients depending upon number of guests.
Notes
You can buy all ingredients for bhel in Indian grocery stores.

 

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Recipes, Street Food

Kachori

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Lilva Kachori

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Serves: 6

Kachori (stuffed savory pastry) is found in many regions of India but lilva (fresh pigeon peas) kachori is mainly found in Gujarat.
Ingredients
For filling:
  • 2 cups frozen tuver lilva (fresh pigeon peas), thawed
  • 1 medium russet potato, boiled and mashed
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafetida
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 serrano or jalapeno chili, cut into few pieces
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, cut into few pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 2 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped
  • Juice of ½ a lemon
For dough:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening or softened butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
Neutral oil for frying
Directions
  1. Combine flour, shortening or butter and salt into a medium mixing bowl. Gradually add water and knead into hard and smooth dough. Cover with a towel or a plate and set aside.
  2. Combine lilva, chili and ginger in a food processor bowl. Pulse until lilva, chili and ginger are minced.
  3. Heat olive oil in a frying pan or a wok on a medium high heat until shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Lower heat to low and add sesame seeds. Add asafetida, turmeric and let spices cook for 30 seconds. Add minced lilva and stir to combine with spices. Add mashed potato, rest of the ingredients and stir to combine everything. Cover pan or wok and let filling cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Let filling cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
  4. Knead dough for few times and divide into about 20 equal parts and roll into balls.
  5. Roll out a ball into 3 inch diameter circle. Keep rest of balls covered while you make kachori. Place about 1 tablespoon of filling in the center. Fold the edges of circle on top of filling and twist folds and remove extra dough. Gently press and pinch dough over filling to completely seal filling. Gently roll kachori with palm of hands to make a ball. Transfer to a plate and cover with a towel while you make rest of kachori.
  6. Heat oil in a frying pan until ready to fry. Fry kachori in batches of 5 to 6 until golden brown. Serve warm with cilantro chutney and date and tamarind chutney. Can be served as an appetizer.

 

 

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Recipes, Street Food

Khaman

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Khaman

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Serves: 4

This Gujarati dish can be found all over Gujarat in shops called khaman house or farsan (savory) mart. It is eaten as a snack or with a meal as a farsan on special occasions.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups besan (chickpea flour)
  • 1 cup yogurt (not Greek)
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno or serrano chili
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh coconut, for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, for garnish
For tempering (Vaghar):
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafetida
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon water
Directions
  1. Whisk together besan, yogurt and warm water in a medium mixing bowl until smooth batter. Cover the bowl with a plate and let it ferment for 4 to 5 hours.
  2. Once batter is fermented, add turmeric, salt, chili and ginger to batter and stir to combine.
  3. Grease two metal pie dishes with oil or nonstick cooking spray. Start heating steamer on medium high heat.
  4. Whisk lemon juice, oil and baking soda in a small mixing bowl. Whisk vigorously to emulsify oil and lemon juice and to aerate. Immediately add to fermented batter and whisk vigorously.
  5. Pour batter into pie dishes and steam it for 10 to 12 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from steamer and cut into squares. Keep it in pie dishes.
  6. While khaman are steaming, prepare vaghar. Combine sugar and water in a small mixing bowl until sugar dissolves. Set aside. In a small heavy bottomed sauce pan heat oil on medium high heat until shimmering. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Lower heat to medium. Add asafetida and let it cook for 10 seconds. Add sesame seeds and chili. Let chili cook for 1 minute. Pour sugar water into vaghar. Take off heat.
  7. Pour ½ of vaghar on one pie dish and other ½ on second pie dish. Transfer khaman from pie dish to serving bowl. Stir gently to evenly coat vaghar. Garnish with coconut and cilantro. Serve immediately.
Notes
You can also make this recipe from ready to make packets available in Indian grocery stores.

 

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Recipes, Street Food

Chickpea Flour Rolls and Fries

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Khandavi

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Serves: 6

The chickpea flour is known as besan and the rolls are known as Khandavi. This dish was my mother's specialty. My mother used to make it on special occasions and whenever guests were coming over. She is not able to cook anymore but she has passed on this recipe to many of us. This is not an easy recipe to master. It took several attempts for me to make it right.
Ingredients
  • ½ cup chickpea flour (besan)
  • ½ cup yogurt (not Greek)
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon finely minced green chili (jalapeno or serrano)
  • 1 teaspoon finely minced ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • Pinch of asafetida
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons freshly grated coconut, see Note.
  • Oil for brushing on baking sheet
For Tempering (Vaghar):
  • 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafetida
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
Directions
  1. Prepare two large or three medium sized baking sheets for spreading cooked besan. Invert baking sheets and brush them with oil and set them aside. You can also use silicon mat or spread on a stone kitchen counter.
  2. Whisk together besan, yogurt, water, green chili, ginger, turmeric, asafetida and salt in a medium heavy bottomed sauce pan until smooth.
  3. Start cooking besan on low heat, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook besan until it is fully cooked (like polenta), about 7 to 10 minutes. Immediately spread besan on to baking sheets in thin layer (like thickness of tortilla).
  4. Sprinkle two tablespoons each of cilantro and coconut on baking sheets evenly. Make 2 ½ inch cuts evenly on spread batter vertically along the width of baking sheet.
  5. Gently start rolling khandavi as tight as you can, until all spread batter is gone. This batter will make 12 to 14 khandavi. Arrange khandvi vertically on a casserole dish.
  6. Prepare Vaghar: In a small heavy bottomed sauce pan, heat oil on medium heat until simmering. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle, 30 seconds. Add remaining vaghar ingredients and let it cook 10 seconds. Pour over arranged khandvi. Garnish with remaining cilantro and coconut. Serve within few hours of making at room temperature.
Notes
Fresh grated coconut is easily available in Indian grocery stores in frozen section.

 

 

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Chickpea Flour Fries

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Serves: 3

Ingredients
  • ½ cup chickpea flour (besan)
  • ½ cup yogurt (not Greek)
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon finely minced green chili (jalapeno or serrano)
  • 1 teaspoon finely minced ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • Pinch of asafetida
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated coconut
  • Oil for brushing on baking sheet
  • Neutral oil for frying
For Tempering (Vaghar):
  • 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafetida
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
Directions
  1. Whisk together besan, yogurt, water, green chili, ginger, turmeric, asafetida and salt in a medium heavy bottomed sauce pan until smooth. Brush with oil a small 6 x 10 baking sheet.
  2. Start cooking besan on low heat, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook besan until it is fully cooked (like polenta), about 7 to 10 minutes. Immediately spread besan on to baking sheet in even layer.
  3. Transfer the baking sheet to freezer for 2 to 3 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
  4. Cut the batter into ½ inch thick fries. Heat oil into a frying pan until hot enough to fry. Fry the fries in 3 to 4 batches until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Transfer fries to paper towel lined dish or on a wire rack to drain excess oil. Once oil is drained, transfer fries to serving dish or bowl.
  5. Prepare Vaghar: In a small heavy bottomed sauce pan, heat oil on medium heat until simmering. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle, 30 seconds. Add remaining vaghar ingredients and let it cook 10 seconds. Pour over the fries. Garnish with cilantro and coconut. Serve warm.

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Recipes, Street Food

Dabeli

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Dabeli

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Serves: 4

Dabeli is an Indian Street food available all over India. It is grab and go like food which people can eat as a breakfast, lunch or a snack in a hurry. It is basically a vegetarian slider, the patty is made out of mashed potatoes and spices.
Ingredients
  • 2 russet potatoes, boiled and mashed
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons Dabeli masala, See note.
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup tamarind and date chutney, See note.
  • ½ cup salted or spicy peanuts, chopped finely
  • ¼ cup coconut, finely grated
  • ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
  • 12-15 black raisins, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup nylon sev (fine crunchy chickpea flour noodles), See note.
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup garlic chutney, See note.
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 slider buns
Directions
  1. Heat oil in a frying pan on a medium high heat, 2 minutes. Add shallot and sauté it until translucent, 2 minutes. Add mashed potatoes and stir to combine with shallot. Add ½ cup of tamarind and date chutney, dabeli masala, salt, sugar and lemon juice. Stir to combine with masala. Let mixture cook for 2 to 3 minutes. If mixture is too dry, add some water.
  2. Transfer the mixture to a plate or a baking sheet and spread it in even layer. On top of mixture sprinkle peanuts, coconut, pomegranate seeds, raisins, half of sev and cilantro. Stir the mixture with your hands to combine everything. Divide the mixture into four equal parts and make small patties to fit into slider buns.
  3. Slit the buns without cutting through all the way. Spread about 1 tablespoon each of garlic chutney on one half and tamarind and date chutney on another half. Sprinkle about ½ tablespoon sev on both sides of patty and slide into bun. Press the bun tight to seal the patty. Repeat same process for remaining buns.
  4. Heat non-stick pan or a griddle on a medium heat and add butter. Once the butter is melted, toast the buns with patty on both sides by gently pressing, about 2 minutes per side.
Notes
The Dabeli masala, nylon sev, tamarind and date chutney, and garlic chutney are easily available in Indian grocery stores.

 

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Recipes, Street Food

Samosa

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Samosa

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Serves: 6

Samosas have become quite popular in many countries with Indian population. This delicious snack is sold on streets all over India. In US it's available freshly made and frozen in most Indian grocery stores. My cousin, Vibha, runs a catering business in India and this is her recipe. While making samosa at home, you do not need to finely mash potatoes for filling and the filling can be made in advance.
Ingredients
For dough:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ajwain seeds
  • Water as needed
For filling:
  • 2 russet potatoes, boiled and mashed
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil, plus more for frying
  • ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon ajwain seeds
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, finely minced
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon sanchar (black salt)
  • ½ teaspoon chaat masala or juice of ½ a lemon
  • ½ cup frozen green peas, thawed
  • ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
  • Salt
Directions
  1. Make the dough: Combine flour, salt, ajwain seeds, oil and shortening in a medium mixing bowl and mix it with hands. Gradually add water while mixing and kneading until it makes soft and smooth dough. Cover the dough with a plate or a kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes to one hour.
  2. Make the filling: In a wok or a frying pan heat 2 tablespoons of oil on medium high heat until simmering. Add all the seeds and let them sizzle. Add green chili, ginger and sauté them for 30 seconds. Add mashed potatoes, garam masala, chaat masala or lemon juice and black salt. Stir everything to combine spices with mashed potatoes. Let the mixture cook on low heat for 2 minutes.
  3. Add peas and cilantro. Stir to combine and let the filling cook for 1 more minute. Taste the filling for salt as black salt and chaat masala are quite salty. Add salt if needed. Let the filling cool for 20 to 30 minutes.
  4. Make samosas: Divide the dough into 20 or so equal parts. Roll into balls and cover with a plate or a towel. Take one ball of dough and roll out into about 6 inch circle. Cut the circle in half. Put about 2 tablespoons of filling in the middle of half circle, leaving about ¼ inch space on the round side. Pick corner of flat side and cover the filling. Pick another corner of flat side and cover the dough with filling. Press gently to seal dough over the filling. It should make a triangle. Pinch together round side of dough and the corner. Cover the prepared samosa with a towel. Repeat the process with remaining dough balls and filling.
  5. Heat oil in frying pan until ready for frying. Drop 4 to 5 samosa in hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from oil and drain excess oil on a paper towel lined plate.
  6. Fry remaining samosa same way. Serve warm with cilantro chutney and tamarind and date chutney.

 

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Recipes, Street Food

Vegetarian Hot Dogs

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Black eyed Peas Hot Dog

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 15 oz. can of black eyed peas
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons brown or white rice flour or corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 small shallot, finely minced
  • 2 to 3 cremini mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 hot dog buns
Spice mix:
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Directions
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil into a small pan, about 2 minutes. Add fennel seeds and let them sizzle, 30 seconds. Add shallot and red pepper flakes. Sauté those until shallots are translucent, 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté them for 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and sauté it for a minute with shallot and mushrooms. Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes.
  2. While shallot mixture is cooling, drain and rinse black eyed peas. Mash them into food processor until almost mushy.
  3. Combine spice mixture into a medium mixing bowl. Add mashed peas and shallot mixture. Add 2 tablespoons rice flour, yeast and Worcestershire sauce. Mix everything well. Try to form a small ball, if mixture does not stay together, add one more tablespoon of flour. Divide the dough into four equal parts.
  4. Cut about 1 foot of plastic wrap piece. Put one part of dough on to plastic wrap and form into about six inch hot dog shape. First wrap plastic wrap tightly around hot dog, then twist both ends of plastic wrap as tight as you can. Tie each end with a piece of twain. Poke few holes with a toothpick. Repeat the process for remaining three hot dogs.
  5. Boil water in at least 5 quarts of pot. Transfer the wrapped hot dogs to boiling water. Lower the heat so water is simmering. Let hot dogs simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from water and let them cool down, at least 30 minutes.
  6. Heat remaining oil into a large nonstick skillet. Brown the hot dogs on medium heat all around, about 5 minutes. Be gentle while turning hot dogs so they do not break. Serve them on your choice of buns and condiments.
Notes
Hot dogs can be made ahead.

 

 

 

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Pinto Beans Hot dog

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 15 oz. can of pinto beans
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons masa harina
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons shredded Mexican cheese
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ red onion, finely minced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon dry oregano
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Canola oil for brushing
  • Butter for spreading
  • 4 hot dog buns
Cheese sauce:
  • 1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
  • ½ cup shredded Mexican cheese
  • 3 Slices American cheese, roughly torn into few pieces
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • ½ teaspoon ground mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
Pico de gallo:
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, ¼ inch diced
  • ½ red onion, ¼ inch diced
  • ½ serrano or jalapeno chili, finely minced
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • Juice of ½ a lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
Directions
  1. Drain and rinse pinto beans. Set aside.
  2. Heat oil into a small pan, about 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle, 30 seconds. Add onion and garlic and sauté them until onion is translucent, 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and sauté it for a minute with onion. Add pinto beans and dry spices. Season with salt and stir to combine. Let beans cook with spices for 5 minutes. Let beans cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Transfer beans to food processor bowl. Add 2 tablespoons masa harina, cheese and an egg. Pulse until beans are almost mashed. Try to foam a small ball, if mixture does not stay together, add one more tablespoon of masa harina. Divide the dough into four equal parts.
  4. Cut about 1 foot of plastic wrap piece. Put one part of dough on to plastic wrap and form into about six inch hot dog shape. First wrap plastic wrap tightly into tube shape, then twist both ends of plastic wrap as tight as you can. Tie each end with a piece of kitchen twain. Poke few holes with a toothpick. Repeat the process for remaining three hot dogs.
  5. Boil water in at least 5 quarts of pot. Transfer the wrapped hot dogs to boiling water. Lower the heat so water is simmering. Let hot dogs simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from water and let them cool down, at least 30 minutes. Remove plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
  6. While hot dogs are cooling, make cheese sauce. Heat evaporated milk in a sauce pan until almost boiling. Combine cheese, corn starch and spices in a bowl. Once milk is heated, add cheese mixture. Heat on low heat until cheese is melted. Transfer to a serving bowl.
  7. Combine ingredients of pico de gallo in a serving bowl.
  8. To grill hot dogs, brush them with canola oil. Grill hot dogs until brown all around, about 3 minutes. Spread butter on hot dog buns and toast them. To serve, put hot dog in a bun, pour about 2 tablespoons cheese sauce and add about 1 tablespoon pico de gallo on top.

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Recipes, Street Food

Sev Usal

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Sev Usal

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Serves: 4

Dried green peas soup with crispy thin chick pea flour noodles
Ingredients
  • 1 ½ cups dried green pea
  • 2 jalapeno or serrano chilies, finely minced
  • 1 ½ inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • 2 sprigs of mint
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • Small (golf ball size) piece of jaggary or 3 teaspoons sugar (optional)
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro, for garnish
  • 1 cup thin sev (crispy chickpea flour noodles), for serving, See Note.
  • ½ cup tamarind-date chutney, for serving
  • ½ cup cilantro chutney, for serving
  • Water as needed
  • For Vaghar (tempering):
  • 3 tablespoons olive or canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 medium sized red onion, finely diced (reserve half for serving)
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
Directions
  1. Pick through peas to remove any impurities and soak them in 3 cups of water for 6 to 8 hours or overnight.
  2. Remove excess water to keep just enough water to cover peas. Cook in a medium sized Dutch oven or soup pot with cover until peas are tender, about 45 minutes.
  3. Uncover, add mint sprigs, green chilies, ginger, turmeric, dhana-jeeru, salt and jiggery or sugar. Let it simmer while you prepare vaghar.
  4. Prepare Vaghar: In a small heavy bottomed pot, heat oil until shimmers. Add cumin and mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add garlic and sauté it for 30 seconds. Add half of chopped onion, garam masala, and chili powder and sauté them until onion is light golden brown. Pour over simmering peas (usal). Stir the peas to blend spices.
  5. Let peas simmer for 10-12 minutes. Add lemon juice and let it simmer for 5 more minutes. If usal is too thick add some water. Remove mint sprigs. Garnish with cilantro.
  6. To cook usal in Instant Pot: Follow step 1. You can omit soaking pea but it will speed up cooking process. Set instant pot to sauté setting for 30 minutes. Once hot, heat oil until shimmers. Add cumin and mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add garlic and sauté it for 30 seconds. Add half of chopped onion, garam masala, and chili powder and sauté them until onion is light golden brown. Drain peas and add them to pot and cover with water. Add mint sprigs, green chilies, ginger, turmeric, dhana-jeeru, and salt. Set instant pot to pressure cook and set time for 30 minutes. For unsoaked peas increase time to 50 minutes. Once peas are cooked, release steam, uncover and set to sauté setting for 15 minutes. Remove mint sprigs, and add jiggery or sugar and lemon juice. Let peas simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
  7. To serve: Pour hot usal in a soup bowl, spread about ¼ cup of sev on top. Top with tamarind-date chutney and cilantro chutney. Garnish with about teaspoon of chopped red onion. Usal can be served as an appetizer or lunch as a soup.
Notes
Thin sev is readily available in Indian grocery stores.

 

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Recipes, Street Food

Bataka Vada

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Bataka Vada

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Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 8

Bataka (potato) Vada (friiters)
Ingredients
  • 3 medium to large russet or Idaho potatoes
  • 2 jalapeno or serrano chilies, finely minced
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 3 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • Juice of 1 lemon
Batter:
  • 1 ½ cups chickpea flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder
  • Pinch of asafetida
  • Water as needed
Canola or Vegetable oil for frying
Directions
  1. Combine chickpea flour, spices and salt in a medium sized mixing bowl. Make a batter (slightly thinner than pancake batter) with water. Let it stand for 20 to 30 minutes.
  2. Cut potatoes in half and boil them with skin until fork tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Peel potatoes while they are still warm. Immediately mash potatoes with a ricer or masher in a large mixing bowl. Season mashed potatoes with salt, sugar, lemon juice, dry spices, chilies, ginger and cilantro. Mix everything well. Foam into 24 to 25 golf ball sized balls by hand or with a small ice cream scoop.
  3. In a frying pan, heat oil until ready for frying. Dip potato balls (bataka vada) one by one into batter, covering the entire surface. Let the excess batter drip, drop it in hot oil and fry it until light golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. You can fry 6 to 7 bataka vada at a time depending on the size of frying pan. Serve warm with cilantro chutney or ketchup or tamarind date chutney. Can be served as an appetizer or horsd'oeuvres.

 

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Recipes, Street Food

Patra

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Patra

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Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 8 servings

This recipe is made with taro leaves, which are not easily available in Indian grocery stores. If you find it use it otherwise use collard greens or chard.
Ingredients
  • 1 bunch collard greens
  • 2 cups chickpea flour
  • 3 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 5 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • ⅛ teaspoon clove powder
  • 2 teaspoons green chili, minced
  • 3 teaspoons ginger, minced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ cups water or more
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut, for garnish
For Vaghar:
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • ½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds, optional
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
Directions
  1. Wash collard greens and drain water as much as possible. Dry each leaf with paper towel. Cut each leaf from each side of stem, discarding the stems. Make three piles of half leaves, big, medium and small. Cover with kitchen towel while you make chickpea flour paste.
  2. Make paste: Combine chickpea flour, dry spices, salt and sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Add green chili, ginger, garlic and lemon juice. Gradually add water and make a thick paste.
  3. On a flat surface, spread a big size half leaf and generously spread chickpea paste on the leaf with a hand or a spatula. Add a medium size half leaf on top of paste. Spread chickpea paste on the leaf. Take a small size half leaf, put on top of paste and spread chickpea paste on the leaf. Fold about 1 inch of left and right side of leaves inside (the paste side). Spread chickpea paste on the folds to tightly seal them. Tightly roll the leaves to resemble a small cylinder. Repeat the process until all the half leaves are used. If there are small pieces of leaves, you can spread it out on larger leaves and seal it with paste before rolling out. Try to make a roll with at least two half leaves. You will get 15-18 rolls.
  4. In a steamer pan, arrange the rolls in a single layer. If all the rolls do not fit, let the first layer steam for 5 minutes and then stack remaining rolls. Steam the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes or until rolls are fully cooked. Let it cool down for 30 to 40 minutes. After this the rolls can be frozen. First freeze on a baking sheet, leaving some space in between, then put in a zip lock bag. Before using them thaw them for 1 to 2 hours.
  5. Cut the rolls into ¾ inch wide pieces. Heat oil in a wok or a frying pan. Add fenugreek seeds and let it sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let it sizzle. Add asafetida and sesame seeds. Immediately add the rolls and stir everything. Let Patra heat on low heat until the bottom layer is golden brown, stirring few times. Garnish with cilantro and coconut flakes. Serve warm as an appetizer or a side dish.

 

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