KOLKATA KNOWN AS STREET-SIDE EATERIES
The Panipuri also known as Gol gappa term used in Western India, phuchka is a popular street snack in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It consists of a round, hollow puri, fried crisp and filled with a mixture of flavoured water ("pani"), tamarind chutney, chilli, chat masala, potato, onion and chickpeas. It is generally small enough to fit completely into one's mouth. It is a popular street food dish in Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi, Lahore
In North India it is known as Gol Gappa. The name 'gol gappa' refers to the crisp sphere (gol) that is placed in the mouth and eaten (gappa) one at a time. Pani comes from the Hindi word for water and puri (or poori) is the name of an Indian bread made by deep frying in oil. Dogras, Kashmiris, Bhaderwahis, Gujjars, Paharis, Ladakh, Himachalis of North India called it "Gol Gappa'.
It is known as bataasha in the Western region of Uttar Pradesh. Bataasha is something which gets smashed with application of a slight pressure; the bataasha gets smashed as soon as it is placed inside the mouth.
Each Para/neighbourhood in Kolkata has their local celebrity Phuchkawalah/Phuchka-seller. They are the most sought-after street food. Phuchkas, also known as Golgappas or Panipuri elsewhere, is not only a popular street food in many places in India but also in Nepal and Bangladesh. Though we get Panipuri in many places but the Bengali variant Phuchka is very different. And obviously not so easily available elsewhere.
The famous “Tetul Jol/Tamarind Water… ‘Arektu jol dao pleaseeeeeee…..” (Please give me more Water! ‘) This is the ultimate. The taste of this Water can make or break the Phuchka...
This is also a very popular variant – Dahi Phuchka – where Dahi or Yoghurt is poured on top of Phuchkas with filling!
Churmur is the crumbled version of Phuchka. It is an appropriately spicy sign-off to the Phuchka – broken down into pieces so as to reach each and every cell and every core! This dish must have originated from utilising the left-over Phuchkas, but now have earned its reputation as a main dish by itself.
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