"A 2600+ year old food that is now at the heart of popular street food in India"


Panipuri
 
Picture Courtesy:    epicuremishthi

"Panipuri", a mouth-watering street food snack, popular throughout the world. It has various names depending upon where you are. Phuchka or Fuchka in Bihar, Nepal, Jharkhand, West Bengal & Chhattisgarh, Fulki in Uttar Pradesh, Paani Patashi in Madhya Pradesh, Pani ki batashe/ Padake in Assam, Gup-Chup in parts of Odisha, Phuska/Puska in parts of Gujarat and many more.

 

The Story Behind it

 

    It was introduced in the ancient Kingdom of Magadha around 600BC, which presided in the Southern part of Bihar. It was known as Phulki in the Kingdom of Magadha. One of the many pieces of information available on the internet about panipuri says it has a deep connection with The Mahabharata. According to many articles and reports, Draupadi introduced it. Kunti (Mother of Pancha Pandava) put forward a challenge to Draupadi, asking her to make a meal out of some leftover curry and a small amount of dough. Draupadi was married to the five Pandavas, was very clever & created a new recipe, made from the dough(small-sized puri) and potato curry, which later, won her praise and appreciation from her mother-in-law Kunti, who also blessed the dish with immortality.

 

Core Element

 

    It made out of round or ball-shaped ball, hollow puri (deep-fried crisp ball), filled with a mixture & flavored water (known as imli pani with some boondi), tamarind chutney, chili(green chili or red chili powder), roasted cumin powder, Coriander powder, chaat masala, boiled potato, onion or chickpeas. Depending on the type of panipuri or phuchka, the ingredients change like dahi, chutney, ghugni(dried peas are cooked with gravy), or even chocolate (Yes, it's known as chocolate phuchka).

 

 

Fun Facts

  • According to the internet, there are 10 different types of panipuri or phuchka available in India, but there is a vendor in Kolkata who sells 17 different types of puchka near Alipur (Woodland hospital), his name is Pravesh Yadav.
  • Another phuchka seller from Barasat, Kolkata, he sells 10 puchka for just Rs 10, even in this expensive world. Isn't it amazing?
  • Indians believe they deserve a free panipuri or phuchka, if they are having at least Rs 10 worth of phuchka with some mouth-watering, flavored water at the end.

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