Tadatadi puchka dao We know it is hard to find out-of-the-world puchkas (golgappas- pani puri) in Dubai but you must try out the ones served at the restaurants in Karama, Chappan Bhog, Bikanervala and Puranmal to name a few. Or make them at home? Puchka is the puri or a mini flatbread made of semolina. The dough is rolled into small and round flatbread, which is then fried on low flame until it is crispy and brown on one side and a shade lighter on the other. For the filling, you need to mix boiled and mashed potatoes with boiled black or white peas. Add a dash of spices, chilli powder and black salt. The puchka water is made with overnight-soaked tamarind and further spiced up with a mixture of cumin and fennel seed powder, rock salt and chilli powder.
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fills up the puchka is solely tamarind juice-based sans pudina or saunth. And just the mere sight of the stands is enough to tempt you to eat one, two and more; especially if you are in Russell Street, Hidustan Park or Deshapriya Park. Deshapriya Park is known for its dahi (curd/yoghurt) puchkas, a richer form of filling that will send your taste buds into another kind of frenzy. Peeu Roy, a hardcore Bengali and a globe-trotter says, “For many people, Kolkata means Rosogolla, Sondesh, Machi (fish), Dim Bhaja (fried eggs) and Begun Bhaja (fried egg plant) but trust me nothing in Kolkata makes people happier than the puchkas. Aswhadharan (incredible) it is!” While some of the old-school puchka walas still serve puchkas in bel patra or bowls made of Bael leaves others have started serving it in thermocol or plastic bowls. The best part about the snack is of course the fact that it is so easy on the pocket. You can relish a plate of puchkas for less than `20 (1.3 AED)! You don’t have to make reservation at a fancy restaurant or even dress up properly for a puchka outing. As for the hygiene, the less you think the better it is. While the Kolkata’s puchka walas use a piece of red cloth to cover the dough-balls and the tamarind water is stored in huge steel utensils, they don’t promise hygiene. And then, after all it is a street-side snack, let it be just that. Well, while one can go on raving about the puchka the truth is that you can’t experience it till you impatiently wait for it to reach your plate, open your mouth wide open to eat it, watch the water drip on your clothes and hands and then get impatient, yet again, for the next one. As we said, no one can eat just one.