Pani Puri
Crispy, hollow puris filled with a savory potato and chickpea mixture, then dunked into a tangy, spiced mint-coriander water. A beloved Indian street food snack, often called Golgappa.
🧂 Ingredients
- 40 Puri shells (store-bought)(Look for them in Indian grocery stores. They are small, hollow, fried crisps.)
- 2 Boiled potatoes(Boiled until tender, peeled, and cooled. Russet or Yukon Gold work well.)
- 100 g Cooked chickpeas(Canned or home-cooked. Rinsed and drained.)
- 1 cup Fresh mint leaves(Packed tightly.)
- 0.5 cup Fresh cilantro (coriander leaves)(Packed tightly. Optional, but adds great flavor.)
- 1 Green chilies(Adjust to your spice preference. Remove seeds for less heat.)
- 2 tbsp Tamarind paste(Seedless tamarind paste.)
- 1 tsp Black salt (Kala Namak)(Essential for the characteristic tangy, eggy flavor of the pani.)
- 1 tsp Roasted cumin powder
- to taste Salt(Regular salt, in addition to black salt.)
- 2 cups Water(Chilled, for the pani.)
- optional Ice cubes(To keep the pani extra cold.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Pani (Spiced Water): In a blender, combine the fresh mint leaves, cilantro (if using), green chilies, tamarind paste, black salt, roasted cumin powder, and regular salt. Add 1 cup of chilled water. Blend until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Stir in the remaining 1 cup of chilled water. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. The pani should be tangy, spicy, and refreshing. Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator, ideally for at least 30 minutes, and add ice cubes just before serving.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 2
Prepare the Filling: In a medium bowl, mash the boiled potatoes with a fork until mostly broken down but still slightly chunky. Add the cooked chickpeas, black salt, roasted cumin powder, and a pinch of regular salt. Mix gently until well combined. Avoid overmixing, as you want some texture.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 3
Assemble the Pani Puri: Just before serving, gently crack the top of each puri shell to create a small opening. Be careful not to break the entire shell. Using your finger or a small spoon, carefully stuff a small amount of the potato-chickpea filling into each puri.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 4
Serve: Arrange the filled puris on a platter. Have the chilled pani in a small bowl with a ladle or spoon. Instruct each person to take a filled puri, dip it into the pani, filling it further with the spiced water, and then consume the entire puri in one bite for the best experience. Serve immediately while the puris are still crisp.
⏱️ 5 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The key to great Pani Puri is the balance of flavors in the pani – tangy, spicy, salty, and a hint of sweetness from the tamarind. Adjust ingredients to your preference.
- ✓Ensure the pani is very cold. Serving it with ice cubes is highly recommended.
- ✓Pani Puri is also known as Golgappa in North India (especially Delhi) and Puchka in Eastern India.
- ✓For a quicker prep, you can boil and mash the potatoes ahead of time.
- ✓To prevent puris from becoming soggy too quickly, assemble them just before serving.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Sweet Tamarind Pani: Add a tablespoon or two of date or tamarind chutney to the pani for a sweeter version.
- Dahi Puri: Instead of pani, fill the puris with the potato-chickpea mixture, then top with yogurt (dahi), chutneys (tamarind and mint), and sev (crispy chickpea noodles).
- Spicier Pani: Add more green chilies or a pinch of red chili powder to the pani.
- Add finely chopped onions or pomegranate seeds to the filling for extra texture and flavor.