Masala Puri (Poori) - Bangalore Street Food

Here we are in lockdown and its getting hard to get by each day without going out and interacting personally with loved ones.. Thank God we are still getting supply of essentials.
It is such a heartache to watch the news with casualties spiking up at insane rate.

Masala Puri - Bangalore Delight!

So Food comes to my rescue. Lately am indulging in preparing and dishing out many chatpata meaning tangy, sweet, spicy street food from India. Along with fond memories it brings in the much needed warmth and comfort around the house. And it definitely makes for a hot topic that tops the list during video meets and chats with family and friends.
Many are enjoying baking, cooking a feast for their families and some getting out of their comfort zone and trying out new things. Me am stuck with fast food  and comfort food for now :)

Masala Puri is a street food from south India. Hailed as Bangalore's delight, is loved by millions across the country and is now becoming an international fare. It is a famous south Indian fast food loaded with spicy, tangy, tart and thick sweet flavors all bundled up in one plate.

I say its Indian Nachos :) where a plateful of crushed puris is drenched in desi goodness like hot dried white peas curry followed by onion, tomatoes, green chutney, sweet chutney, sev etc ..innumerable toppings of your choice! Wait there is more, if any curry is left use it as a side dish to enjoy with your rotis.
Actually my kid pours all the deliciousness over his plate of spicy Doritos(No Kidding:)) It tastes great. Try it.

Doritos Masala :)

I have always been a Ragada pattis girl which is a street food from Mumbai. And I am actually surprised that I have not registered it on my blog yet! Point mentally noted. Have been enjoying this Masala Poori treat every now and then during our get togethers and festival meets. Finally thought of putting it up on my blog. Btw you may also check out Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav, Missal Pav too.

I am always looking for a quick, easy recipe that wont compromise on the taste and flavors. So after scanning through few recipes and trying out couple of times, came up with this combo of ingredients which screams less is more and gives out great flavors and swad that is sure to make your soul happy!

Lets get to the recipe:

Please be kind to leave message in the feedback box if you like this recipe:

Ingredients:

Curry:

• 1 cup dried white or green peas (vatana) soaked overnight or 4-6 hours atleast
• 1 med size potato peeled and cut into big 3-4 pieces
• 1 bay leaf

• 3 tbsp oil
• 1 med size onion sliced
• 1 tomato chopped chunkily
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 inch cinnamon stick 
• 3 cloves
• 3-4 pods garlic chopped roughly
• 1 inch ginger piece chopped roughly
• 4 green chillies chopped roughly [adjust as per your spice level]
• handful mint leaves [ 4-5 leaves will do too if you can]
• handful cilantro leaves along with stem will do
• big pinch turmeric pwd
• 1 tsp garam masala pwd
• 1/2 tsp chat masala pwd
• 1 tsp coriander pwd
• 1/2 tsp tamarind pulp [optional -[ if you feel your tomatoes are not sour enough]
• 1/2 tsp jaggery/sugar [optional]
• salt to taste

Toppings:

• finely chopped onion
• finely chopped tomato
• finely chopped cilantro
• date tamarind chutney [store bought]
• sev [store bought]
• Puris [store bought] - can use Doritos spicy Chips as a substitute :) 

Preparation:

• Use Instant pot(IP) to pressure cook the soaked dried peas. Add 3 cups of water with peas, potato, bay leaf. Pressure cook on high manual - 22 min. QPR release after 15 min or let it NPR. If using pressure Cooker, let it blow 3 whistles. Let the cooker cool down and allow pressure to release. Take out the peas and mash gently. Keep aside.
• In the mean time, take a pan, heat oil, add cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, add onion and saute for few minutes, once its translucent add ginger, garlic, green chillies, saute further for couple more minutes, add tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes more till tomatoes soften. 
• Transfer this cooled mixture in mixer along with mint and cilantro leaves. Grind to a paste- you get nice green color.
• Now in the same pan, add little oil and on low medium add turmeric, garam masala, chat masala, coriander pwd and quickly stir. Pour the ground paste and mix everything. 
• Now add the cooked dried peas give it a nice stir, add water as required consistency then add salt.
• This curry thickens as we have potato in it. Consistency should be on the med thinner side- pourable consistency over the puris.

Serving: 

• First lay out roughly crushed puris on a plate. Pour the warm vatana (peas) curry over it. Then add tbsp chopped onions, 1 tbsp tomatoes, 1 tbsp sev, little cilantro, date chutney[sweet], cilantro  chutney and start relishing it! I promise you will wipe out in no time... :)
• Please add any amount and kind of topping of your choice!! You are the King of your own tastebuds :)

njoY!! happY cookinG!!