4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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16 Street Foods From Kolkata ThatYou Absolutely Have To HaveAPRIL 5 , 2014

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1. Phuchka, Churmur

Kolkata is popularly known as the cultural capital of India. And food, as we know, goes hand-in-

hand with culture. Here’s a list of the street food in Kolkata one must try when here, barring, of

course, the obvious choice of ‘Mishti doi’ (sweetened yoghurt). Read on;

Rarely will you come across a Calcuttan who doesn’t swear by this descendant of the Pani

Puri/Gol Gappa family. One of the most iconic street food in the streets of the city, Phuchka

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4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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2. Jhalmuri

3. Kathi Roll

Puri/Gol Gappa family. One of the most iconic street food in the streets of the city, Phuchka

comes in numerous variations, sometimes with yoghurt (doi phuchka or dahi phuchka, as it is

known here), sometimes even with vodka shots. In fact, the filling of spiced mashed potatoes

dipped in tamarind water or meethe paani (mishti jol) is simply put an explosion of spicy tart,

crunch and softness from the potatoes that account for a milieu of happy memories.

This is inarguably, the most famous street food from Kolkata to have traversed across

continents, thanks to the enormous popularity of Jhalmuri. In fact, Jhumpa Lahiri, in her novel

Namesake synonymously used Jhalmuri for nostalgia. Basically consisting of puffed rice,

chanachur or/and jhuri bhaja (bhujia, sometimes), chopped onions, chillis, tomatoes, coriander,

spices, nuts and tossed in mustard oil, Jhalmuri is a light and entirely satisfying snack to have in

afternoons or between meals. Calcuttans tend to be nostalgic about Jhalmuri being served in old

newspaper cones, as is the tradition even now.

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4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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4. Telebhaja

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Nizam’s is usually credited with the invention of this magnificent idea of a Kathi roll supposed to

be held in the hand and eaten. Essentially a chapatti or a parantha (handmade unleavened bread)

filled with the juiciest of mutton kebabs, fried chicken pieces, mutton keema, paneer or fried egg,

rolls are easily one of the most devoured and preferred of street foods in the city. Kathi rolls are

pretty much like the Mexican burritos, or the Spanish handheld tacos, only necessarily Indian.

Beguni, Phuluri, Peyaji, Alu’r chop, Vegetable chop and for the truly adventurous , quirky

additions to the traditional list with Aam’er chop, Aada’r chop, Lotey maachh’er chop, et al.The

city is most frequently dotted with shacks and stalls which provide one with the tastiest of fried

snacks. Deliciously oily and sinful, the crispy cornflour (or besan) battered fries of items ranging

from onion rings, potatoes, aubergine slices to quirkier stuff like raw mangoes, ginger, Bombay

Duck (lotey maach), coriander leaves, et al are what every Calcuttan outside the state detest

missing out on. These are as mouthwatering as it gets without leaving a dent in your wallet.

4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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5. Ghugni

6. Papri Chaat, a.k.a Batata Puri

Source

A typical Bengali dish, ghugni, is made of yellow dried peas or white peas, boiled and tossed in

with chopped coriander, coconut, onion, chillis, tomatoes and tamarind water and seasoned with

spices. A spoonful of Ghugni will burst into a plethora of unthinkable flavours into your mouth.

4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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7. Dahi Vada or Doi Bora

Source

Another happy addition from the northwest of India, Papri Chaat in Kolkata is a slight twist of a

popular snack in places like Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, etc. Papri or deep fried chips are laid down first

and topped with spiced potatoes, chopped onions, coriander, chillis, yellow Indian peas boiled,

and dressed in red tamarind chutney that tastes tangy sweet. It’s quite like the Mexican nachos,

only Indian, and if you ask me, way tastier.

Source

Also known as Dahi Bhalla in Punjabi, this dish is popular all over India and deservedly so. They

are deep fried vadas that are softened in water and then transferred in a bowl of beaten yoghurt.

Mostly, the yoghurt is seasoned with masala, chilli powder, lime, coriander or pudina leaves,

pepper, coconut, cumin, etc. Dahi vadas are not harsh on your tummies and in fact, serve as nice

snacks to have during the sultry months of summer.

4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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8. Samosa or Shingara

9. Chowmein

Source

Usually an evening snack, shingara or samosa, as it is called all over India, are generally

vegetarian and often had with chutneys or ketchup. Shingara is a tetrahedral shaped fried or

baked pastry filled with potatoes, peanuts, onions, etc. They may also be available with fillings of

mutton keema (minced mutton cooked), chicken, lamb, et al. Shingaras over tea used to be a

quintessential snack for guests who paid a quick evening visit in a Bengali household.

4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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10. Kulfi

11. Jalebi (locally known as Jilipi)

Source

Street food at Kolkata has undergone heavy influence of Chinese cuisine, thanks to the Chinese

community living in the state. Chowmein or ‘Chow’ as it is usually called, is stir fried noodles

topped with chicken strips, fried scrambled eggs, stir fried vegetables, chopped onion and

cucumber salad and ketchup. The noodles are quite hot and spicy, unlike its Chinese cousin, just

the way Indians love it.

Source

A popular frozen dessert had around the streets, kulfi is Kolkata’s own ice cream (though found

all over the subcontinent) and comes in various flavours. A must try during the sultry summers if

you happen to be in the city. Kulfi’s creamier and heavier than ice cream and if you ask me, better

than most ice-creams.

4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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12. Radha Ballavi, Masala Kochuri

Source

A crystallized sugar syrup coated pretzel-like sweet, one cannot simply explain how a Jilipi or an

Amreeti tastes. It is sort of chewy and eaten hot or cold depending on one’s preference. Ishould

probably mention Kolkata’s own variation of the Jalebi called ‘Channa’r Jilipi’ or ‘Paneer jalebi’

which is made of Channa or thick, fresh, unripened cottage curd cheese.

4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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13. Fish Cutlets , Fingers (Fish/Chicken), Egg Devil

Source

A very famous deep fried, lentil-stuffed puri, Radha Ballavi is usually served with ghugni/ chhola’r

dal/ alu’r dom or alu’r torkari. In fact, Radha Ballavis are a rage in the city and vanish really fast

from the sweetmeat shops here. Masala Kochudi as well as my personal favourite, Koraishuti’r

kochuri, is dished out the same way as Radha Ballavi barring the fact that they have either masala

or Green Indian peas pasted and pureed inside. Go, try, now.

Source

4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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14. Alu Kabli

15. Ghoti Gorom, Badam Makha

Source

Minced fish, chicken, mutton and sometimes beef, fried in batter, Cutlets are an addition to the

Indian Cuisine from the European palette. In fact, the word ‘cutlet’ originates from the French

word ‘côtelette’ which meant a portion of meat. Fish or Chicken Fingers are just as popular and

can be bought from little shacks dotting the streets of Kolkata. Egg Devil, unlike what the name

suggests, comprises of a boiled egg and cooked and spicy potato fillings fried together in the

shape of a ball, dipped in batter. All of these make for really tasty snacks without burning a crater

in your pocket.

Source

One of the easiest snacks in this list to rustle up when in a hurry, Alu kabli are boiled cubes of

potatoes tossed in with roasted chick peas (previously soaked, usually overnight), chopped

onions, tomatoes, coriander, tamarind paste, chopped chillis, and seasoned well. This hot and

spicy street food was what I considered my comfort food when a kindergarten kid.

4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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16. Cha/Chai in ‘Maati’r bhaaNr’ or Earthen Cups

Source

Every Bengali once made memories of summer evenings with Ghoti gorom sellers walking past

dark lanes, while their bells/keys sound as they move. Ghoti Gorom basically is chanachur with

onions chopped, chillis, peas and nuts and masala.

A quintessentially Bengali thing, this, it must be tried when taking a quiet stroll in Maidan or

after a late visit to the Victoria Memorial.

The USP of the cha/chai at the little ram-shackles dotting the streets at Kolkata is the bhaaNr or

the earthen cups that it comes in. People who have had tea in a maati’r bhaaNr would probably

tell you how Cha actually acquires a different flavour in the bhaaNr. In fact, these little shacks

serving tea (generally with milk and a lot of sugar, just saying; though sometimes with lime or

ginger), with toast biscuits and even little cakes are one of the best things about experiencing

Kolkata (especially in wintry nights), in my opinion.

4/16/2014 16 Street Foods From Kolkata That You Absolutely Have To Have

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Add a comment 24 comments

Kumar Mangal Roy · · Works at Self Employed (Business)

momo ta o akhon kolkatar hoya gacha

Reply · Like · · Follow Post · 6 April at 17:57

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Soumik Pal · · Top commenter · Works at Southern Illinois

University Carbondale

Delhi has a bigger claim on momo compared to Kolkata.

Reply · Like · · 10 April at 22:27

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2

De Sumit · · DAV College, Chandigarh

Soumik Pal ...hell no..come to chandigarh ull see

Reply · Like · 12 April at 16:03

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Soumik Pal · · Top commenter · Works at Southern Illinois

University Carbondale

De Sumit I have no idea about Chandigarh. I have been there only for alittle while. But comparing Delhi and Kolkata, Delhi has a better momoculture.

Reply · Like · 12 April at 22:11

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Sugeet Mukherjee · Zone Vice President, East at Max Life Insurance Company Ltd.

How can we miss Moglai Porota of Kolkota. Also one should try early morningroadside Chinese breakfast in territi bazaar.

Reply · Like · · Follow Post · 7 April at 23:0114

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Tapas Ghosh · Faps

Jeeve Jol eshe gelo............

Reply · Like · · 8 April at 04:101

Sourayan Basu Bal · · BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus

misti doi....+ roshogolla

Reply · Like · · Follow Post · 9 April at 12:13

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Sagnik Sarkar · · BITS Pilani Goa Campus · 127 subscribers

Fish cutlet !!

Reply · Like · 9 April at 13:44

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Akshay Singh Ahlawat · · Works at Vertex Inc

Yar fuddu hai kya ? Kolkata ja ke veg khana kaun khata hai ?

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Harkamal Singh · · Sports Correspondent at Motoroids India

lol

Reply · Like · · 8 April at 20:07

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Soumojit Ghosh · · West Bengal University of Technology

Chutiyon haar jaaga hotah hai bhaai :D

Reply · Like · · 9 April at 01:34

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Nitoo Gill · · Student at Rachana Sansad Academy of Fine Art

and Crafts

lol@fuddu

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Rimjhim Srivastava · · Top commenter · Founder and Project

Coordinator at Umbichri

Thanks scoopwhoop for making me feel incredibly hungry on a Monday at work...

Reply · Like · · Follow Post · 7 April at 13:56

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