My favourite food - Panipuri

What it is : Here is a street food that is wildly popular all over India although it might be called by different names; gol-gappa in Northen India, puchka in Bengal, and pani-puri in Maharashtra. Pani-puri literally translates as "water-puri" which in itself does not sound too appetizing, but here is what it is. A firm semolina dough is rolled into little "puris" and deep fried into plump tiny hollow balls. You take one of these puris, press your thumb into one side (one side of the puri is always more fragile than the other, and a little experience will tell you which is which, so you can pierce the right side) to make a little opening, and then proceed to stuff the puri with one of several fillings. Then you ceremoniously dunk the puri into a spicy watery chutney and stuff the dripping puri into your mouth, where it explodes into a crispy-spicy treat.

Golgappa, or Pani Puri, is a snack synonymous with the beaches of Bombay. However, it is also very popular in all other parts of India. It is a part of the chaat family along with Bhelpuri. It is also known by many names like golgappa or GolGuppe in North India, Foochka (Puchka) in West Bengal, Gupchup in some central parts of India, and PaniPatashe.

Its really yummy. Unlike other places in India where they pour peas or channa inside each puri, in Mumbai, we pour a aalu mixuture. This aalu mixture is simply like a trip to heaven. Here we mix all the tikha and khatta masalas as well as channa and dhaniya.

How to serve : Take a crispy puri, make a hole in the middle with your thumb, pour in a bit of aloo mixture. Then dip the puri into the water mixture and serve it immediately.

Eat it atleast once to taste the scrumptious, khatta, chatpata pani, to savour the crispiness of the puri, to experience the fireworks in the mouth - it's almost sinful :) but those who know the art of eating panipuri relish every morsel, every bite and relive the taste again and again!!!