DABELI - A traditional Gujarati Street Snack

This super yummy-spicy-tangy snack is traditionally sold on the streets of Gujarat. It is another version of vada pav made with a sweet and spicy potato mixture which is filled into a small burger bun and then topped with onion, pomegranate, fresh garlic chutney and sev (optional). Pomegranate, can be easily replaced by black / green grapes cut into small pieces. Great as a side dish, starters, picnics, or a meal in itself. This snack is generally done on pav (bun), but I usually opt for a healthier version for my family, so I choose Whole Wheat Italian Bread, similarly potatoes can be easily replaced by cooking banana (plantain).

Ingredients:

1 Foot Long Wheat Italian Bread / 12 Hamburger buns

1 Onion, chopped 

1/2 C fresh cilantro, chopped 

1/2 C peanuts, roasted 

2 tsp Fresh garlic chutney 

1/2 C fresh pomegranate seeds 

6 tbsp Dates & Tamarind chutney 

Olive oil, for cooking

For Dabeli Masala: (Increase the ratio for bulk preparation, refrigerate in  airtight container)

2 Dry Red chili 

1/2" cinnamon sticks 

1 tsp Coriander seeds 

1/4 tsp Cumin seeds 

2 Cloves

For The Filling: 

1 C boiled and mashed potatoes / cooking banana

2 Tomatoes, finely chopped

A pinch asafetida powder 

2 tbsp Dates & Tamarind Chutney

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds 

2 tbsp Oil 

Salt to taste

How to Serve:

1.  Roast the masala ingredients in a pan for about 2 to 3 minutes.

2.  Grind them to make a fine powder in a coffee grinder, set aside

3.  For the filling, heat the oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds to it, until they crackle, then add asafoetida, chopped tomatoes, dabeli masala, salt & let it cook untill tomatoes are fully cooked, then add potatoes & mix well.

4.  Remove them from the heat, combine dates-tamarind chutney and mix well.

5.  Slit wheat itallian bread or hamburger buns in half, and cook them in a using a little olive oil.

6.  Now put 12 equal portion of the filling on the lower half of each bun. OR With the help of a spatula spread the potato mixture on the lower half of itallian bread.

7.  Top it with the chopped onion, cilantro, pomegranate, peanuts, garlic chutney and dates-tamarind chutney. 

8.  Sandwich it with the top halves of the burger buns/bread and serve it. Great for picnics too.

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