Pani Puri - Sweet Potato filled!

Any foodlover of the Indian sub continent is bound to share a love for this famed street snack Pani Puri or Golgappa or Pucchka! Crispy light fried semolina balls filled with mouth watering spicy sweet tangy ingredients..there's nothing not to love about these.

It's a super fun treat at our place and it got a little healthier when I tried it with a Sweet Potato filling instead of the traditional Potato. 

Here it is, PANI PURI with Sweet Potato filling:

Ingredients: Fryable Puris (can buy at Indian grocery stores), 1 sweet potato cooked soft, 1 spoon chaat masala, 1 carrot grated, 1 onion chopped finely, handful chopped coriander, some nylon sev. 

For the pani (juice), 1 tbsp coriander mint chutney, chaat masala, 1 tbsp tamarind juice, chillinpowder as desired, water.

Make: Fry the fryable Puris so they are puffed round. Keep aside to cool. Prepare the pani by mixing all of the ingredients well with the water. Adjust the flavour depending on how strong you like the flavour.  Prepare the Sweet Potato filling by mashing it well with chaat masala 

To assemble Pani Puri, take each Puri and gently poke a hole in the middle. Put inside, a spoon of mashed sweet potato, grated carrot, onion, coriander and sev on top. Assemble all Puris and serve with a bowl of Pani so the lucky people can enjoy these packages of happiness! 

Goli Baje - Spicy Yogurt Fritters

When it's tea time and you feel like indulging in some deep fried yummies this little snack is both delicious for that afternoon craving and super quick to make. Loved and famous especially in South India for it's crunchy on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside texture, you won't find many folks that don't want this with their afternoon cuppa!

Well, there are many recipes out there but I have found a perfect little one that works great everytime. From batter to fried and ready in 10 minutes!

Here it is, my version of GOLI BAJE (Spicy Yogurt Fritters/Manglore Bajje):

Ingredients: 1/2 cup self raising flour, 1/2 cup plain flour, 1 tablespoon rice flour, 1/2 cup yogurt (sour is even better), 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger, few curry leave chopped finely, few green chillies chopped finely, handful chopped coriander, salt to taste.

Make: In a bowl, take all of the above ingredients and mix well together. Add a bit of water as required to bring the consistency to a thick batter (but not runny). Heat oil in a pan and drop small ball sizes of the batter using a tablespoon. Fry on low flame until golden brown. Ensure low flame so that the inside cooks well while outside is crispy. 

Enjoy hot with chutney/sauce and a warm cup of tea/coffee!