Must-try street foods of India
When it comes to Indian street food, it is often considered unhealthy and mostly deep-fried. But, it is interesting to note that the market also offers a wide range of healthy options rich in nutrients and good for gut health. Some dishes are steamed and some don't even use oil. Here we have curated a list of 10 street foods of India that are tasty, safe, and healthy to eat.
Moong Dal Cheela
This is a protein-rich dish made with soaked moong dal batter, spices, veggies, and baking soda. It goes well with salad on the side and green chutney. Vendors make it with olive oil and butter on the streets, so choose according to your preference.
Bhutta
It's a popular street food that uses zero oil, made with corn kernels roasted on an open flame and then rubbed with lemon, salt, and pepper. It has a smoky taste and is quite filling.
Shakarkandi Chaat
Unlike other chaats, this one uses boiled sweet potato instead of deep-fried papdis, topped with salt, pepper, cumin powder, chaat masala, lemon juice, and coriander leaves. It is very popular in Northern India.
Fruit Chaat
This is also a healthy street food one can enjoy. Make sure that the fruits are not unkept and are not cut beforehand. Ask the vendor to freshly cut the whole fruit and toss it with some salt, pepper, and chaat masala. Enjoy!
Masala Dosa
This is the classic dosa variant, which uses a filling of spiced mashed potatoes and onions enclosed within the thin fermented rice crepe and is served with coconut chutney and sambar.
Idli
It is a popular South Indian dish that can easily be spotted on street stalls too. It is a steamed dish, made with a fermented batter of rice, urad dal, fenugreek seeds, and salt. It is best served with coconut chutney and sambar.
Bhel Puri
It is a crunchy snack made with puffed rice, seasoned with boiled potato dices, spices, onion, green chilli, lemon juice, coriander leaves, and sev. It is traditionally served in paper cones.
Chana Chaat
This is a popular chaat enjoyed mostly in Bihar, Jharkhand, and UP, made with boiled kala chana spiced with salt, pepper, lemon juice, green chilli, and coriander leaves.
Soup
This makes for a healthy dish in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian forms, made with greens, spices, and coriander leaves. The most popular soups to enjoy on the streets are veg soup, tomato soup, hot and sour soup, chicken soup and more.
Poha
It is a fiber-rich dish made with soaked flattened rice, salt, pepper, turmeric powder, peanuts, onions, ghee, green chillies, lemon juice, and coriander leaves.
Images Courtesy: istock