9 street foods to enjoy in Amritsar during winter

The season of winter is here and the comfort of enjoying street foods in this weather is unmatched. And when it comes to the streets of Amritsar, the lanes are bursting with flavours. From the aroma of freshly fried Amritsari fish and sizzling tandoori chaap to the sweet scent of gajar ka halwa and jalebis, every lane invites you to taste the city’s rich culinary heritage. Here, winter also adds a special charm, as warm, hearty street foods like paya soup, makki di roti with sarson da saag, and tandoori chai keep locals and tourists cozy. Take a look at nine must-have street foods of Amritsar you can't miss.

It is one of the most famous combos of Amritsar often served as breakfast that one can enjoy on streets during chilly winter. Kulcha is a soft, leavened Indian bread traditionally made from refined flour (maida), yogurt, and a bit of baking soda or yeast and can be served plain or stuffed with fillings like potatoes, paneer, onions, or spices. It is paired with spicy chole, tangy chutney, and a dollop of butter.

It is a winter speciality served at local dhabas with white butter and jaggery. It consists of flatbread made on tawa using maize flour and is served with a creamy green delight made with leaves of mustard, spinach, fenugreek, garlic, and spices.

This is a seafood lover's delight and which is crispy outside and melt-in-the-mouth inside. It is made with freshwater fish like singhara (catfish) or sole, marinated in a blend of spices such as ajwain, red chilli, ginger-garlic, and lemon juice.

It is an all time favourite of the city, where chicken pieces are marinated in curd and spices and then grilled on tandoor, served with onion rings and mint-coriander chutney.

This one's for those with a sweet tooth and is made with carrots, mawa, sugar, cardamom powder, ghee, and lots of dry fruits. It is pure winter comfort that one should try.

This is also a winter delight of Punjab, where grated radish, spiced with condiments are stuffed in flour dough and then cooked on a tawa using ghee or oil. It is best served with pickles and curd.

Paya Soup is a traditional slow-cooked delicacy made from goat or lamb trotters (paya), known for its rich flavour and warming, restorative qualities. It is simmered for hours to extract natural collagen, gelatin, and nutrients from the bones, resulting in a silky, aromatic soup.

Made from tender soya chunks wrapped around sticks, the chaap is marinated in a vibrant mix of yogurt, ginger-garlic, garam masala, ajwain, and red chilli, often enriched with mustard oil for that signature Punjabi punch.

Tandoori Chai is a unique Punjabi beverage that combines the rich flavours of traditional tea with the smoky aroma of a tandoor. This tea is brewed normally with milk, tea leaves, and spices like cardamom and ginger, but what sets it apart is the final step, the hot clay cup containing the tea is placed inside a tandoor for a few minutes.

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