It was very refreshing and not as spicy as I was afraid of. The outer shell was crispy, and the flavor from the water was delicious.
Pani puri is mainly made of two things: the round hollow shell called the puri, and flavored water (pani means water in Hindi). Puri is a type of deep fried bread made from wheat. When fried, the ball puffs up like a balloon so that it’s hollow in the middle. Lots of these are made and stacked up in big piles on the carts selling pani puri.
To make a pani puri, the vendor takes a ball and taps a whole on the top. He adds a little bit of mashed potato and onion to it, then dips it in the flavored water. He gives it to you and you eat it quickly before the shell gets soggy. Everyone eating pani puri is given a small cup to hold them in. Whenever you’re ready for another one you just hold out the cup and he’ll make you another one in seconds!
Yes, definitely! Street food is a huge part of Indian culture. Many people eat street food as they go about shopping and their normal life. Having a snack and coffee or tea in the afternoon is common in Bangalore, so street food is very convenient. The type of street food differs based on where you are in India. Eating street food like pani puri can be a great way to experience different types of Indian food. And a good way to feel like a local!
