Dabeli

Dabeli is a famous Mumbai roadside food and Gujarat street food.  Dabeli is made with Indian bread also known as ladi pav which is stuffed with potato mixture which can be either sweet, mild or spicy depending on your preferences.  

Ingredients for Potato Stuffing: 

• Dabeli masala – 2 tablespoons, readily available at Indian grocery stores 

• Tamarind Chutney – 2 tablespoons – See recipe 

• Oil – 1 tablespoon 

• Potatoes – 2 cups boiled, peeled and mashed 

• Salt – to taste 

• Cilantro – 2 tablespoons

• Pomegranate – 2 tablespoons fresh (if in season) 

Combine the dabeli masala, sweet chutney and a little water (approximately 1 tablespoon) in a bowl and mix well.  Heat oil in a non-stick pan, add the prepared dabeli masala mixture, mix well and cook on medium flame for 1 minute, while stirring continuously.  Add the mashed potatoes, salt and little water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for another 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring continuously.  Remove from the flame, transfer to a plate and press well with the back of a spoon.  Sprinkle coriander and pomegranate (if available) on top.  Keep aside.  

Other ingredients for Dabeli: 

• Pavs / Burger buns – 4 

• Garlic chutney – 4 tablespoons – See recipe 

• Tamarind chutney – 2 tablespoons – See recipe 

• Coriander-Mint Chutney – 2 tablespoons – See recipe 

• Onions – 1 medium, finely chopped 

• Sev – ½ cup 

• Peanuts – ½ cup Masala peanuts, ready made 

• Butter – 2 tablespoon for cooking 

Take a pav and slit it on two sides at right angle (keeping them joined at the remaining 2 ends).  Apply 1 teaspoon of garlic chutney, tamarind chutney and coriander-mint chutney evenly on the inner sides of the pav.  Stuff with 2 tablespoons of the stuffing and top with 1 teaspoon of onions, 1 teaspoon of masala peanuts and 1 teaspoon of sev.  Repeat with remaining ingredients to make additional dabelies.  Just before serving, cook each dabeli on a hot griddle for a minute using a little butter.  Garnish with sev and serve hot.