Harsh Goenka has put the spotlight on one of Gujarat's most loved street foods. In a recent post on X, he shared a video of dabeli being made and called it "Gujarat's answer to the burger."
His description was enough to make anyone hungry. "A soft pav stuffed with spicy sweet potato, chutneys, peanuts, sev, and pomegranate. Sweet, spicy, crunchy, and tangy," Goenka wrote.
And he has clearly picked his side. "I much prefer it to vada pav and burger," he added. Goenka also said that people outside Mumbai and Gujarat are often unfamiliar with dabeli.
The Internet Had Plenty To Say
One user from Kolkata said they had eaten dabeli many times in Mumbai but could not find it in Kolkata. Goenka replied with a recommendation: AnnaRas in Shakespeare Sarani. Another user reminded everyone that dabeli actually comes from Mandvi in Kutch, calling Kutchi dabeli the authentic version.
Someone else urged Goenka to visit Mandvi and try the local dabeli there. They even recommended Joshi Dabeliwal. And then came one of the best comments, "Dabeli has more character, more flavour and far more soul. Burgers just have better PR."
So, What Is Dabeli?
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Dabeli, also called Kutchi dabeli or double roti, is a popular Indian street snack that originated in Mandvi, Kutch, Gujarat. It is made by stuffing a soft pav with a spiced potato mixture. But the potato is only the beginning. Dabeli gets its signature taste from dabeli masala, chutneys, roasted peanuts, sev, and pomegranate.
And there is a reason it tastes so different from a burger or even a vada pav. Every bite has multiple textures.
Dabeli has been around since the 1960s The snack is said to have been created by Keshavji Gabha Chudasama, also known as Kesha Malam, in Mandvi in the 1960s. When he first started selling it, a dabeli cost just one anna, or six paisa. His family's shop is still operating in Mandvi today.
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Mandvi is not the only place known for it. Bhuj and Nakhatrana are also known for their dabeli, while the snack has travelled to parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, Sangli, and Kolhapur.
Here's How To Make A Simple Dabeli
Ingredients:
- Boiled potatoes
- Dabeli masala
- Soft ladi pav
- Tamarind-date chutney
- Garlic chutney
- Roasted peanuts
- Sev
- Pomegranate seeds
- Oil
Method:
- Boil the potatoes and mash them. Heat a little oil in a pan. Add dabeli masala and the mashed potatoes. Mix everything well and cook until the potatoes are nicely coated with the masala.
- Take a soft pav and make a slit in the middle. Do not cut it completely through.
- Spread tamarind-date chutney inside the pav. Add garlic chutney for heat.
- Stuff the pav generously with the spiced potato mixture.
- Add roasted peanuts and plenty of sev.
- Top it with pomegranate seeds.
- Close the pav and gently press it together. Your dabeli is ready.
Have you tried authentic Kutchi dabeli yet?