An essential component of Indian cuisine is street food, with distinct options available in every area. The lively street food scene is even more diverse with winter street food, which lets customers try and enjoy a wide range of flavours.
Everyone can get access to street food, regardless of background. Street food is a popular option for a variety of people due to its affordability, which adds to its cultural relevance. Visitors and foodies eager to sample regional cuisine are drawn to the street food served throughout the winter months. It draws people in and supports the culinary tourism sector.
Here is a list of winter street foods from India:
1. Roasted Corn:
Corn that has been roasted over an open flame develops a smokey flavour that improves the overall flavour profile. Because maize naturally contains sugars, roasting it caramelises these sugars, giving the maize a flavour that is both sweet and slightly burnt.
A creamy and buttery undertone can be added to corn by adding butter or other toppings, depending on how it's served. When maize is roasted, its inherent earthy flavour is enhanced, offering a satisfying taste.
Video Credit : YouTube/The Terrace Kitchen
2. Daulat Ki Chaat:
This dessert, also known as "Malai Makkhan" or Daulat ki Chaat, is a distinct and delicate street meal that is particularly well-liked in Delhi and other parts of North India. The texture of Daulat ki Chaat is renowned for being airy and light. It practically melts on your lips, thanks to its silky consistency. The dish's base is typically sweetened milk, to which sweet and fragrant flavours are added by the inclusion of cardamom, saffron, and khoya (reduced milk).
Powdered sugar, chopped nuts (such as pistachios and almonds), and occasionally edible silver leaf (varak) are used as garnishes to give texture and visual appeal. Due to its high calorie content, the meal is an excellent source of fast energy, which is advantageous in the winter when the body may require more warmth and nutrition.
3. Samosa:
In many places, notably in South Asia, samosas are a delectable and well-liked winter street snack (called by many names). The pastry shell of samosas is deep-fried to provide their signature crisp and flaky appearance. Typically, the filling is made out of a combination of peas and seasoned potatoes, with additional ingredients including onions, spices, and occasionally minced meat.
The savoury and aromatic flavour is enhanced by the spices, which also include coriander, cumin, and garam masala. There is a pleasing contrast in textures between the crispy outside layer and the soft, delicious centre. Samosas are frequently served with chutneys or sauces, like tamarind sauce or mint chutney, which offer more flavours, including tanginess and sweetness.
4. Kachori:
Popular and tasty Indian street food, kachori, is especially appreciated in the winter. It's a pastry that's deep-fried and loaded with different savoury ingredients. The filling of kachori is usually tasty and spicy, though it might change depending on the location and individual tastes. Spiced lentils, peas, potatoes, or a combination of these are common fillings.
A wheat flour dough is used to make the outer layer of kachori, which is deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. One of the main components of its flavour is the contrast between the crispy outside and the tasty inside. A mixture of spices, including cumin, coriander, fennel seeds, and garam masala, gives kachori a flavorful, aromatic kick. Kachori is frequently offered.
5. Jalebi:
Jalebi, a famous and delicious street dish in India, is widely consumed during festivals and celebrations. It is prepared by forming a wheat flour batter into circular or pretzel shapes, deep-frying them, and then soaking them in sugar syrup. Jalebi is renowned for having a very sweet taste.
This dessert's distinctively rich, sweet flavour comes from the sugar syrup that the fried batter is drenched in. The deep-frying method leaves the inside of jalebi soft and chewy, while the outside becomes crispy and slightly crunchy. The dessert is made more enjoyable overall by this blend of textures. Some jalebi versions include cardamom, saffron, or other aromatic spices in the sugar syrup to give the dish a pleasant, foreign flavour.
6. Momo:
Particularly in South Asian nations like Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and India, momos are a common street snack. Usually filled with a blend of seasoned ground beef or veggies, these mouthwatering dumplings are either steamed or fried. Momos are renowned for their savoury and tasty fillings, which can consist of a wide range of ingredients such as veggies, fragrant spices like ginger, garlic, and cilantro, and minced meat (beef, chicken, hog, or lamb).
The ingredients for the momo wrapper are just flour, water, and salt. The fried wrapper takes on a delightful chewiness that contrasts well with the savoury filling. Momos are frequently served with dipping sauces, like tart yoghurt sauce or hot tomato sauce. The taste of these sauces has improved overall.
7. Litti Chokha:
In the Indian subcontinent, litti chokha is a common and traditional street dish that is popularly savoured in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. It is made up of chokha, a spiced vegetable mash, and litti, which are baked wheat flour balls that are filled with roasted gramme flour (sattu). Because of the way it's prepared, litti takes on a deep, smokey flavour when baked or roasted. The outside layer crisps up, giving the filling a different texture.
Roasted gramme flour gives the sattu filling within the litti its earthy, nutty flavour. Sattu is renowned for having a lot of protein. Usually, roasted or grilled veggies like eggplant, tomatoes, and onions are mashed to make chokha. A deeper flavour is added by the smokey taste that results from roasting.