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Dabeli

Serves 4
40 mins
210 Kcal
Dabeli is a street food from Gujarat that evokes a riot of flavours and colours in your mouth. Originating from the Kutch region, the dabeli recipe is spicy, tangy, and sweet potato filling between soft, buttery pav or bread rolls. The filling is prepared by saut ing boiled and mashed potatoes with some speciality dabeli masala, an aromatic spice blend like cumin, coriander, and chilli powder, together with tamarind and date chutneys. It comes out savoury, a little sweet, and tangy; in other words, it can be said to be comforting and addictive. This involves toasting pav rolls with a smearing of butter until golden and crispy, then stuffing it amply with the spiced potato mixture. The accompaniments used as toppings for the dabeli usually include finely chopped onions, fresh coriander, pomegranate seeds, and roasted peanuts for that delightful crunch and burst of flavour. It is often sprinkled with a pinch of sea or crispy chickpea noodles to add flavour and zing. Dabeli combines a kaleidoscope of textures and flavours; thus, it is one of the favourite choices for a quick snack or to satisfy street food cravings. Whether as a quick bite or part of a larger meal, this dabeli recipe offers a delicious taste of Gujarati culinary traditions.

Ingredients required for Dabeli

  1. 6-8 bun
  2. 2-3 potato
  3. Butter
  4. 2 tbsp cooking oil
  5. 1 onion
  6. 2 tbsp tamarind
  7. 1 tsp red chilli powder
  8. Pomegranate
  9. 1 tsp dry mango
  10. 2 tbsp green chutney
  11. 1 tsp cumin seeds
  12. Sev

Cooking steps for Dabeli

  1. 1
    Boil the potatoes first.
  2. 2
    Take 2-3 medium-sized potatoes and place them in a big pot; add water to cover and then bring to a boil. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and easily pierced with a fork.
  3. 3
    Then, remove the water and let the potatoes sit out for a bit of a while.
  4. 4
    Peel the boiled potatoes and mash them thoroughly with a fork or potato masher. Set the mashed potatoes aside.
  5. 5
    Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add one tsp of cumin seeds to the hot oil. Allow them to crackle and release the aroma.
  6. 6
    Add one finely chopped onion to the pan.
  7. 7
    Saut the onion, stirring quite frequently, until it becomes soft and translucent, which should take about 5 minutes.
  8. 8
    Once the onions become translucent, add 1 tbsp of dabeli masala, 1 tsp of red chilly powder, and 1 tsp of amchur or dry mango powder to the pan.
  9. 9
    Mix well so that the spices mix with the onions.
  10. 10
    Let it cook at this stage for about two minutes to allow the spices to bloom and integrate into one another.
  11. 11
    Now add the mashed potatoes to this pan with the spice mixture. Mix well so that the potatoes get well coated with the spice mixture. Continue cooking this mixture for about 2-3 minutes to meld well.
  12. 12
    Once well combined and heated through, take the pan off the heat. Let the potato filling cool down to room temperature.
  13. 13
    Mix 2 tbsp of tamarind chutney with 2 tbsp of green chutney in a small bowl. Stir until well combined. Set aside for use when assembling the dabeli.
  14. 14
    Slice 6-8 pav buns horizontally, but do not cut all the way through; the buns should remain attached at one edge.
  15. 15
    Spread the chutney mixture on the top and bottom halves of each bun.
  16. 16
    Stuff each chutney-coated bun with a liberal amount of cooled potato mixture. Sprinkle finely chopped onions over the stuffed buns to add more crunch and flavour.
  17. 17
    Sprinkle sev and pomegranate seeds over the onions for that extra bite and sweetness.
  18. 18
    Heat a tawa or griddle over medium heat. Smear a little butter on top of the hot skillet.
  19. 19
    Put the stuffed buns on the skillet and toast until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes on each side, pressing down slightly with the spatula to toast evenly.
  20. 20
    Remove the toasted dabeli from the skillet and place them onto a serving plate. Serve immediately while warm and crisp. Dabeli is usually served with more chutneys on the side and something cold to drink.
  21. 21
    Enjoy this mouthwatering, savoury recipe of dabeli, which comes loaded with flavour and a hint of Indian culinary heritage.

Shop Ingredients

Tamarind (2 Tbsp)
127
1
200
1
137
1
93
1
80
1
96
1
147
1
139
1
136
1
270
1
Potato (2-3)
45
1
56
1
43
1
Red Chilli Powder (1 Tsp)
600
1
300
1
Cumin Seeds (1 Tsp)
59
1
244
1
105
1
34
1
150
1
81
1
196
1
64
1
226
1
85
1
Onion (1)
74
1
146
1
31
1
40
1
117
1
68
1
125
1
87
1
166
1
87
1
Dry Mango (1 Tsp)
50
1
96
1
Pomegranate
136
1
Bun (6-8)
35
1
35
1
49
1
37
1
Sev
55
1
50
1
75
1
56
1
85
1
90
1
55
1
55
1
55
1
65
1
Butter
60
1
295
1
122
1
70
1
62
1
564
1
122
1
530
1
264
1
275
1
Cooking Oil (2 Tbsp)
148
1
177
1
138
1
148
1
153
1
144
1
236
1
179
1
297
1
142
1

FAQs

What makes dabeli tasty?

Dabeli, due to its taste, is just amazing as it has a perfect blend of spiciness, tanginess, and sweetness. The spicy potato filling flavoured with dabeli masala adds to the tangy flavour of the tamarind chutney, the freshness of pomegranate seeds, and the crunch of sev. This mix gets complemented by the toasty pav bun, adding texture which unites well to make a street food dish irresistible.

How to store dabeli?

Dabeli could be stored by keeping all the components separate: the potato filling, chutneys, and pav buns. The potato filling and chutney could be refrigerated in air-tight containers for as many as 3 days. The pav buns should be kept separately to prevent them from turning soggy. Assemble the dabeli just before serving to retain its freshness and shape.

How to serve dabeli?

To serve dabeli, slice the pav buns into a cross downwards, keeping the edge uncut at the bottom. Apply tamarind and green chutneys on both sides. Stuff the buns with spiced potato filling, chopped onions, pomegranate seeds, and sev. Serve immediately to get the best taste and texture, garnishing with extra chutneys and lemon wedges if need be.