Here is how to bond with kids over street food

y son and I wanted to ditch the boring lunch this Friday and do something special. we love trying new foods, so we went in search of some good street food. we found a great spot that had a bunch of different vendors with all sorts of delicious options. my son was in heaven! he loved trying everything and even got to meet some of the people running the stands.

Listing some of our favorite street foods below:

- Gol gappe- a type of fried bread that is filled with a variety of different fillings like potatoes, chickpeas, and spices. I have tried them in the fanciest of places but nothing beats street food.

the tangy tamarind water filling along with the myriad of spices is what makes it so special. It was funny to watch my son struggling as he had the entire thing in his mouth trying to swallow it.

We have plenty of carts with gol gappe in our town mostly around the evenings, you just need to find the cart that suits your taste.

Adi wanted to learn about the business model of the pani puri business so we spoke to the seller.

He told us that he buys the Golgappas for Rs. 2-3 and sells them for Rs. 30 per plate of six golgappas. He said that he needs to sell around 80-100 plates to make a profit of Rs. 2500-3000. This business model works out perfectly during the summer season as there are a lot of people on the streets and the demand is high. He also shared that he makes more profit during the festivals like Durga Puja and Diwali. He generally finishes the stock by 8-9 pm in the evening and if he's sold out earlier, he packs up and goes home. He also needs to pay the stall rent and my son also realized that this must not be easy as it involves a lot of standing in the heat and dealing with customers but it's a great way to be independent.

-Dosa

This is a south Indian dish that is made from rice and lentils. It is a staple dish in many homes and can be found in most restaurants. The dish is usually served with chutney and sambar (a lentil soup).

I have had dosa at many places but the best ones are always from street carts. The key to a good dosa is in the fermentation of the batter. This process gives the dosa its unique flavor and texture.

The dosa seller we spoke to told us that he buys the batter from a wholesaler. He said that he makes around 100 dosas per night and sells them for Rs. 25 each. He shared that he generally makes a profit of Rs. 2500 per night.

You should how the dosa tava (griddle) is set up. He places a scoop of batter on the tava and uses his bare hands to spread it out in a circular motion. Once it is thin enough, he adds a spoonful of oil around the edges and lets it cook until it is crispy and golden brown. The smell of fermented batter and ghee (clarified butter) is heavenly!

- Chaat is a type of Indian street food that is sweet, savory, and spicy all at the same time. It is made with fried bread or puri that is topped with a variety of different ingredients like potatoes, chickpeas, yogurt, and tamarind chutney.

It can be personalized according to your taste and like adding moong dal, chickpeas, sev, and different chutneys to it.

- Frankie/roll is an Indian version of a burrito that is made with roti or paratha and stuffed with a variety of fillings like potatoes, eggs, paneer, and veggies. It is then rolled up into a wrap and served with chutney or ketchup on the side. If you like chicken or egg, you can also add that to the filling. We tried this a lot when we were in West Bengal and absolutely loved it.

It is quite filling and makes for a great meal on the go.

You should see the rush in the Frankie also called rolls stalls in the evening as people come after work to have their fill of these before going home. The smell around the stalls is so inviting that it's hard to resist.

- Pav bhaji popular street food from Mumbai that is made with soft rolls (pav) and a vegetable curry (bhaji). The pav is first buttered and then grilled before being served with the bhaji which is usually made with potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, peas, and spices. It's quite warm and can be enjoyed during winter. Pav Bhaji is usually served with a dollop of butter on top and some lime wedges on the side.

I have tried cooking pav bhaji and people love it but there's something about street food that just makes it taste better. or maybe because I don't have to cook it.

There are many more street food dishes that I haven't mentioned here but these are some of my favorites.

If you are in India, do try these dishes and let me know what you think.

And if you are not in India, then I hope this post has made you crave some Indian street food, I would love to take you around whenever you are here

These are just some of the many options available when it comes to street food. There are endless possibilities and it's a great way to bond with your kids over the love of food. So next time you're looking for something different, head out to your local street food cart and enjoy some deliciousness!