Google Doodle is celebrating the popular Indian street food dish pani puri today (July 12).
This marks the eighth anniversary of a restaurant in Indore, India, called Indori Zayka and Dainik Bhaskar, achieving a world record for serving the most flavours of pani puri — 51.
So what is pani puri? Here’s all you need to know.
What is pani puri?
Pani puri, also known as golgappa, puchka, or phuchka, is a popular street food snack in India, particularly in the northern and western regions. It is also widely eaten in other South Asian countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh.
It is a flavourful and tangy dish that consists of small, hollow, crispy puris (deep-fried bread) filled with a mixture of flavoured water, mashed potatoes, chickpeas, onions, and various chutneys.
The highlight of pani puri for many is the flavoured water, known as pani, which is poured into the puris just before eating. The pani is a blend of various spices and herbs, including mint leaves, coriander leaves, tamarind, green chili, black salt, and cumin.
The Google Doodle description says: “This snack goes by different names, as there are many regional variations that exist across India. In Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, the name pani puri describes the bite-sized street food commonly filled with boiled chickpeas, a white pea mixture, and sprouts dipped in tangy and spicy pani.
“In the northern Indian states of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and New Delhi, the potato and chickpea-filled treat dunked in jaljeera-flavored water is called gol gappe or gol gappa. The name puchkas or fuchkas is used in West Bengal and parts of Bihar and Jharkhand, with the key ingredient for this variety being tamarind pulp.”
The origin of pani puri can be traced back to ancient times. Historians say the dish has roots in the Mughal Empire era in South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Others believe that it was made in the Hindu temples, where it was used as an offering to the Gods.
The dish rose in popularity in the 20th century (though it is believed to have existed prior to 600 BCE) in the northern regions of India. It then quickly spread to other parts of the country.
Google has introduced a new pani puri game to celebrate the dish, encouraging people to "choose the puris that match each customer’s flavor and quantity preference to keep them happy”.
“Let’s get to serving!” it adds.
