Mumbaiya Food
-Aadya Joshi
Mumbai, famously known as the ‘Mega City’ with the largest Metropolitan region in India, spreading over an area of 4355km2. Yet, it is not the only reason for its popularity. The city witnesses everything from the fast-paced lives of people, to the night life, to film-city, to the street foods of this city.The city has millions of hawkers each day on the streets. The taste and flavors of these foods have been borrowed from several different states and reinvented to create a whole new dish wish fusion of best of all zests throughout the country.
Below are some of the mouthwatering dishes found in the city:
Batata Vada:
A lip-smacking breakfast and teatime snacks prepared by mashing boiled potatoes along with green chilies, ginger, garlic, lime juice, turmeric, and fresh coriander. Small doughs of the mixture is then dipped in a besan (gram flour) batter and deep fried. Tastes best with green chutney or fried green chilies.
Vada Pav:
Yet another favorite of Mumbaikars. Technically it’s an Indian burger stuffed with a spicy potato filling deep fried in a gram flour batter. It is greased with assorted sauces (chutneys) and served along with sautéed green chilies. Also, famously known
as the ‘poor man’s burger'
The Bombay Sandwich:
A whole new idea of having sandwiches in Mumbai. These vegetarian sandwiches begin with slices of white bread generously buttered on either side. Then goes in slices of beetroot, boiled potatoes, onion, cucumber, tomato and mint chutney. Cut into 4 slices for the ease of holding and having it. The best way to enjoy it is to order it toasted, so its fresh and crisp.
Bhel Puri:
Another famous street food found commonly on the streets of Mumbai especially along the busy beaches of Juhu and Girguam Chowpatty. The recipe includes puffed rice tossed with raw tomatoes, onions, sev and is spiced with a tamarind sauce which is further topped with a handful of chopped cilantro. One of the best munchies available.
Pao Bhaji:
If somebody wants to taste the real Pav Bhaji, it ought to be the Mumbai style. History of Pav Bhaji takes us to the time when the dish was considered a late-night meal for the workers prepared with the leftovers. It’s a melt in the mouth pav and bhaji that is steamy, spicy and tangy prepared by mashing a combination of vegetables and cooked with spices.
Frankie:
Another innovative dish by a Mumbaikar, Mr. Amarjit Tibb, with inspiration from Lebanese style pita bread wraps on his trip to Beirut, invented Frankie which is a patty with layers of flour sheets stuffed with with mutton, eggs, mashed potatoes or chicken. It tastes with raw onion and spicy sauces. Tibb’s Frankie is one of the best outlets found all over the city that sells the original reinvented frankies.
Barnard shaw has rightly said that" There is no sincerer love than love of street food"
