Dabeli or Kutchi dabeli is yet another delicious lip smacking snack coming from the Kutch region in Gujarat! Essentially a sweet and spicy binge made out of burger buns (Ladi pav) with a filling of mashed potato that’s well blended with tamarind chutney, peanuts and dabeli masala (the unique spices make it have a special place in the kitchen)! Fine nylon sev and pomegranate give the final finishing touch to this yummy snack – sugar and spice and everything nice! 

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Dabeli filling:

Ingredients:

• 3 medium sized mashed boiled potato
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 3 tbsp tamarind chutney
• Dabeli masala paste made from dabeli masala powder
• ½ cup roasted peanuts
• Salt
• Pomegranate
• Grated coconut

Procedure:

1. Saute onion in a pan
2. Add dabeli masala paste (recipe below), salt and ½ cup of water
3. Let the water come to a boil and then add mashed potatoes. Using a spatula, fold potatoes into the masala. Finally, add tamarind chutney and give a good mix
4. Add roasted peanuts and mix it well
5. Let this filling cool down. Add 8-10 pearls of pomegranate and 1 tsp roasted grated coconut. Dabeli filling is ready to use

Ingredients for Dabeli:

• Dabeli filling
• Pav
• Finely chopped onions
• Finely chopped tomato (optional)
• Masala peanuts
• Garlic chutney
• Tamarind chutney
• Green chutney (optional)
• ½ cup pomegranate
• Nylon sev

Procedure:

1. Cut the pav into half. On the inside of the top part apply green chutney, alternatively can use tamarind chutney
2. On the inside of the bottom part, spread garlic chutney followed by tamarind chutney
3. Spread dabeli filling evenly. Add a layer of masala peanuts (recipe in the notes below), onion, tomato (if you like), pomegranate and lastly some nylon sev
4. On a pan, heat some butter and place this prepared pav and toast it well from both the sides and serve hot. Garnish with pomegranate, sev and coriander leaves

Points to note:

1. Dabeli has a distinct combination of sweet and spicy flavours
2. Peanuts should be roasted as it enhances the taste. To make masala peanuts, add 1 tsp of oil, salt, red chilli powder and a hint of sugar to the peanuts. Give a good mix and use
3. Dabeli masala powder is readily available at Indian grocery store or it can also be made at home using some simple ingredients

Dabeli Masala Powder and Paste:

Ingredients:

• ½ tbsp cumin seeds
• ½ tbsp fennel seeds
• ½ tbsp coriander seeds
• ½ tsp black pepper seed
• ½ inch cinnamon stick
• 2 small bay leaves
• 1 tbsp sesame seed
• 4-5 cloves
• 2 star anise
• 1 dry red chilli
• ½ tbsp red chilli powder
• ½ tbsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp mango powder
• 1 tsp powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp dry onion powder
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• Salt, as per taste

Procedure:

• In a pan, roast all the raw ingredients (until red chilli in the list above) and turn off the gas when it turns aromatic
• Upon cooling, add these roasted ingredients in a mixer grinder and add chilli powder, turmeric, sugar, mango powder, onion powder, garlic powder and salt. Grind it well
• Take 3-4 tbsp of the powder, add 2 tbsp of tamarind paste, add water and create the paste – we call this as dabeli masala paste