Dabeli

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Dabeli or Kutchi Dabeli or Kachchhi Dabeli is a snack of India, originating in the Kutch or Kachchh region of Gujarat. It is a spicy snack made by mixing boiled potatoes with a Dabeli Masala, and putting the mixture between Ladi-Pav (Burger bun) and served with chutnies made from tamarind, date, garlic, red-chillies, etc. and garnished with pomegranate and roasted pea-nuts.

Origin

Dabeli literally means pressed in Gujarati language.^[1]. It is said to be invented by one Keshavji Gabha Chudasama alias Kesha Malam, resident of Mandvi, Kutch in decades of 1960. He had never imagined that the product would become popular one day. When he started business he sold a Dabeli at one anna or six paisa. His shop is still there in Mandvi and business is now carried by his next generations.^[2]

Dabeli thus has its origin in Mandvi, a city of the Kutch region and even today Dabeli Masala made in the city are said to be most authentic. The Dabeli is also, therefore, known as Kachchhi Dabeli or Kutchi Dabeli taking it's cue from the region of its origin. Bhuj and Nakhatrana towns of Kutch are also known for authentic Dabeli apart from Mandvi.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 medium size potatoes, boiled and mashed
• a pinch of asafoetida
• 2 teaspoons Dabeli Masala
• a few green chillies
• 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts
• 2 tea-spoon of cooking oil
• salt - to - taste
• 5-6 Ladi-pav / Burger buns
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 1/4 cup Sev
• Garlic-Red Chillies Chutney
• Tamarind-Date Chutney
• finely chopped Coriander
• a handful of pomegranate seeds
• roasted pea-nuts
• Butter

Procedure

• Put 2 teaspoon of oil, heat it slightly and add asafoetida, Dabeli Masala, potatoes, salt-to-taste and a sprinkle of water. Mix it very well so that masala, salt and boiled potato assimilate very well. Additionally (optional) you can put some finely chopped green chillies in this preparation.
• Remove from fire.
• Taste this mixture, if you want to make it more spicy, add some more of Dabeli Masala and again mix it using hands or masher.
• Toss in the roasted peanuts and mix everything well
• Slice pav/bun into halves and toast them with a little butter on a griddle.
• Apply garlic chutney on one side (inner side), tamarind -date chutney on the other side (inner side) of the sliced pav/bun.
• Place a portion of the potato filling in between
• Top with chopped onion, coriander and sev
• Press down the bun from both side and garnish with pomegranate seeds, roasted pea-nuts and serve, medium-hot, immediately with a extra dip of chutney on the plate. Fried green chillies, with a sprinkle of salt can be additionally given as an add-on.^[3][4][5][6]

Further notes

• Dabeli Masala, which is the main ingredient of the dish, is readily available in most of the cities all over India, sold under various brand names mainly manufactured and packed in Kutch. The Dabeli Masala made from Mandvi and Bhuj are preferred by people for their taste and ethnicity. This Dabeli Masala is a dry-paste made from dried red-chillies, black-pepper powder, dried coconut, salt, clove, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, turmeric, elachi, badiyan, black-salt, tej-patta and other garam masalas is a specially prepared Masala. The Debeli Masala once made or purchased from shops can be stored and used for over a period of six to twelve months.
• Chutney is an essential part of almost all type of Indian cuisine and these type of Chutneys can be prepared in advance and stored and used for at least a fortnight. Now-a-days specially preserved Chutneys packets are available also in shops in major cities of India and are as well exported to other countries by some Indian food companies.
• Sev referred above is a type of Indian farsan, which is readily available in farsan shops in all over India and also in other countries, where it is being exported by companies like Haldiram's and others.

Cooking time

• With ready-made Dabeli Masala, Chutneys made-in-advance, Sev readily available, roasted pea-nuts, pomegranate and boiled potato, Dabeli hardly takes 5–8 minutes to be prepared and as such has become a popular Indian fast food.

Popularity

Dabeli today is famous not only in Kutch and Gujarat but also throughout Maharashtra, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and many other States of India. Dabeli Stalls can be found in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nizamabad, Nasik, Raipur, Bilaspur, Jabalpur, Indore, Bhopal, Udaipur, Jaipur, etc. besides all major cities, towns and tourist spots of Gujarat.

Other common names for Kutchi Dabeli are Kutchi Burger or Desi Burger and Kutchi Double Roti.

Other dishes of the Kutch or Kutchi cuisine like Kutchi Dabeli, Kutchi Samosa, Kutchi Khaja, Kutchi Pakwan, Kutchi Khichdi, etc. Dabeli is the most popular dish, popularity of which has not only spread over many parts of India but also overseas.

For photo / image of Dabeli see here ^[7]

References

1. ^ [1] Gujarati - English Directory
2. ^ [2]
3. ^ Dabeli Receipe : Wiki Cook Book
4. ^ Dabeli - Tarla Dalal
5. ^ Mumbai Roadside Snacks Book
6. ^ India Guide Gujarat By Anjali Desai
7. ^ Dabeli