Surat’s Sizzling Street Treats
Ashleshaa Khurana
The monsoon finally made its date with Surat, albeit a month late; but, that has not been a deterrent to Surat’s foodies who are fond of munching in the rain and even otherwise. From secluded pockets around Tapi town function roadside kiosks that add a crunch to your regular munch and make you want more. Here are a few such sizzling street treats that won’t burn your pockets but will set your tongues on fire with their fiery flavours.
Bread-rolls by Champa at Parle Point. This is the onerous labourer’s breakfast joint near Ambika Niketan bus-stop. The rolls are crunchy crusts of bread wrapped over a bed of steamy mashed potatoes spiked with mustard seeds, chopped green chillis, coriander leaves with salt to taste and turmeric for colour. Served with runny sweet and spicy gram flour chutney which will make you lick your fingers and click your tongue.
Piping hot soup at Nakhuda Nasta Centre,Rander. At the corner of teen batti char rasta near Chunarwaad Masjid,this place functions from sehri to iftar time – 6 a.m to 7 pm, other than the khowsuey and other yummy delights written about before, it serves bowls of vegetarian and chicken soup which is heart warming and filling. Garnished with crunchy bits of spring onion greens, fried garlic and crispy wheat strips you have to sip and slurp this one to believe how good something so simple and light can taste.
Sai Ragda Petis on Tower road, opposite Hariharan Pustakalay .Functioning from just beside the Mahidarpura police station, the stall here is set up only 4 pm onwards. I discovered this hot favourite via true blue Surti Manoj Singapuri whose camera lens loves Surat .Don’t be fooled by the docile looking heart shaped potato petis , it is packed with spice infused gram dal, the chilli level of which will remind you of Bhut Jolakia- the world’s hottest pepper. This is doused with a serene smooth ragda to calm your taste buds simultaneously. Topped with uniformly chopped onions, and fine sev over which a tongue teasing tamarind relish is drizzled. In case you ears begin to smoke with the chilli, they also serve hot soft gulab jamuns .
Masala corn on the cob at Lakeview Garden,Piplod. This is easily Surat’s most under-rated rain treat. The boiled corn is American, the heat provided to it thereafter is on a tin stove filled with burning coal embers. Once the smoke sets up its flavours, the ‘bhutta’ is rubbed with lemon juice,salt and red chilli powder. Wrapped in lime green leaves, one bite and you are in juicy heaven!
Mayur Bhajiya, Nanpura . I found It because #Foodoholic Prakash Anandani was tweeting while eating there .While it deserves an entire column; today’s recommends with the rain are its oomph la la tomato and chilli pakoras. The veggies are slit, within them is stuffed a spicy filling with a hint of sugar,next they are dipped in entirety in a gram flour batter and deep fried .These seemingly innocent looking bhajiyas have layers of flavours to be discovered once you bite in.
Surat’s jaman during the rainy season will surely get into ‘sulag sulag jaye mann’ singing mode.Devour these and set fire to the rain .
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