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Velpuri (Dhaka style)
ভেলপুরি (velpuri): crushed crisp puris piled with spicy mashed chickpeas and potato, grated egg, onion, chilli and tamarind water
Dhaka's velpuri is a cousin of Mumbai's bhel but a very different plate: crisp puris are crushed and topped with a hot, spiced mash of chickpeas and potato, finely grated boiled egg, raw onion and green chilli, then soaked in sour tamarind water at the last second. Vendors sell it from glass-topped carts around Dhanmondi Lake and outside the TSC at Dhaka University on long afternoons. Contains wheat and egg. Chef's tip: grate the egg over at the very end with the fine side of a grater, so it falls in a soft yellow snow over the top.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the chickpea mash
- 14 oz cooked chickpeasdrained (1 tin)
- 1 potatomedium, boiled and peeled
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp roasted cumin powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp mustard oil
For the tamarind water
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp black salt
To assemble
- 2 eggs
- 1 red onionfinely chopped
- 3 green chilliesfinely chopped
- 4 tbsp coriander leaveschopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 2 eggs in cold water, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes, until the yolks are fully set. Cool in cold water and peel.
12 minStep 2: Mash 14 oz cooked chickpeas and 1 potato roughly in a pan with 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp roasted cumin powder, ½ tsp salt and 1 tsp mustard oil. Warm over a low heat for 3 minutes, stirring, adding a splash of water if it is stiff.
4 minStep 3: Whisk 2 tbsp tamarind paste, ¾ cup water, 1 tsp sugar and ½ tsp black salt until smooth and thin.
Step 4: Crush 20 crisp puris (pani puri shells) roughly onto 4 plates. Spoon over the warm mash and scatter with 1 red onion, 3 green chillies and 4 tbsp coriander leaves.
3 minStep 5: Finely grate the eggs over each plate, then pour on the tamarind water and serve at once. Common mistake: adding the tamarind water before you are ready to eat; the puris go soggy within a couple of minutes.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 8 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does velpuri (Dhaka style) take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of cooked chickpeas?
- Cannellini or butter beans, same amount.
- What can I use instead of potato?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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