Kutchi kadakToasted bread cubes with chutneys
Kadak, meaning crunchy, is the cousin of dabeli sold from the same carts in Bhuj, Mandvi and Gandhidham: instead of a stuffed bun, cubes of pav are toasted hard in butter, then tossed on the griddle with dabeli masala, sweet tamarind and fiery garlic chutneys, masala peanuts and onion, and finished with pomegranate seeds and sev. It is a crunchy, sticky, sweet-hot snack eaten from a paper plate on Kutch evenings. The common mistake is adding the wet chutneys too soon, which turns the bread soggy before it gets to the plate. Chef's tip: toast the pav cubes until they are properly hard, then dress them only seconds before serving.



