Indian street food is one of those things that everyone loves and it’s cheap, filling, and delicious. And while we’re sure there are plenty of restaurants serving up authentic fare, sometimes you don’t want to go out to eat. You’d rather grab something quick and easy and head outside to enjoy a snack at your leisure.
Luckily, Toronto has an abundance of excellent Indian street food, from dosa vendors to chaat stalls. We’ve rounded up the best spots to get your fix.
Luckily for you, Toronto has many options for tasty Indian street food. From chana chaat to kathi roll, here are 4 different kinds of Indian street food to try.
Chana chaat is a popular snack in India, especially during festivals like Holi. It consists of chickpea flour batter fried into pakoras, served with chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro and tamarind sauce.
Khichdi is a lentil dish cooked in water and spices. It’s often eaten as breakfast, but it’s also great for lunch or dinner.
Samosa is a traditional Indian pastry made from potato and/or other vegetables stuffed with spiced meat or cheese.
Kati rolls are filled with potatoes, peas, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, and more. They’re usually deep-fried and served with mint sauce.
Well, let’s take a look at some of the reasons behind this phenomenon.
Street foods are generally made fresh. That means they don’t last long. So, they taste fresher than packaged goods.
There are hundreds of varieties of street foods in India. Each vendor specializes in a particular dish. For instance, you might find a vendor selling only potato chips. Or maybe he sells only samosas. He won’t sell anything else.
Indian street foods are authentic. They aren’t mass-produced or processed. Instead, they are prepared by hand with fresh ingredients.
Indian street foods have unique flavors that can’t be found anywhere else. Some dishes may include spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chili powder. Others may contain herbs like mint, basil, and curry leaves. And still others may use other ingredients like garlic, ginger, onions, and tomatoes.
Indian street foods are healthy. Many vendors prepare their dishes using whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, and even meat. These foods are also low in fat and high in fiber.