Classic Original Pani Puri vs Modern Mini Pita Pockets with Spicy Flavored Water

This recipe has been waiting in my drafts for over 1 month now and finally seeing all the panipuri recipes in all the blogs has tempted me to post this experiment of mine.

I don't think there would be any Indian who wouldn't love PaniPuri .This is one of the most famous street foods in India.Loved and enjoyed by adults and kids equally any time of the day or night is this tasty stuffed puri with spiced pani/water.In my family too we all enjoy eating this delicious PaniPuri.

Once in a while we have this as a light dinner.A while ago we had it with the Original Crispy Semolina Puris and later we tried the same with Mini Pita Pockets.I was waiting to post this for some time now comparing both the versions .Finally, it is here--------

1) Classic/Original Pani Puri

For enjoying this original pani puri we need the following ingredients------------

For Puris :

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Crispy Semolina Puris.............1pack(or as needed ,store bought)

For Stuffing :

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Boiled Potatoes.......................2(cubed)

Whole Moong.........................1cup(pressure cooked)

Yogurt.....................................1cup(seasoned with chaat masala,paprika and cilantro)

Green Cilanto Chutney.............1/2cup(homemade)

Tamarind Chutney....................1/2cup(store bought)

For Making Pani :

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Pani Puri Powder....................store bought ,follow pack directions for making pani and garnish the water with cilantro.

Preparation :

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Take a puri and make a hole in it as in the picture.Stuff it with few pieces of boiled potato ,followed by a spoonful of  cooked moong followed by seasoned yogurt followed by a spoon of tamarind chutney followed by green chutney.You can eat this as is or dip this in the bowl of spicy pani and keep the whole pani puri in your mouth and enjoy all the flavors of the stuffing and the pani.Eating panipuri at one stretch is an art I should say.These panipuri's once you start eating you cannot stop eating.One person can eat atleast 10 to 15 of them or should I say any number of them!

We always enjoy this version of pani puri.After  coming across the mini pita pockets I always wanted to try using them in making the pani puri.Have been postponing to make it for a while and finally tried it few weeks ago.It was a new taste and surely a keeper recipe.This is how it goes------

2) Modern Mini Pita Pockets with Spicy Flavored Water

For Puris :
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Whole Wheat Mini Pita Pockets.............1pack(or as needed ,store bought)

For Stuffing :
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Boondi....................................1cup(store bought)
Whole Moong.........................1cup(pressure cooked)
Tomato...................................1cup(finely diced)
Onion......................................1(finely diced)
Cilantro...................................finely chopped for garnish and pani
Mint........................................finely chopped for pani

For Making Pani :
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Pani Puri Powder....................store bought ,follow pack directions for making pani and garnish the water with finely chopped cilantro and mint leaves.

Preparation :
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For the regular panipuri you make a hole in the center and fill it,for the pita pocket too I tried it that way but coud not stuff it well.Then I opened the pockets from the side near the joint and filled it with cooked whole moong,tomato pieces,diced onion,little boondi and finally topped it with cilantro.First stuffed all the pitas and then dipped them in water and had them just like the regular panipuri.They tasted very nice and very filling.

I couldn't eat more than 5 stuffed pitas with spicy pani.We can't put the whole stuffed pita into the mouth,so we can eat it in two bites.It was very very filling.

Comparison of Both the Versions:
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1) Well original panipuri is light and crispy and we can eat any number of them,pita is thick and soft and fills you after eating few.

2) Original panipuri is delicate,can't hold stuffing and water for long and breaks easily while pita pockets are strong,we can stuff all of them and then start eating .

3) Original panipuri is deep fried and pitapockets are baked.

Final Verdict :
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Chaats are always tasty in the original way but if we choose to eat more consciously there is always an alternative.Choice is ours.

This recipe goes to Bread Mania Event hosted by Chitra of Aathidyam .

This goes to Healing Foods : Onion Event hosted by Priya started by Siri .