Golgappa – A Burst of Memories on a Street Corner

 

There are foods that fill the belly, and then there are foods that fill the heart. For me, one of them is Golgappa.

I recall monsoon nights in my hometown, when the roads would glisten after a sprinkle. The breeze carried the smell of wet soil, and the streetlights would dance in the puddles. My friends and I would dash to the little Golgappa vendor near the intersection, where an elderly man, with a bright smile, was rolling brass vessels.

I would watch closely as he made the puri: perfectly round, crisp, and hollow. Next came the filling - chickpeas and boiled potatoes mixed with a spicy, bitter tamarind water. Every bite was a little explosion of flavors – sweet, sour, spicy, and utterly satisfying.

Last Saturday, I made this breakfast all over again for my children in my own kitchen. Filling the puris with the tamarind water and gram mixture with care, the smell took me directly to the drizzly streets. We sat together, munching on the crunchy puris, chuckling at children's tales, and reminiscing about small pleasures. No hurry, no machines — merely the pleasure of a street food in the comfort of home.

Soybean puris (homemade or store-bought): 20
Boiled potatoes: 2 medium, mashed
Boiled chickpeas: ½ cup
Tamarind pulp: 3 tablespoons
Chaat masala: 1 teaspoon
Black salt: ½ teaspoon
Red chili powder: ½ teaspoon (optional)
Fresh coriander: 2 tablespoons, chopped
Water: 2 cups
Jaggery or Sugar: 1 teaspoon

Instructions:
Step 1 - Prepare the Tamarind Water:
Blend the tamarind pulp in water, add sugar/jaggery, chaat masala, black salt, and red chili powder. Mix well and adjust to taste.

Step 2 - Prepare the filling:
Combine the boiled potatoes and chickpeas. Sprinkle with a pinch of chaat masala and fresh coriander.

Step 3 - Assemble the Golgapas:
Open the top of each puri carefully. Fill with some of the potato and chickpea mixture, followed by tamarind water until filled with the puri.

Serving Time:
Serve right away for the best crunch. The explosion of flavors will transport you to rainy streets, crowded stalls, and childhood laughter all at once.

This breakfast, plain but enchanting, made our kitchen into a small street festival—a reminder that food is not merely about taste. It is about memory, happiness, and union.