Dal puri

Hailing from North India, dal puri is a variety of puri, a type of round-shaped Indian bread that is deep-fried until crispy, puffy, and golden. This version of the bread consists of puri dough that’s kneaded with a lentil-based mixture.

Numerous versions of the dish exist throughout different regions, and depending on the spices used for its preparation, the dish can range from mildly spicy to hot. The dough is typically made with plain flour, water, salt, and oil, while the filling usually combines mung dal lentils with oil and spices such as ginger, green chili, cumin, fennel seed powder, mango powder, asafetida, and salt.

Other typical spices include garam masala powder, carom seeds, turmeric, pepper, garlic, and coriander leaves. Dal puri is traditionally prepared for various celebrations and festivals, and it is usually enjoyed for breakfast or as an accompaniment to a variety of main dishes.

These crispy-fried puris pair nicely with Indian specialties such as aloo ki sabzi (potato curry), gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa), chole (chickpea curry), or spicy squash curry.