Fuchka, golgappa and panipuri all mean the same – an exotic street food that falls in the category of ‘you cannot be happy with one’. It is loved by not only Bengalis but by people of North India a well as western India – they love it by its other names like golgappa and pani puri. Golgappa because it is round in shape, like a ball. And pani puri, as its name implies, means puri filled with pani or water.
For some strange reason, it is not very popular down south - they have their own version of fast foods like idli and wada that have penetrated into other parts of the country but they have yet to embrace the wonder fuchkas that must, necessarily, be taken in one motion – directly popped from the plate into the mouth.
Whatever be the name, these wonder balls are in a class by themselves. Shaped like half-inch diameter brittle balls made out of flour, these are stuffed with a heady mix of mashed potato into which go some powdered spices.
The process of preparing these delicious quick-fixes is simple – the seller picks up one of the balls in the fingers of his left hand, pierces it with his left thumb and inserts the mashed potato mix with his right fingers.
Simultaneously, he transfers the ball to his right hand, dips it into a jar that contains tamarind water and serves it on the plate usually made of leaves (shalpata). One fuchka is never enough, it cannot satisfy. Hence these are sold in lots – each lot contains five or six of the fuchkas or golgappas or pani puris.
The patrons never come in singles - there is always a crowd of fans, either giggling girls or serious looking boys or bunch of friends out to enjoy freedom.
I have seen these being served in restaurants – but, they never taste the same. Served on plates, there are usually four to six of the balls with small containers containing tamarind water and the filling of mashed potato. A spoon is given to help in filling and then dipping into the tamarind water. Unfortunately, such fuchkas never taste like the ones served in street corners.
Wonder whether anyone has ever thought of patenting fuchkas, including the process of manufacture. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)
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