Pani Puri
Pani puri is an immensely popular Indian street food of crispy, hollow, fried dough balls (puri) stuffed with boiled potatoes or steamed moong sprouts or boiled chickpeas or white peas curry (also known as ragda) together with spicy tangy water and a sweet chutney. Pani puri is a favorite chaat snack of many folks and ours too. With so many bursts of tastes and flavors in your mouth when you have pani puri, you just cannot have one 🙂
What is Pani Puri
Pani Literally translates to water and here the Puris are fried puffed crisp dough balls which are hollow. Generally, the water or pani is sour, tangy as well as spicy. This spicy pani is balanced with the addition of sweet tamarind chutney.
This sweet chutney is called as Meetha (which means sweet) Pani. The spicy water is called as Teekha (which means spicy) Pani. Both are added in the puri along with the main filling which consists of boiled potatoes, cooked chickpeas, moong sprouts or a thick dry curry made from white peas which is called as Ragda.
I don’t know who invented pani puri or how it came into existence. It is one of the popular street foods in India. Whereas in Mumbai, we call it pani puri. In the northern states, it is called Golgappa and in Bengal, it is called as Puchka. In Bihar and Jharkand its known as gupchup. So there various ways this street food snack is made and enjoyed.
This is an easy pani puri recipe as you don’t need to make the sweet tamarind chutney.
The pani recipe that I share is spicy, tangy as well as sweet. However if you want a more sweeter taste, you can make the sweet chutney.
This pani or spiced water recipe is my mom’s recipe and to save time she would make the pani in such a way that it would have all the three major tastes – spicy, tangy and sweet. So all three tastes – teekha, khatta and meetha taste in just one pani. Otherwise generally both the spicy chutney and sweet chutney are made separately.
Pani puri is my most favorite chaat from childhood. I used to have them often with my family on the streets of Mumbai (Bombay) and it was something I have thoroughly enjoyed.
If you are a foodie then there few more delicious street food recipes from Mumbai which you can easily make at home like:
How to make Pani Puri
1. Rinse 1 cup tightly packed coriander leaves, ½ cup tightly packed mint leaves, 2 to 3 green chilies and 1 inch ginger very well in water a few times. Drain all the water.
Peel the ginger and roughly chop it. Also chop the green chilies. Roughly chop the coriander leaves and mint leaves. Don’t use the stem of mint leaves as they can make the spiced water have a bitter taste. Only use the fresh mint leaves.
2. Add coriander leaves, mint leaves, ginger and green chili in a grinder or blender jar. For a less spicy pani you can add just 1 chopped green chilli.
3. Add 1 tablespoon tightly packed tamarind and 3.5 to 4 tablespoons jaggery powder or grated jaggery.
If you do not have tamarind, then you can use 2 tablespoons lemon juice. You can also use equal amounts of jaggery and dates. So you can add 2 tablespoons crumbled jaggery and 2 tablespoons chopped dates.
4. Now add 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder, 1 teaspoon chaat masala and salt as per taste. You can also use a mix of black salt and pink salt or regular salt. I personally prefer to use either black salt or edible rock salt.
5. Add ⅓ cup water and grind to a smooth consistency.
6. Remove the chutney to a bowl or a small pan.
7. Now add ½ cup water in the grinder jar and swirl the jar so that the chutney at the sides of the jar gets mixed with the water.
8. Add this water to the bowl containing the chutney.
9. Then add ½ to ¾ cup water. You can add less or more water depending on the consistency you want. But do not add too much water as then the taste and flavor of the spiced water reduces. Also check the taste and if required you can add some more jaggery or salt as required.
10. Mix very well. Cover the pan and refrigerate the pani. Before refrigerating you can also add 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of salted boondi.
Boondi also gives a good taste. It can also be made at home or purchased easily from grocery stores.
Making potato filling for pani puri
11. Boil 2 to 3 medium-sized potatoes. You can boil or steam the potatoes in a pan, instant pot or stovetop pressure cooker adding water as required.
When warm, peel them and chop them into small cubes. You can also add some steamed or boiled moong sprouts. Some finely chopped onions can also be added. I have added 1 small-sized finely chopped onion.
12. Add 1 to 1.5 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves.
13. Then add ¼ teaspoon red chili powder, 1 teaspoon chaat masala and 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder. Also add salt as per taste.
14. Stir and mix very well. Keep aside.
Assembling Pani Puri
15. Keep everything ready before you start assembling the pani puri. The potato filling, pooris and the spiced water.
In the photos below, I have made sweet tamarind dates chutney, just to show the assembling.
First crack the top of the puri with a spoon or with your fingers or thumb. Then stuff the potato filling in the puri with a spoon.
Add a few teaspoons of sweet chutney or as per your choice. The addition of sweet chutney is optional for the pani recipe shared in this post.
16. Then add a few teaspoons of the green spiced water or as per your choice.
17. The pani puri is ready to serve. Pop in your mouth, eat every bite and enjoy the burst of various flavors and textures. Make sure to eat them immediately as you prepare each puri.
They have to be had immediately. Or else the puris become soggy. To make a Mumbai style pani puri recipe, use ragda or moong sprouts as the filling.
Helpful Tips for Pani Puri
- The puri or pooris for making pani puri are made from flour or sooji (cream of wheat or rava) or both. These can be brought ready from the stores or can be made at home too.
- If you want to make pooris at home, then check this post -> Puri recipe for golgappa.
- For the stuffing, you can use your choice of fillings. At home we prefer moong sprouts or ragda. You can also use boiled potatoes and onions. Even boiled white chickpeas or black chickpeas can be used along with boiled potatoes.
- Assemble everything before you begin to make pani puri.
- You can prepare the spiced water before a few hours and then chill it in the fridge. You can also make it overnight and keep it in the fridge.
- Adding ice cubes may dilute the taste and flavor of the water.
- Addition of black salt gives a really good taste and flavor. So if possible do try to add black salt in the pani recipe.
Step by Step Photo Guide Above
Ingredients
For pani puri stuffing – * check notes for other options
- 2 to 3 potatoes – medium-sized
- 1 onion – small to medium-sized, optional
- 1 to 1.5 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
- 1 teaspoon Roasted Cumin Powder
- 1 teaspoon Chaat Masala Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Red Chili Powder – optional
- black salt or regular salt or pink salt, as required
For pani recipe
- ½ cup chopped mint leaves – tightly packed,
- 1 cup chopped coriander leaves – tightly packed (cilantro)
- 1 inch ginger – chopped
- 2 to 3 green chilies – chopped (for a less spicy pani, add about 1 green chili)
- 1 tablespoon tamarind – tightly packed
- 3.5 to 4 tablespoons jaggery powder or grated/chopped jaggery or sugar, add as required – check point 6 in notes
- 1 teaspoon Roasted Cumin Powder
- 1 teaspoon Chaat Masala Powder
- ⅓ cup water for blending
- 1 to 1.25 cups water to be added later, add water as per the consistency you want
- 1 to 1.5 tablespoons boondi (fried tiny gram flour balls), optional
- black salt or regular salt, add as required
Other ingredients
- 24 to 30 puris you could buy these puris readymade or make them at home
- 1 small bowl Tamarind Chutney or tamarind dates chutney – optional
Instructions
Making pani puri stuffing
- Boil the potatoes till they are cooked completely.
- Peel them and then chop them.
- Finely chop the onion if using it.
- In a small bowl, mix the potatoes, onions, coriander leaves, cumin powder, chaat masala powder and black salt or regular salt. Mix well and keep aside.
Making pani (spiced water)
- In a blender add all the ingredients mentioned above for the pani.
- Add water and grind to a fine chutney.
- Remove the green chutney in a large bowl. Rinse the mixer jar with ½ cup water first and then add this water in the bowl. Then add ½ to ¾ cup more water.
- Mix well. Check the seasoning. Add more salt or jeera powder or chaat masala or jaggery if required. If you want a thin pani, you could add some water. But keep on checking the seasoning, as per your taste.
- Add the boondi to the pani.
- You can chill the pani in the fridge or add some ice cubes to it.
Assembling pani puri
- Crack the top of the puri with a spoon.
- Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of the boiled potato-onion filling in the poori.
- Stir the green pani first and then add it in the poori. Optionally you can add some sweet chutney in the puri.
- Serve the pani puri immediately otherwise the prepared puri with stuffing and water will become soggy.
- You can also make individual portions with the puris, potato-onion mixture and the pani. Let the individual assemble the pani puri for himself/herself as per his/her taste.
Notes
1. Pani puri stuffing ideas
Other stuffing combinations for pani puri Or a combination of these:- Steamed moong sprouts
- Boiled white chickpeas (kabuli chana)
- Boiled black chickpeas (kala chana)
- Boiled potatoes
- Chopped onions
- Chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
- Ragda – a dry white peas curry
This Pani Puri post from the archives (August 2010) has been republished and updated on 22 September 2021.
It’s a great recipe! For how many pieces will it be enough?
Glad you liked it. The pani and filling should be enough for about 24 to 30 puris, depending on how much you fill each one.
Love this recipe of pani puri. It is easy to follow and makes for a yum paani.
Thank you. Happy to know you liked the recipe and found it easy. Glad the pani turned out yum.
I tried several of your recipes and everybody liked the dishes prepared by me from watching your recipes.
Thanks a lot for making cooking easier for us.
Keep on sharing such nice recipes.
Thanks so much and happy to ready your feedback on the recipes. Thanks once again and most welcome.
Tried it and the outcome was better than expected! Thank you!
Great and most welcome.
Easy to follow.
Very appetizing.
Thanks.
Its nice
I love all your recipes… but this one is my favorite ? thanks for sharing… God bless.
Nice to know and thank for taking the time to comment. Thanks for the rating too.
I made the pani and aloo stuffing for my family and they absolutely loved it!
I also added lemon juice to the pani which really helped bring the flavour out. Thank you Dassana!
Great and thanks for sharing this lovely feedback. Thanks also for the rating on the recipe.
what a brilliant idea ! fried hollow ball itself so nice. stuffing and dipping… pani puri is full of fun… this recipe is going to be very interesting! thanks!
Oh my god, this is so delicious! thank you!
Welcome and thanks.
Hello! I recently made too much of the potato filling for pani puri and now I am wondering, what else can I use this filling for? I didnt think it would be ok in samosa’s because I mixed some pani puri masala into the filling as well.. HELP! I really dont want it to go to waste and neither do I want to keep eating pani puris !
You can make aloo tikki with it. Add some breadcrumbs or cornstarch or rice flour to bind the tikkis. You can also make some nice toasted or grilled potato sandwich. I also think samosa should be fine as the filling will have a spicy, tangy taste to it.
I tried this recipe..it’s so yummy. My family loved it especially my daughter.
Thank you for posting this recipe.
thanks sreelu for sharing this lovely review. glad to know. most welcome.
In Madhya Pradesh it is called ‘ fulki’ ☺️
thanks for letting me know.
V helpful.. tried it.. my family loved it
Hi
I added 1/2 tsp jaljeera powder and 1/2 tsp dry mango powder. Also 2-3 tbsp lemon juice. I also filtered the pani and used a tamarind chutney along with the filling too.
thanks for sharing the variations you made.
Hi love ur recipies
Juz wanted to ask how to use kachi keri in pani puri pani.
steam or boil the mangoes in a pan or pressure cooker. then make a paste of it. you can filter the mango paste if you want. then add to the pani. or alternatively, you can grind the boiled mango pulp when grinding other ingredients. remove the mango skin and the seed. just take the pulp. you can even make aam panna as khatta-meetha pani. skip cardamom in aam panna if making it as khatta-meetha pani. recipe here – https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/aam-panna-recipe-aam-panna/
I like your recipes ..they are awesome and very easy to follow….
thanks hemali.
You are one where I got an idea to bake with wheat flour and they are successfull and my inspiration to cook.
Followed your recipe for pani puri and pani puri water. Came out really well. My kid loved it.
From the comments yes kneading is very important and I have to add 3 more tbsp of water on top of your recipe. And Wish I can share the picture I made.
Thank you very Much
thanks a lot shanthi. whole wheat bakes are so good and can be made more healthy also by using healthy ingredients. for the pani puri dough less or more water depends on the quality of rava. so one can easily add more water if required. nice to know your kid loved pani puri. you can share pics at vegrecipesofindia@gmail.com
Hello, sir, I follow your recipe and it always turns out to be good. but sir I live in the USA and here sometimes we get mint leaves or sometimes mint paste in a bottle. Also, jaggery is very expensive to buy.. can you tell me a replacement of jaggery? and how much to add for 4 people? also please tell me if I am using mint paste and tamarind paste how many tablespoons I have to add ?. waiting for your reply
thanks meeta. you can use sugar instead of jaggery. just add the same amount of sugar as that of the amount of jaggery mentioned in the recipe.
for mint paste you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of it. add as per your taste. i am not sure how much thick and concentrated the paste is, so guessing the amount. for tamarind paste, add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon.
This Paani is exactly like those of Authentic PaniPuri waalas out on streets! ???? Thanks for sharing!
Welcome Kuldeep. Thanks for sharing your positive feedback.
Hi I liked the recipe.Pani turned out well but filling is not that tasty.
fathima, filling can be as per your choice. you can add chana (white chana or black chickpeas or moong sprouts also). also the amount of red chilli powder and chaat masala in the filling can be added less or more as per your taste.
Hi am Natasha from Sri lanka! I tried this recipe They came out so good that I suprised my whole family. Thank you so much! And the recipes are so damn good!
thank natasha for the feedback on pani puri. glad to know that you liked it.
Thank you. I made Pani Puri today, it came out quite well. Thank you so much!
Cheers
Welcome Vani. Glad to know this.
I tried this it was very nice thanks a lot for this website I learnt so many dishes from this. especially chatts was really fantastic and everyone loved it in our family
thank you shwetha 🙂
Wow super taste
thanks shahanas.
just awesome …
thanks reema.
Hi,
I simply followed your Pani Puri recipe n came out delicious. My husband and friends loved it.
Thank You ?
thanks tomcy for the feedback. good to know.
Hi
How can I use leftover pani? Any ideas.
Thanks
Welcome Ruchi. Just drink it directly. Have it like Jal Jeera.
I’ve always found step by step instructions for recipes I want to learn and prepare. And the final product is delicious.
Thank you ma’am.
welcome vanessa. glad to read your positive feedback.
Wow this tasted heavenly.Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe
thanks shaoli for the positive feedback on pani puri recipe.
Such a nice recipe
Guys plz post with steps
I need how to prepare pani step by step
mohana, will try to add step by step recipe for preparing pani for pani puri recipe.
hi Chef, when ever I want to try some recipe then what I look for is ur website.
most of the recipes I have tried really came out well, thanks to step by step explanation with photos. i liked very much the recipes of street food ( chats) in this website.plz provide recipe of masal puri ,not the spicy puri one but its a chat we get along with sev puri and other chats at roadside vendors.
thanks and regards.
thankyou smita 🙂 for your kind and positive words we are pleased to know this. have taken your request for masala puri recipe on our file and you are welcome.
There is no step by step method of making pani puri with pics???? Will u post it
i will add the step wise pics.
Besr…but in absence of mint leaves what should we add
you cannot replace mint leaves as they have their own distinct flavor and aroma thankyou.
i am tried at home and result was very good and delicious
thankyou shubham 🙂
Your recipes are just wonder full. I’m following ur recipes since few months and I like all of them. Ur presentation, messurements, explanation etc r so good that it inspires one to try the recipes at the earliest and too with confidence dt it will come out nice. Thank you dear for this site n ur recipes. On seeing ur site I wonder how come a person know all the recipes
thankyou so much for your kind and honest words 🙂 we are very pleased to know this god bless you.
Pls give me masala puri receipes
pooja we have added in our request list thanks.
Masale puri receipe pls give me red masala puri r green masala pure pls pls
we have added your request for masala puri pooja in our request file thanks.
Yummi nice… my sister was oftenly asking me.. Finally I could prepare for her.. Thank you
great you tried this for your sister 🙂 hope she liked the pani puri.
Superb I tried it thanks for helping out everyone in my family loved it fantastic indeed a useful guide I rate 5/5
thankyou for your five star rating and you are always welcome bharathi 🙂
Superb recipe
Came out to be amazing !
Me and my family loved this pani puri recipe ☺☺
thanks diva for sharing positive feedback.
Mouthwatering healthy satisfied pani puri !!!
thanks vyshali
Hi Dasanna,
I have started referring to your recipes quite often now after my success in Idlis with your recipes. I often check check other sites as well for a recipe but I feel very comfortable with your style of cooking. Not only the recipes which I never tried, routine recipes like vegetables and curries I love to keep my methods aside and try your recipes. It gives a nice change to me while cooking and it is always a success with your recipes 🙂
Thanks a lot!
Hoping to get my pani puris also delicious just like you have shown!!
welcome karuna. nice to know this. thanks for sharing positive feedback om recipes.
I rate 5/5 for the awesome receipe!!!!
thanks shreyas
superrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr……………………………………………….
Thanks for the great recipe!
When I first tried pani puri in Southall/ West London coming over from Germany to visit my now-husband, I thought how can you eat something like this! My husband made me eat them. After 3 of them I fell so much in love with golgappa I tried to make them at least 10 times at home. My puris always became soft, as others described, until I tried your recipe. Now we are married for almost 10 years and he requests them every week. I actually make chana masala to stuff them. Two birds with one stone – and enough left to have paratha with chane the next morning. Thanks for your recipes!
welcome dori. thanks for sharing your positive feedback on puri recipe. nice to read your story. in some places in india, chana stuffing is also added in the pani puri. it taste good.
Hi Dasanna,
I always want to make pani puri at home but the taste does not meet like that of the street? May be because i don’t use tamarind…What can be used in place of tamarind, i have not found it in market here in Nepal
hi indira, in the absence of tamarind, you could use lemon juice or amchur powder/dry mango powder. you can adjust the tang as per your taste. you can also have a look at this recipe here of jaljeera and substitute the tamarind with lemon juice or dry mango powder – https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/jal-jeera-or-jaljeera-recipe/
Very nice recipe I too like pani puri….
thanks thamim
Just luved IT……
Very Good information
thanks manohar
I was living in india for almost a year but I had to return to my country in south America. You can’t imagine how happy and grateful I am for this website! I can’t wait to try all of your recipes! They look so delicious and I love the photography! Kudos for that… I hope I can find most of the spices and ingredients.
Once again thank you for sharing your knowledge on Indian cuisine ♡
welcome ale. glad to know that you liked the recipes and the photographs. happy cooking.
Hi Dasana, I tried a pani puri recipe from another web site but the pani did not taste like the yumm pani we get from the street side shops and I wasn’t able to fix the taste either. In your recipe you mentioned jal zeera. Will the jal zeera water be sufficient for the pani puri water? I will try out your pani recipe too over the weekend and let you know soon — thx
the jal jeera recipe posted already or the blog as well as pani made with ready made jal jeera can easily be sufficient for 1 pack of pani pooris. this pani recipe is both sweet and sour, so you don’t need to make a separate sweet chutney. whereas if you make jal jeera you will have to make a sweet chutney.
Hi Dassana, Made this for my son today and we all just loved it..The recipe was very clear and the result was awesome, just like the chat shops..Thank you very much, and regards.
thanks a lot anu for the feedback.
Lai bhaari…….. ekach number…… i love ur all receipes…
thanks supriya 🙂
You are amazing. Love all your recipes. Your blog helps me cook every day. And I know I will never make a bad dish if I stick to your instructions. Knowing you are from bombay makes me proud. Your hubby is a very Lucky man. Lots of love and hugs, amisha ( ohio, usa)
thanks amisha. thats a sweet comment from you. i personally feel good that i am from mumbai. mumbai teaches you many things 🙂 hugs to you too 🙂
This recipe is very nice
thanks saikiran
its very tasty recipe. i really enjoyed in making this recipe. my family members also liked it very much. thankkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk youuuuuuuuuuuu
welcome prathyusha
its very nice recipe i enjoyed a lot by preparing and eating it. thank you for this tasty and goood recipe
welcome kavya
My son loves pani puri but i am scared to get him frm outside so i tot let me try at home i just tried this recipe it came out so well my son loved it and had it enough…. thank u…
welcome sowjanya. glad to know this. enjoy the healthy pani puris at home.
Ahaaaa……. It’s delicious and I also learn from this website how to make pani puri yummmmmiiiii
thanks ritu
Nice recipes
It is very nice,i like pani puri very much,every weak my frnds and me are meeting at pani puri shop only so i thought thats the best and best
thanks manisha. great to hear this from you who loves panu puri a lot.
Dear Dassanna,
Me at my parents place, decided for “CHAT PARTY” n thanks alot…prepared pani puri, sev puri n dahi batata puri My parents n all fly members were so happy on my progress…
Thanks alot dear…
Your fan,
🙂
welcome sujata. good to know that you are trying so many recipes. these are my favorite chaat snacks.
Great Pani puree and dahi puree recipes. Look forward to trying them out…yummy…thanks a lot.
Balu
welcome balu
Gr8 recipe..
Yummy..
these r one of my favourites..
Pani puri r irresistable almost for everybody no doubt..
and these r delicious, only whn preparation is neat, hygienic & performed devotionally…
thankyou for guiding, who were really in it’s search.
thanks 🙂
YUMMM….sure i’ll try it… :p <3
Superbbb recipe. I just tried it. I tried many recipes for puri but everytime I was disappointed. Your recipe worked perfectly. Thank you soooo much.
welcome jinks for this positive feedback on puri recipe
Images are enough to make everyone to salivate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mouthwatering!!
Those images are enough to make a chaat lover salivate!
hamare yaha chhole mein aalu bhi daalte hai thoda…..
aapka post dekh ke muh mein paani aa gaya….
english use karna bhi man nahi hua…. :))))
already shared this to our community https://plus.google.com/communities/114880711022925710409?cfem=1&partnerid=gplp0
poochka .. paani poori and fulki.. no matter what they call.. and how differently they make it .. it makes yogic minds .. greedy 🙂 nice post !! thank u for sharing the Mumbai style of Pani puri !!
please send me all type of pani puri recipes
you can google and find different types of pani puri recipes. i usually stick to the same pani puri recipe and don’t make much changes.
I fisrt landed on your site while looking for chat recipes, since then I am a frequent visitor.
Recipe is nice, no doubt about it and you might have got lot of appriciation for it. There is something else, here I want to talk about. That’s your writing style. You have a talent to nicely put it in words, that’s the important part. Pictures, wonderful…. Really liked it. Are you a photographer?
Keep up the good work.
Thanks
Deepti
thanks deepti for all that you have said. i used to photograph before i started the blog and in my college wanted to do a professional photography course. but things did not fell into place. destiny brought me again to photography and i love it. i am a self learned photographer and the learning never ends for me 🙂
nice recipe
I don’t have a pressure cooker, how do I cook this?
you mean making the ragda from white peas, zara… right?
avoid as it will take around 2-3 hours cooking in a pot.
go for some quick filling for the pani puri like canned chickpeas or steamed sprouted moong beans or just simple boiled and chopped potatoes.
my fevorite pani puri
very good one excact preparation
thanks kamala.
i love pani puri because it is a delicious recipe so i like it .
It is good recipe. I like it. I like to know about samosa recipe.
i have the samosa recipe ready with photos…. but i do not have enough time to post it… i have shifted to a new house and the internet connection is very very slow here….. it will take some time till i settle down here and then will hopefully get time to post all the recipes that are waiting to be posted… including the samosa recipe