Dabeli

Dabeli is a very popular street food from Gujarat. It is made with soft Indian pav or dinner rolls filled with spicy and tangy mashed potato, peanuts, and chutney. It has a wonderful crunch from the sev, roasted peanuts and sweetness from the pomegranate seeds. Try it as a snack on the weekend, and you will love it.

Gujarati food is one of my favorites. It has so much variety, and the sweet, spicy, tangy flavors in Gujarati food are just amazing.

I have shared many Gujarati recipes such as Gujarati dal, khaman, dhebra, etc. Today, I want to share the famous Kutchi Dabeli recipe with you all.

I used to only enjoy Dabeli at street stalls, but now I love to make it at home too. I will not deny that there are many steps to making dabeli. However, many of them can be meal prepped. E.g. you can make the dabeli masala, spiced peanuts, and chutneys the day before.

If you are hosting a party, Dabeli is a wonderful dish to add as an appetizer. My family loves dabeli for a chaat-style dinner. I make sure to reduce the spice as my kids enjoy dabeli too.

Watch How to Make Dabeli

Dabeli – Popular Indian Street Food

The word “Dabeli” means “pressed.” Originating from Gujarat in India, dabeli is a popular street food that has gained popularity nationwide. It is made with a spicy potato filling and served with a variety of toppings, such as sev, pomegranate pearls, and chutneys.

Typically, dabeli is eaten in the evening with tea or coffee. But really, it is great for lunch or dinner too.

What is Dabeli?

Dabeli originated in the Kutch region of Gujarat in Western India and is a famous street snack. Sweet and spicy potatoes are served on a pav (savory dinner rolls). Dabeli is also called Kutchi dabeli.

Kutchi dabeli is an excellent meal for a casual lunch with the family. It’s also a terrific snack to make during casual gatherings and parties.

We love to enjoy Dabeli at the street vendors when we need a quick snack!

Ingredients you’ll need

Pav: Buy fresh pav or make it at home for the best taste.

Kutchi Dabeli masala: The key ingredient in the potato filling is dabeli masala, which gives it a unique flavor. To make it, you’ll need cumin, coriander seeds, fennel, black peppercorns, cinnamon, black cardamon, cloves, star anise, bay leaf, sesame seeds, dry coconut, turmeric, sugar, salt, and amchur. 

For Peanuts: Masala Peanuts are made by mixing peanuts with vegetable oil, salt, turmeric, dabeli masala, and red chili powder. 

Aloo Masala: The potato filling in this dish is very tasty. It’s sour, hot, and sweet all at the same time. To make Aloo masala, you will need oil, red chili powder, turmeric powder, dabeli masala, water, mashed potatoes, tamarind chutney, thin sev, peanuts, cilantro, coconut, pomegranate, and salt. 

To finish: you’ll need butter, red onions, sev, red chili garlic chutney, and tamarind chutney.

How to make Dabeli Masala?

• First, we start with roasting whole spices – coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves – in a pan. 
• Also, add star anise, bay leaf, sesame seed, dry coconut, and dried red chili. 
• It is best to roast the spices over low heat so they do not burn. Roast until you get their aroma. 

• Let the spices cool down completely, then transfer to a spice grinder.
• Then add turmeric, amchur, sugar, and salt and grind it to a fine powder.
• The dabeli masala is ready. You can use or store it for later. This masala stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Tip: It is okay to use store-bought Dabeli masala if you are short on time. However, I highly recommend making it fresh, as the flavor and aroma are amazing!

How to make Spicy Peanuts?

• In the same pan, heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan, then add peanuts. Toss them in the oil and roast them on low heat until they are lightly golden on the edges.
• Add turmeric, red chili powder, salt, and the prepared dabeli masala.
• Toss to coat the spices with the peanuts. Cook for another couple of minutes on low heat. Switch off the heat and transfer to a plate.

Tip: If you prefer, you can use roasted peanuts from the store. It is okay to use salted roasted peanuts too. Just skip the salt when adding the spices.

How to make Potato Masala for Kacchi Dabeli?

• Boil potatoes in a pressure cooker or pot. Here is my recipe for boiling potatoes in an instant pot.
• Peel and mash the potatoes coarsely.
• Add the prepared dabeli masala, tamarind chutney, and water to a bowl. Mix well, making sure there are no lumps.

• Heat oil in a large kadai. 
• Pour the masala mixture into the oil. Cook for two minutes or until the smell changes. 
• Now, add the mashed potato and salt and stir well. 

• Make sure everything is well mixed as you mash and stir the potato masala. 

• Now transfer the mixture to a plate. 
• Top with chopped cilantro leaves, sev, pomegranate seeds, shredded coconut, and spiced peanuts on the top.

How to Make Dabeli?

First, slit the pav in half down the middle without cutting through. Then, put tamarind chutney on one side and red chili garlic chutney on the other. 

Stuff the aloo mixture with a spoon. Top with finely chopped onions and peanuts.

Now, toast the pav in butter, ensuring both sides get a golden color. 

Roll the dabeli in sev, so there is sev sticking on three sides of the pav. You can also roll in the spiced peanuts for the extra crunch.

Serve right away with more masala peanuts & chopped onions on the side.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• If you have readymade Dabeli Masala already at home, use that. But I recommend making it from scratch as the flavor and aroma are better.
• If you have any Dabeli Masala left over after making this dish, sprinkle it on rice, vegetable, or even dal dishes. It only makes the taste better. It can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
• Add a couple more tablespoons of water if the potato mixture seems slightly dry while cooking.
• Make sure the potato filling is smooth and doesn’t have any lumps. To get rid of the lumps, use a potato masher.
• Potato mixture left over and no pavs? Don’t worry. Put the mix between two slices of bread to make a delicious sandwich.

Common Questions

More Gujarati Recipes You’ll Love

• Gujarati Kadhi
• Gujarati Magas
• Khandvi
• Handvo
• Methi Thepla