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.

kachchhi dabeli served on a tray garnished with cilantro leaves, sev, peanuts and pomegranate seeds.
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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

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. 

Dabeli Masala ingredients

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.

Ingredients to make dabeli

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.

Dabeli in hand garnished with pomegranate seeds and sev

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.
Dabeli in pav served on a tray

Common Questions

What do I serve Dabeli with?

Dabeli is a delicious and filling street food that can be enjoyed as a snack or even a meal.
Dabeli can be paired with a hot cup of masala chai or a refreshing glass of buttermilk to balance the spices. You can also serve it with mango lassi or sweet lassi.

What can I do with leftover Dabeli potatoes?

The potato filling made for dabeli is extremely delicious. You can put the mixture between two slices of bread to make a delicious sandwich.

More Gujarati Recipes You’ll Love

5 from 2 votes

Dabeli Recipe

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 and roasted peanuts and sweetness from the pomegranate seeds. Try it as a snack or dinner, you will love it.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 12

Equipment

Video

Ingredients 

Dabeli Masala

Masala Peanuts

Aloo mixture

  • 4 tablespoon Tamarind Chutney
  • 1/2 cup Water
  • 4 tablespoon Oil
  • 3 tablespoon Dabeli Masala, prepared in the recipe
  • 6 Potatoes, boiled and peeled, about. 3cups
  • 4 tablespoon Nylon sev
  • 4 tablespoon Pomegranate seeds
  • 4 tablespoon Spiced peanut, prepared in the recipe
  • 1-2 tablespoon Grated Coconut
  • Cilantro leaves, to garnish

For serving

Instructions 

Make Dabeli Masala

  • Heat a pan on medium-low heat. Then add coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves t the pan. Saute until fragrant.
  • Then add star anise, bay leaf, sesame seed, dry coconut, and dried red chili. Roast the spices over low heat until they are fragrant.
  • Let the spices cool down completely, then transfer to a spice grinder. Add turmeric, amchur, sugar, and salt to the grinder and grind it to a fine powder. The dabeli masala is ready.

For Masala Peanuts

  • Heat oil in the same pan on medium-low heat. Add in the peanuts. Roast the peanuts until they are lightly golden on the outside while stirring frequently.
  • Add the spices in the masala peanuts section. Toss to coat the spices with the peanuts. Cook for another 2 minutes on medium heat. Switch off the heat, transfer to a bowl.

Make Potato Filling

  • Peel and crush the boiled potatoes
  • Add the prepared dabeli masala, tamarind chutney, and water in a bowl. Mix well and make sure there are no lumps.
  • Heat oil in a large kadai or wok. 
  • Pour the masala mixture into the oil. cook for two minutes, or untilyou get the aroma of the spices.  
  • Now, add the potato and salt and stir well. 
  • Make sure everything is well mixed as you mash and mix. Transfer the mixture in to a large plate or tray with edges.
  • Top with cilantro, thin sev, shredded coconut, pomegranate seeds, and spiced peanuts.

Assemble Dabeli

  • First, slit the pav in half down the middle, without cutting all the way through. Then, put tamarind chutney on one side and red chili garlic chutney on the other. 
  • Stuff the aloo dabeli mixture. Top with fineluy chopped onions and peanuts.
  • Now, toast the pav in butter, making sure that both sides get a little bit of a golden color. 
  • Roll the dabeli in sev, so that there is sev sticking on 3 side of the pav, and then serve right away with more masala peanuts & chopped onions on the side.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 8gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.001gSodium: 600mgPotassium: 295mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 245IUVitamin C: 34mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 3mg

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Mention @pipingpotcurry or tag #pipingpotcurry!

About Meeta

I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. My passion is to share easy, healthy, and wholesome recipes made using Instant Pot & Air Fryer, that are well tested, so you can cook with confidence.

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5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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