Delhi, the capital city of India, has a rich history which dates back several centuries. This city which functioned as a seat of power for the various invaders of northern India down the ages also boasts of a varied culinary landscape that bears several influences. If you are at all curious about this native cuisine of Delhi then it is worth exploring its various nooks and crannies which offer a veritable treasure trove of delicious eats.
Parathas at Parathewali gully
In one of the meandering alleyways of Chandini Chowk in Old Delhi, is the city’s famous Parathewali Gully which is renowned for its stalls that sell soft fluffy Indian breads stuffed with vegetables like bitter gourd, okra, potatoes, radish, mint and many more. The most famous vendor located here is Pandit Kanhaiyalal Durga Parshad Dixit’s store whose family has been in the business since the mid-19th century and whose parathas have been consumed by the who’s who of Delhi over the years.
Jalebis
Jalebi is an Indian sweet which is made by deefrying chickpea batter and then soaking it in syrup. Jalebis are found in several sweet shops all over India but most folk aver that the ones that are served at the Old and Famous Jalebiwala in Chandini Chowk are undoubtedly ‘the best’ in India.
Alloo Kulla
Alloo Kullas refer to a dish that features boiled potatoes that are scooped out and filled with chickpeas, pomegranate seeds, mint chutney and lemon juice. This delicious and wholesome morsel is best sampled at the shop of Bhishan Swaroop which is also located in Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi.
Papdi Chaat, Fruit Chaat and Gol Guppa
Chaat is a favored Delhi street food which comes in various permutations and combinations. Most variations of chaat feature crispy, deep fried chickpea batter wafers called papdis which are combined with yogurt, lentils, boiled potato and sweet , spicy and tangy sauces. Fruit chaat is yet another variation of chaat which features seasonal fruits that are seasoned with lemon juice, spices and rock salt along with other flavorings while Gol Guppa chaat features balloon like shells which are filled with mung beans, boiled potato cubes and are filled with spicy flavored water. One of the best places in Delhi to sample these various chaats is at Bengali Sweet Market near Connaught Place in the heart of the city.
Rabri Falooda
This cold treat is a choice Indian dessert that features reduced milk, rose syrup, vermicelli, tapioca seeds and milk. This delicious dessert is best sampled at Gianiji’s Falooda which is also located in Chandni Chowk and has been delighting its patrons since 1947 with its famed mouth watering treats.
If you are heading out to Delhi for business or leisure, you should plan on penciling these street foods on your must-do itinerary for they represent a not be missed experience. However if you are traveling to Delhi from the US your journey is bound to include a tedious long haul journey which can be made infinitely more pleasurable if you can get to travel business class.
There are various ways to score discount business class airfares though you almost always have to plan your journey sufficiently in advance as the cheapest business class tickets usually sell out the fastest. Though it may be also possible to secure business class deals at a later stage from an airfares consolidator as they usually manage to get a whole bunch of cheap business airfares from the airlines themselves which then they offer to their regular clients.
