Street food in India is a topic of concern for many people who are visiting India for the first time. No doubt, many popular Indian street foods are made up of refined flour, lots of oil, and sugar. Chole Bhature, Gulab jamun are some examples.
But, India is a diverse country so, the street food is. There is an endless variety of street foods in India that is worth exploring.
So, here I have listed some healthy street food options that will satisfy your cravings without hurting your healthy lifestyle.
Healthy street food across India
Made with flattened rice, also called chewda/Chura in major parts of India. This is one of the popular breakfast food. With the addition of onion and tomatoes as the main ingredient, this is the unique combination of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy taste. Steamed separately and sautéed with the above items, this is one of the lightest and healthy food to start your day. Hails from the city of Indore, also popular in different parts of Maharashtra.
This is one of the popular delicacies from western India, Gujrat. Prepared with fermented gram flour batter which makes it light and spongy. Dhokla is a great source of vegan protein without any oil. For people working on weight loss or even weight gain, this is one of the best snacks you could have.
Made with the batter of Urad dal ( Black lentils ) and rice, this is the famous dish from south India. Idli and dosa both are served with Sambhar ( vegetable broth ) and Chutney ( made up of coconut, peanut, etc ) makes it a complete and healthy meal. Idli is steamed whereas in Dosa oil is used but you can customize it by avoiding.
In the earlier days, when people are traveling to different places, they use to take litti with them because it remains fresh for atleast two days in Summer. Also, the combination of High carb and protein makes it an ideal food.
Litti is made using whole wheat dough with the sattu ( roasted chickpea flour ) stuffing in it. Further, roasted in the burning charcoal. Afterward, some ghee ( clarified butter ) is added to it which is totally optional. Served with mashed eggplants and potatoes. Majorly eaten in the state of Bihar, Jharkhand, and UP.
5. Jhalmuri and Bhelpuri
This light and tasty snack made of murmure ( puffed rice ) is very popular among different parts of India with different names. Jhalmuri is one of the popular snack food from West Bengal. Also famous in Jharkhand, and Bihar.
It is made with murmure as the main ingredient in addition of peanuts, chopped veggies, chanachur, spices, and other namkeens.
The other popular street food snack is Bhelpuri, from Maharashtra. Bhelpuri contains the usual puffed rice, namkeens, some chopped veggies and specially a variety of chutneys.
It is one of the winter delicacies of north India. Tamarind chutney, green chutney, black salt, and few spices are added to it. With zero fat content and lots of minerals like iron, potassium and manganese makes it super healthy.
It is one of the best alternative for the fried potatoes chaat or Aloo chaat which is also popular in north India.
Chana chaat is commonly prepared with brown chickpeas with the addition of chaat masalas, chopped veggies, and different types of chutneys used in the chaat.
This Snack food is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and a great supplement for digestion and weight management. Also a great substitute for meat protein in a vegetarian or vegan diets.
In India, you can easily see a man with a pile of raw coconut selling in the streets, mostly during summers. Nothing fancy, just pure coconut water you can have. If you ask him, he’ll cut your coconut in half and you can enjoy the malai (coconut meat).
It is not only a tasty source of hydration but also contains an optimum amount of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
9. Indian Street Style Sharbats/drinks
There is a variety of Indian drinks which are healthy and mostly sold during summers. There is a long list of drinks that you can see across every streets in India. Here, I have jotted down some of them which are easily available in most of the places.
Most loved drink of India and popular around the world. Lassi is a blend of chilled Yoghurt, water, and salt/sugar. Dry fruits like cashews, pistachio, and raisins are added to it as topping in few places.
There are different versions of lassi are sold all around India, like mango, mixed fruit, strawberry, etc. It is great for your digestive health as it contains plenty of good bacteria which aids in gut health.
A refreshing way to get vitamin C. Shikanji is an Indian-style lemonade but differs because it contains few spices like jeera powder and black salt. This drink helps you to detox your body and also helps to relieve acidity and indigestion.
Mostly prepared during the festival of Holi. Also, a great summer drink. The main ingredients are watermelon seeds, khus-khus, dry fruits, rose water, saffron, milk, sauf, and some spices like peppercorn and cardamom.
Thandai is a rich source of antioxidants and contains good bacteria that help in the digestion process. With the blend of protein, fiber, calcium, and minerals. This is one of the super Indian drinks.
If you are traveling in the coastal regions of India then, you can find this miraculous drink. It is prepared from both dry and fresh Kokum fruit pulp.
It is an awesome drink to beat the heat as it is a natural cooler for your body. Also helps people with diabetes as it enhances the secretion of insulin in the body.
In India, almost everywhere people love to eat eggs in a variety of ways, preferably in winter. Omelet, boiled eggs with chopped onions and green chilies, Bread omelet are some popular street egg recipes in India.
Eggs are a great source of protein, multiple vitamins, and minerals to kickstart your day.
So, If you explore India and Indian cuisine then, you can definitely find tons of healthy dishes. The traditional Indian recipes which are authentically cooked in the old style are way more healthy and delicious. So, give a try to those.
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