One of the foods I missed the most after leaving Nepal is fulki, which is a spicy and refreshing dish that is very popular throughout Nepal. In fact, in many cities and towns across Nepal, one of the things you will often see people doing is gathering around the street sellers who sell fulki from their carts. The people enjoy the spicy and tangy taste of the dish. 

Fulki is a crispy puri of panipuri filled with a warm mixture of white peas and potatoes, topped with tangy tamarind water. The dish is a flavor explosion in every bite. The dish is easy to make and does not require any expensive ingredients. The best part about the dish is that you can make the dish according to your taste. The dish is good as a snack, appetizer, or even as a meal. The dish is best consumed fresh with the puri still crispy.

Ingredients

For preparing the dish, you will need 1 cup of white peas, 2 potatoes, 1  finely chopped onion, 1 finely chopped green chilli , tamarind (imli), oil for frying and cooking, panipuri puri (the round hollow shells), turmeric powder, cumin powder and salt as per taste. If you want more spice, you can add chilli powder or panipuri masala too while you are making the flavored water. These ingredients are all very easily available in any Asian store.

Directions

First, we need to soak 1 cup of white dried peas in water for the whole night. This helps the peas soften, making them easier to cook. 

Then, we need to boil the soaked peas along with potatoes in a pressure cooker. However, we need to ensure that we use the right number of whistles, which depends on the type of peas and potatoes we use. Therefore cooking the peas and potatoes, we need to set them aside.

Meanwhile, we need to heat oil in a pan, after which we fry the puri. However, we need to ensure that if we don’t have the prefried ones. Set them aside to cool.

Next, we have to prepare the filling. For this, we have to heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan. First, we have to fry the chopped onion, which will turn brown. Then we have to add the chopped green chilly. Now we have to add ½ teaspoon of turmeric and cumin powder. We have to mix everything well to ensure the spices are cooked properly. 

Now, we have to add the boiled peas and potatoes to the mixture. We have to lightly mash the potatoes while mixing to ensure the mixture is slightly thick. Now we have to add salt according to the taste. After this, we have to add a little water to the mixture to obtain a light gravy. 

Now, we have to prepare the flavored water. For this, we have to add tamarind, chopped onions and green chillies in a bowl. Now, according to your taste, you have to add water. If you want the water to be strong, you have to add less water. You can also add panipuri masala, chilly powder and salt according to the taste. Now we have to mix everything well to obtain a tangy and spicy taste.

Finally, to serve the fulki, we have to make a small hole at the top of each puri and we have to add the pea and potato gravy inside the puri. Then, add the tamarind water inside the puri. 

Wrap-up

One of the popular street food items in Nepal is fulki, which is enjoyed by almost everyone. The best part is that the food is enjoyed at street food stalls. So, the combination of puri, hot fillings and cold water is an amazing experience that can be enjoyed with your family members or friends.

The fillings can be stored in a container in the refrigerator for a couple of days. However, the puri should always remain dry so that the puri remains crispy. So, if you want to eat the dish, you can reheat the fillings and make fresh fulki.

If you want to taste the flavors of Nepal or want to try something new, then you can definitely try the dish at home.

Edited by Arohi Rai and Anushma Dahal