Dabeli

Dabeli is the pride of Kutch, Gujarat — a street food invented in the 1960s by a vendor named Keshavji Gabha Chudasama in the town of Mandvi. The name comes from the Gujarati word *dabeli*, meaning "pressed" — a reference to how the filled bun is pressed flat on a griddle. A spiced mashed potato mixture is flavored with a special *dabeli masala* (a blend of dried red chilies, coriander, cumin, and toasted coconut), then stuffed into a buttered *pao* (Indian bun) along with masala-coated peanuts, pomegranate seeds, sev, and sweet-tangy chutneys. At Raunak, we serve two dabelis per order, griddled until the bun is crisp and golden on the outside and soft and steamy within.

Potatoes provide potassium and vitamin B6; peanuts add plant protein and healthy monounsaturated fats; pomegranate seeds contribute antioxidants. The dish is vegetarian.