Puri (food) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Puri

Place of origin	Indian subcontinent
Region or state	Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Caribbean
Associated national cuisine	India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago
Serving temperature	Hot or cold
Main ingredients	Atta
Variations	Bhatoora, Luchi, Sevpuri, Panipuri

Puri (also spelled poori) is a type of bread that comes from the Indian subcontinent. It is made from whole-wheat flour and is cooked by deep-frying. This makes it light and puffy. People often eat puri for breakfast, as a snack, or as a light meal. It is usually served with tasty curries or vegetable dishes called bhaji. You can also enjoy puri with sweet foods.

Puri is a very popular food. It is often served at special events or family gatherings. In some Hindu prayers, puri is offered as a special food called prasadam.

What is Puri?

Puri is a round, puffy bread. It is made from a simple dough. When fried, the dough puffs up like a ball. This happens because steam gets trapped inside. Puri is enjoyed in many countries. These include India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. It is also popular in parts of Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.

How is Puri Made?

Puri is made from wheat flour. This can be atta (whole wheat flour) or sooji (a coarser wheat flour). Sometimes, cooks add spices like ajwain or cumin seeds to the dough. They might also add spinach or fenugreek seeds for extra flavor.

The dough is rolled into small circles. Then, these circles are deep-fried in ghee (clarified butter) or vegetable oil. As they fry, they puff up and turn golden-brown. Once cooked, puris can be eaten hot. They can also be saved for later, especially for snacks like pani puri.

Flat Puri for Snacks

Sometimes, puris are pricked with a fork before frying. This stops them from puffing up. These flat puris are used in snacks like chaat or bhel puri.

What to Eat with Puri

Indian puri with accompaniments

Puri goes well with many different foods.

Savory Dishes

You can eat puri with savory dishes like korma or chana masala. It is also delicious with potato curries. Some common potato dishes include bhaji or Aloo ki tarkari. In some parts of India, puri is served with mixed vegetable dishes. These are often prepared for Hindu Puja ceremonies.

Sweet Dishes

Puri can also be enjoyed with sweet foods. A popular sweet dish is kheer, which is made with rice, milk, and sugar. Another sweet option is halwa. In Hindi-speaking areas, eating "Halwa puri" means it is a time for celebration. Puri is often a special bread for festivals.

Regional Favorites

In southern India, puri is a common breakfast food. It is usually served with pickles, chutneys, or potato masala. On the east coast, it is rarely eaten with meat dishes.

Different Kinds of Puri

There are several types and variations of puri.

• Bhatoora: This is a larger version of puri. It is about three times bigger. Bhatoora is often served with spicy chickpeas called chholey. Together, they make a full meal called chole bhature. Unlike puri, bhatoora dough uses yeast.
• Thunka Puri: In the Indian state of Odisha, a very large puri is made during the Bali Yatra festival. It is called thunka puri.
• Bedvi: This variant is popular in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is saltier and stiffer than regular puri. Bedvi is often filled with lentils.
• Luchi: This is a popular puri variant in West Bengal and Odisha. In Assam, it is called lusi. Luchis are served with dishes like aloor dum (potato dish) or begun bhaja (fried eggplant).
• Mini-Puris: Smaller, crispier puris are used for the snack panipuri. These are often made with rava/sooji to make them extra crunchy.
• Sev Puri: This is an Indian street snack. It is made with small puris topped with various ingredients.
• Bhel Puri: In Mumbai, street vendors serve bhel with a flat puri. You use the puri to scoop up the snack.

Images for kids

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  Puri Frying in Pakistan

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  Puri is traditionally deep fried.

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  Dal puri, a traditional Bengali version

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  Aloo Puri, typical morning snack, Varanasi

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  Mini-puris are part of panipuri snack. It's crunchier in texture.

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  Daal puri, Bangladesh

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  Thin bread is fried in oil and eaten with salty curry of chickpeas potatoes and sweet pudding.

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  Puri, made of wheat flour, which is used n Panipuri.

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  Puri, made of rawa, which is used in Panipuri.

See also

In Spanish: Puri (alimento) para niños