How Dal Puri Crossed Oceans And Became Mauritius' Iconic Dholl Puri
Mauritius has a breath-taking landscape and a delicious food culture too and dholl puri sits right at the top of its street food pecking order. Kids eat it during recess, office-goers grab it for lunch, and weekend beach picnics are incomplete without it. It is the kind of dish that people grow up with, make memories around, and argue over who serves the best one in Port Louis.
Also Read: Doli Ki Roti: Why Is This Indian Bread Named After A Wedding Palanquin
Dholl Puri's Journey Across The Ocean:
Long before dholl puri began gracing Mauritian plates, its ancestor, dal puri, was a staple in India, especially in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In the mid-1800s, when British colonisers brought indentured labourers to Mauritius to work on sugarcane plantations, they carried with them food traditions wrapped in nostalgia. But island life had different ingredients and constraints. So, dal puri underwent a culinary makeover - refined flour (maida) replaced atta, and chana dal became the stuffing star.
Instead of deep-frying like the Indian version, Mauritian cooks chose the tawa route, griddled for softness and foldability. As Restaurants.mu points out, this was not just improvisation, it was smart, flavour-forward reinvention.
Also Read: Zero-Oil Pooris? Yes, It's Possible! Try This Air-Fryer Recipe And Enjoy Guilt-Free
What Sets Dholl Puri Apart From Dal Puri?
At first glance, dholl puri may look like its Indian ancestor, dal puri-but a closer look reveals key differences that make it distinctly Mauritian.
1. Cooking Style:
Dal puri is fried, dholl puri is cooked on a flat griddle. One is puffed and crispy, the other is soft and stackable.
2. The Dough:
Indian dal puri sticks to atta, while dholl puri is made of maida for longer shelf life.
3. Spicy Filling:
Dholl puri stuffing is dry and sublte, where crushed chana dal is mixed turmeric, cumin and pepper. Indian versions might go heavier with heavy use of spices.
4. Serving Style:
In Mauritius, it is all about rougaille (tomato curry), butter bean curry, and achard (pickled veggies). Plus, don't be surprised if you spot someone pairing it with kheer.
Chef Selina Periame, as quoted in The Caribbean Camera, sums it up beautifully, "Soft enough to roll, firm enough to hold their filling, and always best eaten with the fingers."
Also Read: How To Make Perfect Bedmi Poori With Urad Dal Stuffing
DIY Dholl Puri: How To Make Dholl Puri At Home:
Ingredients:
2 cups maida
Half cup chana dal
Half tsp turmeric
Half tsp cumin powder
Salt to taste
Water for kneading
Oil for cooking
Instructions:
Boil the chana dal till soft, then drain and grind it into a coarse paste with turmeric, cumin and a pinch of salt. Keep it dry enough to stuff.
Knead maida into a soft dough with a pinch of salt and some water. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Divide the dough into small balls. Flatten each one, place a spoonful of filling, and seal it back into a ball.
Roll gently into thin circles and cook on a hot tawa till light brown spots appear. Use minimal oil for a soft finish.
Serve hot with any curry or chutney you fancy. Or go full Mauritian with rougaille, butter bean curry, and achard!
Also Read: Bored Of Regular Poori? Elevate Your Taste Buds With Himachali Babru
The Conclusion.
Dholl puri is the perfect symbol of cultural resilience. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi refered to it during a speech on Indo-Caribbean culture, celebrating its role as a connector between continents. From a Bihari kitchen to Mauritian street stalls, dholl puri is proof that food always finds a way to adapt, thrive, and tell a delicious story.
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About Somdatta Saha Explorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.
For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube.
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