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Kolkata street food is so high up there in the culinary level that people from across the world travel to taste it. Even today, INR 10, INR 20 and INR 100 can feed a whole group. From phuchkas, kathi rolls, papri chaat, and telebhaja, which have a GI Tag to jhaalmuri, ghugni, and more, each street food is a legendary snack. And rightly so. Now, one such evening snack that people around the city just purchase when they see it is called ‘Ghoti Gorom’.
It is a classic Kolkata street snack that has been savoured for generations. For those who know it, Ghoti Gorom is very dear. Peanuts, onions, chillies, and amra, a fruit that adds sourness, make up this tasty mixture. As kids, just as the sun used to set and we’d step out of the house to play with other kids, we would hear the chant, ‘ghoti gorom..ghoti gorom..ghoti gorom’ and every one of us would leave everything and run to the vendor for this snack. It’s given in a paper thonga or paper bag shaped like a cone.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Similar snacks in Kolkata range from jhaalmuri, chanachur, badam makha or peanuts mix, churmur, and muri or puffed rice. The common thing that ties all these snacks together is that these are mostly consumed after sundown. It has onions, tomatoes, peanuts, spices, salt, mustard oil, chickpeas and sev, giving it that crunch. And these street snacks are affordable and super crunchy!
Also Read: 7 Different Street Food From Bengal
Vendors that travel around selling ghoti gorom do so in cylindrical containers known as ghoti. A gamchha is used to knot the ghoti firmly, and it is worn around the vendor's neck. Salted chanachur, roasted peanuts, maize, finely chopped onions, green chillies and amra are the ingredients of ghoti gorom. The snack's acidic and sour flavour comes from amra. Vendors may substitute shredded carrot or raw green mango for amra if it is not available.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Ghoti Gorom originated in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. All of the suppliers receive their raw materials there. The majority of ghoti gorom vendors go from Bongaon, Habra, Chandan Nagar, and other nearby cities by rail. They then disperse across the city, selling their savoury snacks as they go through Calcutta's streets and alleys. It is also quite affordable, with a minimum cost of just INR 10.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
You can also try making ghoti gorom at home if you don’t find anyone selling it around the city. It’s quick and easy and has the perfect zing to it. This snack usually gets eaten on its own or with coffee and tea on the side. The spices can be added according to how much you can handle. Most snacks in Kolkata are consumed after the sun sets. It pairs really well with tea, that's why. Other than that, muri makha, badam makha, jhaalmuri, phucka, telebhaja and more are snacks which satisfy the instant hunger one feels after a hectic day.
