Victoria Toast Is The Iconic But Underrated Kolkata Street Food
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Street food in any Indian city is a point of pride. You’ll find Mumbai vs. Delhi battles raging on social media with everyone vying to prove that their local specialities are the best. And in Kolkata, it’s no different. From the iconic puchkas to the jaw-droppingly delicious Kolkata Kathi rolls, there are tons of different street food classics to explore.

One of the most underrated but most loved is the Victoria Toast which was first served outside the Victoria Memorial, giving the dish its name. Although it's called a toast, it’s technically just bread loaded with lots of veggies and seasoned with Muri Masalas, a unique spice blend that’s usually used on Jhal Muri (a snack similar to bhel puri). 

The Victoria Toast is fondly remembered by a lot of locals and is the perfect after-school snack that’s filling, healthy and yummy!

Ingredients:

  • Muri Masala
  • 1 tbsp jeera (cumin) 
  • 1 tbsp coriander seeds 
  • 1 tbsp black peppercorns
  • 1 tsp black salt
  • 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 
  • Salt to taste 

Victoria Toast

  • 3-4 slices of bread
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 potato
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 onion
  • 2-3 green chillies
  • 1 tbsp green chutney
  • 2-3 tbsp chopped coconut
  • 1 tbsp tamarind chutney
  • 3 tbsp roasted peanuts
  • 1 tsp muri masala or more
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ cup sev
  • Coriander leaves, to garnish
  • Salt to taste

Method

  • Start by dry roasting the cumin seeds, coriander seeds and black peppercorns.
  • Grind it into a fine powder and then add the black salt, chilli powder and a pinch of table salt.
  • Cut off the crusts of the bread and cut them into quarters.
  • Sprinkle each piece with some lemon juice and muri masala.
  • Peel, cube and boil the potatoes and chop up the onion, tomato and green chillies. 
  • Mix all these together with the green chutney, tamarind chutney, coconut, peanuts, salt and more muri masala.
  • Add the sev to the mix and keep a small amount aside to garnish later. 
  • Spread a small amount of tamarind chutney on each bread piece and top it with the mixture.
  • Garnish with coriander, sev, peanuts, coconut, muri masala and a squeeze of lime. Serve immediately.