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Vancouver Vaisakhi's food hits
By Sharon Hundal,
Special to The Post
The streets of Vancouver were filled and the air was full ofIindian aromas recently.
There were numerous vendors giving away sweets, food and beverages to celebrate Vaisakhi Day, a day to celebrate the harvest and the founding of the Khalsa.
Although there was a lot of swag available from businesses, as well as entertaining dhol players and dancers along the parade streets, this year I was on the lookout for Vaisakhi's best dishes.
I was impressed with the variety of food offered and wondered if the vendors coordinated what to serve as there was something different at every corner.
My Top 5 list includes inventive food and things I have never tried before despite being a Punjabi born in Vancouver.
#5 Gulab Jaman with shredded coconut but no syrup
This was a refreshing twist to the traditional gulab jamans drenched in sweet syrup.
It was a healthier option that tasted as good as an old fashioned donut.
#4 Khadi
I’ve never tried this dish so chances are neither have you!
It’s a spicy yogurt based curry that is traditionally served as a sauce with pakoras or served on flavored indian rice.
Try looking this up for a recipe to try at home for a Sunday brunch.
#3 Fruit Masala
I have had the traditional apple slices with salt and pepper but nothing like this before!
A produce store opened up it’s doors to serve a fruit medley with spicy salty flavouring which was a nice addition to the usual array of deep fried and sugary treats.
#2 Puff Pastry Samosas
It seemed every station tried to decorate their food with a twist and this was one of my favourites. It makes so much sense to surround the curried potato filling with some light and flaky pastry. Definitely comfort food.
#1 Bhel Puri
This street eat came in number one as it was fresh, light and so tasty I went back for seconds. Speaking with the vendor, Rajwinder Sindhu, she shared they wanted “to do some volunteer work for our community serving food.” They served 2000 dishes between 11AM and 4PM.
“The reason we chose this dish is because it is a very famous street food in India, especially in Mumbai, and it is a light appetizer. We made it a bit more healthier by adding fresh green pepper, fresh tomatoes, cilantro and more… We were motivated in bringing Bhel Puri to the Vaisakhi parade because we believe in clean healthy living.”
You can follow Sharon's healthy eating blog through Twitter: @VitaminSH.
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