Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1.Prepare Tamarind Water

   Soak a lemon-sized ball of tamarind in hot water for about 10-15 minutes to soften. This will be used later for the pani.

2. 2.Prepare Potato Filling Base

   Take 5-6 boiled and peeled potatoes. Smash them well using a potato masher until mostly smooth but with some texture remaining.

3. 3.Add Chickpeas to Filling

   Add 1 cup of soaked and boiled chickpeas (kala chana) to the smashed potatoes. Continue smashing and mixing with the potatoes to combine them.

4. 4.Season the Potato Filling

   Add 1/2 tsp pink salt, 1/4 tsp red chili powder, 1/2 tsp jeera powder, 1/2 tsp chaat masala, and 1/4 tsp amchur powder (optional) to the potato and chickpea mixture. Mix thoroughly with a spoon or by hand until all spices are well incorporated.

5. 5.Prepare Pani Paste Ingredients

   In a grinder, add 1 handful of cilantro, 1/2 handful of mint leaves, 5-6 green chilies (adjust to your spice preference), 1/2 tsp salt, 1 clove of garlic, and 1/2 tsp jeera (cumin seeds). Add about 1 cup of water to aid in grinding.

6. 6.Grind Pani Paste

   Grind all the ingredients in the blender into a smooth, vibrant green paste.

7. 7.Strain Pani Paste

   Pour the ground paste through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl. Press the solids with a spoon or ladle to extract as much liquid as possible, discarding the remaining fibrous pulp.

8. 8.Extract Tamarind Juice and Combine with Pani

   Squeeze the soaked tamarind to extract its juice. Add this extracted tamarind juice to the strained green paste. Then, add an additional 2-3 cups of cold water to reach your desired consistency and taste for the pani. Mix well.

9. 9.Chop Onion for Garnish

   Finely chop one medium-sized onion. This will be used as a topping for the pani puri.

10. 10.Assemble and Serve Pani Puri

    Take a pani puri shell, gently make a small hole in the center. Fill it with a spoonful of the prepared potato and chickpea mixture. Add a small amount of finely chopped onion on top. Dip the filled puri into the prepared pani and enjoy immediately.