• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cookilicious logo

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Podcast
  • Collaborate
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Collaborate
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Snacks » Indian Mexican Pani Puri Recipe

    Published: May 30, 2020 · Modified: Dec 15, 2021 by Priya * This post may contain affiliate links.

    Indian Mexican Pani Puri Recipe

    Recipe Print
    a plate full of Indian Mexican Pani Puri with a bowl of salsa on one side and a bowl of beans in tomato gravy on the other side with text at the top
    4 image collage showing how to assemble the Indian Mexican Pani Puri Recipe
    a round plate filled with Indian Mexican Pani Puri along with a bowl of beans in tomato sauce and next to it is a bowl of salsa with text at the top
    close up shot of Indian Mexican Pani Puri arranged in a round plate and text at the top

    Pani puri recipe gets a Mexican Indian fusion makeover! Here, the puris are filled with Mexican food - beans and salsa to give this vegan Asian snack a whole new flavor! Makes for a crunchy, tasty snack that's loved by all!

    a plate full of Indian Mexican Pani Puri with a bowl of salsa on one side and a bowl of beans in tomato gravy on the other side

    Table of Contents

    • What is pani puri?
    • Trending now
    • Why I love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • Here's how you make it
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Top tips, recommendations, and suggestions
    • Indian Mexican Pani Puri recipe

    What is pani puri?

    In Hindi, pani means water, and puri shells are crispy-fried puffed balls made from chickpea/semolina flour.

    Also known as Golgappa, its an extremely popular bite-size street food chaat among other Asian snacks.

    It consists of these hollow crispy puri being filled with potato, chickpeas, onions, a variety of tangy spices. It's then filled with cold flavored water made of tamarind and mint. 

    Important fact - We all love Pani Puri!

    There are many Asian snacks that come under Indian Chaat but Pani puri is a clear winner!

    There is nothing in this world more satisfying than eating chaat at a roadside stall with your friends or family. Agree with me on this?

    Trending now

    BTW, this is my bestie's recipe! During one of our conversations, she mentioned that she had made Mexican Pani puri for dinner that night.

    I was immediately interested to know more because I instantly loved this idea of serving vegan Mexican food in an Indian style!

    There was no way I was not making it! It sounded too interesting to not try. Given my love for both the cuisines, making this snack surely made my heart smile!

    One of my favorite Asian snacks had just gotten a makeover and how!

    a hand holding a platter of Indian Mexican Pani Puri

    Why I love it

    Let me tell you, that this recipe of pani puri is perfect for Indian Chaat Party, Cinco de Mayo, or just a summer barbecue.

    This vegan Mexican food has all the right flavors to keep any party going! I feel, its the perfect marriage of Mexican and Indian cuisine. You will love it too!

    • Extremely delicious to taste
    • Mexican Indian fusion recipe
    • A fun and innovative snack to make
    • Vegan snack
    • A crowd-pleaser for sure
    • Super easy and quick to make

    Ingredients needed

    all the ingredients needed in the Indian Mexican Pani Puri Recipe placed on a platter with labels on them

    If you love Mexican and Indian food, you probably already have all the required ingredients to make this supremely delicious Mexican Indian fusion dish!

    To make the beans in tomato sauce, you will need:

    • Tomatoes
    • Garlic
    • Kidney beans - Preferably use the small kidney beans or rajma.
    • Cilantro
    • Seasonings - Garam masala, paprika, salt, and sugar to help balance the flavors. 

    To make salsa, you will need:

    • Red onions
    • Tomatoes
    • Bell Peppers - Colorful peppers make it look appetizing, but you can use whatever you have handy.
    • Garlic, Jalapeno, and Cilantro
    • Spices and seasonings like tomato ketchup, salt, oregano, coconut aminos or soya sauce, sugar, crushed black pepper, red pepper flakes, and paprika.

    Lastly. of course you need the Puri. These are easily available at all leading Indian grocery stores. On Amazon, you get the ready-to-fry ones.

    You just need to fry them in hot oil and they will pop like a puri. You can make them in advance and store in an airtight container for later use. 

    Here's how you make it

    6 image collage showing the steps to make beans in tomato gravy

    This recipe of pani puri is divided into 3 parts. We need cooked kidney beans to make this Indian fusion dish.

    You can use canned beans or cook dry beans separately, beforehand. 

    The first part is to prepare the beans in tomato sauce.

    1. The first thing we need to do here is to blanch the tomatoes. For this, trim off the stems and cut a small "x" into the bottom of each tomato.
      • Put the tomatoes in a pot of boiling water and let them cook for 30-40 seconds.
      • Use tongs to transfer the tomatoes to a bowl of ice water so that they stop cooking.
      • Then peel off the skin. Once the tomatoes have cooled down, blend them into a smooth puree.
    2. Add olive oil to a pan and fry minced garlic till it turns light golden.
    3. Then transfer the blanched tomato puree to the pan and cook on medium flame. Let it come to a boil. This could take 3-4 minutes.
      • At this point, take out half a cup of this sauce in a bowl and keep it aside. We will add it to the salsa for a more saucy texture.
    4. Next put in the cooked kidney beans to the pan, stir and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
    5. Add chopped cilantro and mix it with the gravy.
    6. Then add the spices and seasonings like salt, garam masala, paprika, and sugar.
      • Stir it all in together and cook for another 2 minutes before taking it off the flame. Allow it to cool down. 

    6 image collage showing how to make vegan Mexican food - salsa

    The next step is to prepare fresh salsa which is vegan Mexican food.

    1. Add very finely chopped onions to a mixing bowl.
    2. Then put in very finely chopped tomatoes.
    3. Next, add the chopped bell peppers to the bowl.
    4. Mince garlic and jalapeno and then add it to the bowl.
    5. Chopped cilantro goes in next.
    6. Lastly, add tomato ketchup, salt, oregano, coconut aminos or soya sauce, sugar, crushed black pepper, red pepper flakes, paprika, and the reserved tomato puree from before. Mix it all together. Keep it aside for now.

    For all my chopping needs, I use this amazing chopper. It gives you diced veggies in an instant and has never let me down!

    3 image collage showing how to make one of the most popular Asian snacks called Indian Mexican Pani Puri

    Refer to the pic above for pictorial representation of the steps. 

    The next step is to assemble this Mexican Indian fusion snack!

    You can prepare the beans and salsa in advance and start making Mexican Pani Puri when you are about to eat. 

    1. Only when it's time to serve, lightly crack the top of the puri using your finger or a spoon. 
    2. Using a small spoon, fill all the puris with the beans mixture. 
    3. Follow by adding the prepared salsa in a similar way. 

    Serving Suggestions

    This popular Indian street food is ready to be devoured! You can add chunks of avocado on top and squeeze lemon juice over it for more authentic Mexican flavor.

    Also, you need to pop the whole puri into your mouth in one go! That's how it's eaten. 

    Asian snacks like these can make any party or get-together a smashing hit! Serve this and watch it all disappear in seconds!

    It truly is the ultimate vegan Mexican food that will leave you craving for more!

    close up shot of Indian Mexican Pani Puri arranged in a round plate

    Top tips, recommendations, and suggestions

    While making the tomato sauce, it's important to blanch the tomatoes first and peel the skin off.

    That's because the skin has a slightly bitter flavor and texture that we don't want in the creamy sauce. Omit to add garlic in the recipe if you don't like it.

    While small kidney beans are preferred for this recipe, you can also use regular sized kidney beans/rajma or even black beans here.

    If using canned beans, then you can add it directly to the sauce. In case you are using dry beans, soak them overnight and then pressure cook them in salt + turmeric water. Give it 4 whistles.

    The final consistency of this sauce is a personal choice. You like it thin, add some water along with the beans. 

    You can make it into a thin salsa or blender salsa for this recipe if you want the pani puri effect. You can also make a small batch of the actual flavored water (pani) if you want.

    If you wish to then also add a tbsp of lemon juice to the salsa for that extra zing. I prefer using coconut aminos over soya sauce because it is non-GMO and MSG-free. 

    If you get ready puris from the grocery store, no need to cook it. They are ready to eat. As I mentioned before, you can prepare the beans and salsa in advance and store it in the fridge.

    But start assembling the Mexican Pani Puri only when you are ready to eat. Otherwise, they will get soggy if you make them in advance.

    Add some grated vegan cheese on top and microwave it for 10 seconds for the cheese to melt and you have cheesy Pani Puri!

    Alternatives to puffed puri

    BTW, you can also make Mexican Sev Puri using these ingredients. For that, you would need flat puris. Then layer the beans and salsa on top and enjoy.

    Other alternatives are, using Ritz crackers, bread slices, ramekins, or mini poppadums.

    a round plate filled with Indian Mexican Pani Puri along with a bowl of beans in tomato sauce and next to it is a bowl of salsa

    Some Asian snacks that you may like

    • Indian Masala Corn
    • Vada Pav
    • Bombay Sandwich
    • Cheeselings Bhel

    Some of my favorite Mexican recipes are:

    • Tandoori Cheese Quesadillas (Another Mexican-Indian fusion recipe)
    • Black bean Taco Boats
    • Enchilada Mini Casseroles
    • Mexican Casserole with Gnocchi
    • Mexican Rice

    Indian Mexican Pani Puri neatly arranged in a platter

    If you’ve tried this Indian Mexican Pani Puri recipe or any other recipe on the blog please let me know how it went by commenting below, I love hearing from you!

    You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes and what I’m getting up to.
    close up shot of Indian Mexican Pani Puri arranged in a round plate

    Indian Mexican Pani Puri recipe

    Pani puri recipe gets a Mexican Indian fusion makeover! Here, the puris are filled with Mexican food - beans & salsa to give this vegan Asian snack a whole new flavor! Makes for a crunchy, tasty snack that's loved by all!
    4.95 from 18 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine: Asian, Indian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 400kcal
    Author: Priya Lakshminarayan

    Equipment

    pan

    Ingredients 

    To make the beans in tomato sauce

    • 3 Tomatoes
    • Water for blanching
    • 1 tsp Cooking oil
    • 10 cloves Garlic
    • 1 cup Kidney beans, cooked Preferably use the small kidney beans or rajma.
    • 2 tbsp Cilantro, chopped
    • 1 tsp Garam masala
    • 1 tsp Paprika
    • Salt as needed
    • 1 tsp Sugar

    To make salsa

    • 1 Red onion, finely chopped
    • 1 Tomato, finely chopped
    • 1 Bell Pepper, finely chopped
    • 1 Jalapeno, minced
    • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
    • 1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped
    • 2 tbsp Tomato ketchup
    • 1 tsp Oregano
    • 1 tbsp Coconut Aminos or soya sauce
    • 1 tsp sugar
    • 1 tsp paprika
    • 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper
    • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
    • Salt as needed

    To assemble the Mexican Pani Puri

    • 20 Puris

    Instructions

    To make the beans in tomato sauce

    • We need cooked kidney beans first. You can use canned beans or cook dry beans separately, beforehand.
    • Then we need to blanch the tomatoes. For this, trim off the stems and cut a small "x" into the bottom of each tomato. Then, put the tomatoes in a pot of boiling water and let them cook for 30-40 seconds. Then, use tongs to transfer the tomatoes to a bowl of ice water so that they stop cooking. Then peel off the skin. Once the tomatoes have cooled down, blend them into a smooth puree.
    • Add olive oil to a pan and fry minced garlic till it turns light golden.
    • Then transfer the blanched tomato puree to the pan and cook on medium flame. Let it come to a boil. This could take 3-4 minutes. At this point, take out half a cup of this sauce in a bowl and keep it aside. We will add it to the salsa for a more saucy texture.
    • Next put in the cooked kidney beans to the pan, stir and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
    • Add chopped cilantro and mix it with the gravy.
    • Then add the spices and seasonings like salt, garam masala, paprika, and sugar. Stir it all in together and cook for another 2 minutes before taking it off the flame. Allow it to cool down.

    To make salsa

    • Add very finely chopped onions to a mixing bowl.
    • Then put in very finely chopped tomatoes.
    • Next, add the chopped bell peppers to the bowl.
    • Mince garlic and jalapeno and then add it to the bowl.
    • Chopped cilantro goes in next.
    • Lastly, add tomato ketchup, salt, oregano, coconut aminos or soya sauce, sugar, crushed black pepper, red pepper flakes, paprika, and the reserved tomato sauce from before. Mix it all together. Keep it aside for now.

    To assemble the Mexican Pani Puri

    • Only when it's time to serve, lightly crack the top of the puri using your finger or a spoon.
    • Using a small spoon, fill all the puris with the beans mixture.
    • Follow by adding the prepared salsa in a similar way.
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    While making the tomato sauce, it's important to blanch the tomatoes first and peel the skin off. That's because the skin has a slightly bitter flavor and texture that we don't want in the creamy sauce. Omit to add garlic in the recipe if you don't like it.
    While small kidney beans are preferred for this recipe, you can also use regular sized kidney beans/rajma or even black beans here. If using canned beans, then you can add it directly to the sauce.
    In case you are using dry beans, soak them overnight and then pressure cook them in salt + turmeric water. Give it 4 whistles. The final consistency of this sauce is a personal choice. You like it thin, add some water along with the beans. 
    You can make it into a thin salsa or blender salsa for this recipe if you want the pani puri effect. You can also make a small batch of the actual flavored water (pani) if you want. If you wish to then also add a tbsp of lemon juice to the salsa for that extra zing.
    I prefer using coconut aminos over soya sauce because it is non-GMO and MSG-free. If you get ready puris from the grocery store, no need to cook it. They are ready to eat.
    As I mentioned before, you can prepare the beans and salsa in advance and store it in the fridge. But start assembling the Mexican Pani Puri only when you are ready to eat. Otherwise, they will get soggy if you make them in advance.
    Add some grated vegan cheese on top and microwave it for 10 seconds for the cheese to melt and you have cheesy Pani Puri!
    BTW, you can also make Mexican Sev Puri using these ingredients. For that, you would need flat puris. Then layer the beans and salsa on top and enjoy.
    Other alternatives are, using Ritz crackers, bread slices, ramekins, or mini poppadums.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 29.17g | Protein: 6.66g | Fat: 1.97g | Saturated Fat: 0.31g | Sodium: 174.25mg | Potassium: 671.45mg | Fiber: 7.1g | Sugar: 9.93g | Vitamin A: 2827.91IU | Vitamin C: 65.17mg | Calcium: 52.66mg | Iron: 2.37mg
    Tried this Recipe? Share your creation by tagging me on Instagram @Cookilicious using #cookiliciousveg!
    Love watching recipe videos?Subscribe to my Cookilicious YouTube channel now to get your weekly recipe fix - Youtube
    Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. For more information on my Affiliate and Advertising Policy, please click here.
    « Soya Chunks Pulao | Meal Maker Biryani
    Kadai Paneer Recipe | How to Make Karahi Paneer »
    979 shares
    GIFT FOR YOU

    Free Vegan Beginner's Guide

    Tips, recipes & secrets to transform your lifestyle.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shabnam says

      May 26, 2022 at 11:54 am

      5 stars
      OMG So delicious. Definitely I will make it when I have guests coming or even before that. Thank you . I love your recipes.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        May 26, 2022 at 12:39 pm

        Thank you so much! This recipe is a hit at parties. Do try it 🙂 Let me know how it goes.

        Reply
    2. veenaazmanov says

      June 05, 2020 at 6:35 am

      5 stars
      Very creative idea for a party. Sounds interesting and looks healthy and delicious too.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 05, 2020 at 4:22 pm

        Thank you

        Reply
    3. Charla says

      June 05, 2020 at 5:44 am

      5 stars
      The pictures alone are stunning as someone who is a big fan of fusion recipes (I do them all the time). I'm quite keen to give this a try!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 05, 2020 at 4:22 pm

        Thank you so much for liking them 🙂

        Reply
    4. Jeannette says

      June 05, 2020 at 3:28 am

      5 stars
      I LOVE pani puri, but a Mexican spin on it sounds INCREDIBLE! What an amazing idea!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 05, 2020 at 4:22 pm

        I know right! Thank you.

        Reply
    5. Sadia Malik says

      June 05, 2020 at 3:04 am

      5 stars
      Pani poori is my favorite, love this idea of fusion flavors.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 05, 2020 at 4:23 pm

        Mine too! You will love this recipe then. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Sujatha Muralidhar says

      June 04, 2020 at 11:40 pm

      5 stars
      Fusion recipes show one's creativity, and this Indo-Mexican pain puri is the absolute example of your profile. Fabulous these are.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 05, 2020 at 12:09 am

        Thank you so much! I enjoyed making them..

        Reply
    7. Sara Welch says

      June 01, 2020 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      Loved the balance of flavor and textures in this dish! Easily, a new favorite recipe!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:27 pm

        Thank you so much

        Reply
    8. Anita says

      June 01, 2020 at 2:07 pm

      5 stars
      I can't find puris, so serve it with some crackers and flat breads instead. So good!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:27 pm

        Yes, these are great ideas to serve them if puri is not available

        Reply
    9. Haley D. Williams says

      June 01, 2020 at 2:06 pm

      5 stars
      I have never made panu puri before, but your post makes it so easy to do! I appreciate the detailed instruction.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:26 pm

        It's very popular street food in India! Thank you

        Reply
    10. Jen says

      June 01, 2020 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      YUM! This is my first attempt at this style of fusion cooking. What delicious worlds to come together in one dish. Will report back.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:26 pm

        You will be fine! these are effortless! Let me know how it went! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Jordin says

      June 01, 2020 at 1:31 pm

      5 stars
      Wow these look so delicious and comforting! I can’t wait to try this recipe out ASAP!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:25 pm

        yes do try it out..they are really good

        Reply
    12. Kushigalu says

      May 30, 2020 at 10:41 pm

      5 stars
      Pani Puri fan here and totally love the twist. I will try this soob.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        May 30, 2020 at 11:08 pm

        Yay!!! Thank you so much. Let me know how it goes.

        Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:29 pm

        Thank you so much.

        Reply
    13. cyndy says

      May 30, 2020 at 6:10 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for making this recipe so easy with all the instructions. These were delicious and a big hit in my family. I love finding a new recipe that I haven't tried before!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        May 30, 2020 at 11:07 pm

        I am so glad and happy to hear this. Thank you so much

        Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:30 pm

        Thank makes me so happy! Thank ou.

        Reply
    14. Valerie says

      May 30, 2020 at 5:07 pm

      5 stars
      I've never had pani puri before. It sounds like it's got an interesting flavor. Serving it in shells is a great idea I think I prefer for gatherings.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        May 30, 2020 at 11:07 pm

        They are a delicacy! You must try it once 🙂

        Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:30 pm

        Oh yes! It's a crowd favorite for sure!

        Reply
    15. Sandhya's Kitchen says

      May 30, 2020 at 4:40 pm

      5 stars
      Mexican Pani Puri sounds so so delicious.. Infact we just had some Pani Puri tonight.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        May 30, 2020 at 11:07 pm

        Thank you so much Sandhya!

        Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:31 pm

        Thank you so much. Love Pani Puri

        Reply
    16. Rachel says

      May 30, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      5 stars
      My two favorite cuisines in one?! This is so clever!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        May 30, 2020 at 11:06 pm

        mine too 🙂 Thanks

        Reply
      • Priya says

        June 02, 2020 at 1:30 pm

        Thank you so much

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate the Recipe




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    ABOUT ME

    Every recipe here tells a story that is simple, easy to follow and has a tasty soul. Come join me in my kitchen and let me take you on a gastronomical journey. Vegetarian & vegan cooking is so much fun! Read more...

    Follow Me

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    GIFT FOR YOU

    Free Vegan Beginner's Guide

    Tips, recipes & secrets to transform your lifestyle.

    SEARCH A RECIPE OR INGREDIENT

    Featured On

    Get my Cookbook

    We are on YouTube!

    New Year New You

    one big bowl of Vegan Teff Kheer Porridge with a small bowl of the same on the side

    Vegan Teff Kheer Porridge

    Instant Pot Masala Khichdi served in a platter

    Instant Pot Masala Khichdi

    a set of hands tossing Cherub Tomatoes Crouton Salad

    Cherub Tomatoes Crouton Salad

    Instant Pot Ven Pongal served in a leaf bowl with a wooden spoon in it

    Ven Pongal in Instant Pot

    2 Masala Dosa with Sweet Potato placed on a plate

    Masala Dosa with Sweet Potato

    3 bowls of Crunchy Moong Dal

    Moong Dal Namkeen

    TRENDING NOW

    3 Vegan Corn Tostadas served on a wooden platter

    Vegan Corn Tostadas

    a bowl filled with Veg Hakka Noodles and a fork in it

    Veg Hakka Noodles

    image of one forth platter of White Chocolate Thandai Bark served in a platter

    White Chocolate Thandai Bark Recipe

    3 glasses of Thandai Milkshake served next to a bowl of colors and rose buds

    Thandai Milkshake | Dry Fruit Milkshake

    a hand brushing Tomato Cheddar Scones with butter

    Tomato Cheddar Scones

    Dal Tadka served in a brass bucket with a spoon in it

    Dal Tadka in Instant Pot

    Footer

    Stay connected

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Priya

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Cookilicious

    979 shares
    • 140