Pani poori cubes | Instant Pani Poori are frozen portions of spiced water used for making pani poori, a popular Indian street food. Instead of making fresh pani every time, you can prepare a concentrated version, freeze it in ice cube trays, and store it for later use.
Pani Poori is an Indian Street food that I simply love. I will not deny that I enjoy eating it on the streets. The atmosphere and the excitement of a hawker serving these crunchy bites one after another is an experience by itself. Of course you have to watch a good hygiene cart to enjoy them, else you can end up falling sick.
In recent years, I have avoided the street food pani poori and prefer a homemade version. I simply prefer to drink the spiced water. The water is healthy, coriander leaves and mint leaves are both packed with antioxidants. Black Salt, Cumin powder and asafoetida help in digestion. A glass of this spiced water keeps you fresh and hydrated.
Ingredients for Pani Poori Cubes
Coriander Leaves: Use fresh coriander leaves, pick the leaves and discard the thick stems.
Mint Leaves: Pick the mint leaves and discard all stems. Choose an aromatic and fresh mint.
Green Chilly: Use either the spicy ones or the medium-spiced variety, as per your taste.
Lemon: Lemon juice retains the colour of the concentrate, besides making it tangy.
Alternatively, tamarind pulp can be used, though both flavour and colour will change.
Black Salt: It is a type of rock salt and lends a special flavour to all chaats.
Other Ingredients
Roasted Cumin Powder: Use freshly ground cumin powder; its aroma and flavour will enhance the flavour of water.
Asafoetida: It’s good for digestion; use a small pinch.
Chaat Masala: Tangy and spicy, a blend of spices, it enhances all chaats.
How to make Pani Puri Cubes?
Wash the coriander and mint leaves very well. Make sure there are no traces of dirt.
Now add the green chillies, black salt and lemon juice to the mixer grinder. Grind roughly.
Add a cube of ice, coriander and mint leaves and now grind to a smooth paste. Ice, salt and lemon will all help to maintain the green colour.
Take a small portion of this paste and add it to a glass of water. Mix and taste.
Check for salt and lemon, adjust as per your taste.
Take a silicone tray and fill it up with the paste. Tap the tray and place it in the freezer. Once frozen, remove to an airtight container.
To make the water, add one cube of paste to a glass of 250 ml of water. Add a pinch each of roasted cumin powder, asafetida ( optional ) and chaat masala. Stir well and drink it as it is or serve with crisp pooris stuffed with boiled potato and chickpeas.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the classic way, with crisp poori and the potato channa stuffing.
Pour some chilled drinking soda over the frozen cube, squeeze some lemon and enjoy the drink.
You can add some chaat masala on the rim of the glass.
Dilute the cube and use it as green chutney.
Make unique popsicles by freezing the spiced water, similarly, you can make sorbet.
Storage Suggestions
Use silicone ice trays to freeze the concentrate. Make sure to test a portion of this concentrate.
Freeze immediately and remove from ice trays once the cube is solid. Store in an airtight container or freezer zip locks.
The pani poori cubes have a shelf life of a month, though I am sure we can use them after that too.
Why should I make Pani Puri Cubes?
If you love Pani Poori, then making these cubes is a blessing. You can make the spiced water instantly. Here are some reasons to make these cubes.
- Instant Spiced Water: No need to blend and mix ingredients each time, just dissolve a few frozen cubes in water, and your pani is ready!
- Consistent Flavor: Since you prepare and freeze it in one batch, the taste remains consistent every time you make pani poori.
- Time-Saving & Convenient: Perfect for busy schedules—just pop a cube into cold water, stir, and enjoy!
- No Need for Preservatives: Unlike store-bought pani concentrates, homemade cubes are free from artificial preservatives and chemicals.
- Easy Storage & Long Shelf Life: Frozen cubes stay fresh for up to a month, reducing the hassle of making fresh pani frequently.
Pro tips to make Pani Poori Cubes
Make sure the coriander and mint leaves are fresh and well-picked.
Wash them well so there are no traces of dirt.
Always add a cube or two of ice, salt and lemon while grinding the paste. They will help to maintain the fresh green colour.
The concentrate is salty and tangy, so take a test check by adding one portion to a glass of water. Adjust the spices accordingly.
Freeze in silicon trays, it’s easy to pop them out.
Make sure to transfer to an airtight container, so the cubes do not absorb the freezer odour.
Here are some other versions of Pani Poori
Pani Poori | Pani Puri Sindhi Style
Flavored Pani Poori with Beetroot
Puchka / Paani Poori from Kolkatta
Pani Poori Cubes | Instant Pani Poori
Equipment
- Mixer/ Grinder
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fresh Mint Leaves
- 1/2 cup Coriander Leaves
- 3-4 Green Chillies adjust as per taste
- 1 tablespoon Black Salt
- 4-5 Lemons
Other Ingredients
- Roasted Cumin Powder
- Asadoetida optional
- Chaat Masala
Instructions
- Wash the coriander and mint leaves very well. Make sure there are no traces of dirt.
- Now add the green chillies, black salt and lemon juice to the mixer grinder. Grind roughly.
- Add a cube of ice, coriander and mint leaves and now grind to a smooth paste. Ice, salt and lemon will all help to maintain the green colour.
- Take a small portion of this paste and add it to a glass of water. Mix and taste.
- Check for salt and lemon, adjust as per your taste.
- Take a silicone tray and fill it up with the paste. Tap the tray and place in the freezer. Once frozen, remove in an airtight container.
- To make the water, add one cube of paste in a glass of 250 ml water. Add a pinch each of roasted cumin powder, asafortida ( optional ) and chaat masala. Stir well and drink it as it is or serve with crisp pooris stuffed with boiled potato and chickpeas.
