Soups, snacks & savouries

Indians love to munch. Whether they are on buses, trains, in cinemas or parks, they can be spotted opening up newspaper cones, unwrapping tea-cloth bundles or easing eager hands into terracotta pots. Good things are hidden inside that can be nibbled upon for the satisfaction of the soul.

Take samosas, for instance, those triangular, savoury pastries. The best place to eat them is right on the street, when the odours wafting from a nearby samosa-maker become too overwhelming to resist. All kinds of kababs, marinated and grilled meat cubes, are also sold at open stalls. This is done deliberately to entice passing strollers.