Beaches in India are famous for the yummy snacks that are sold on the shores. Apart from building sand castles, paddling in the waves and just soaking in the setting sun at the horizon, a visit to any beach must include savoring the local snack that is sold there. So whether it is the “Pav Bhaji” (A spicy vegetable curry that is served with a soft bread roll called Pav) of Chowpatty beach in Mumbai, or the Jhal Muri (puffed rice with spices, vegetables and raw mustard oil) from Puri beach in Orissa, the flavors are so very distinct.
One such snack I shall always savor is the humble “Sundal” on the beach. Sundal is a preparation made with dried white peas, topped with oodles of tangy raw mango and sliced coconut.
It is a specialty of Marina Beach in Chennai and is popularly called Thenga Manga Pattani Sundal (Mixture of Coconut, Mango, and Dry Peas).
Visit any beach in Chennai and you could spot vendors walking on the sand selling Sundal. They carry their prepared Sundal in iconic grey aluminum tins and serve them to you in pieces of paper that have been shaped into a cone, to hold a ladle full of Sundal. For the price of Rs. 10/- one such cone could be yours. And trust me it will leave you asking for more.
For those who are health conscious, this is a perfect snack. It doesn’t pile on that extra bit of flab nor do they add on to your bad cholesterol. The dried peas are a great source of protein. The finely chopped green chillies and the combination of the tanginess is a sure delight to those taste buds. Even on a hot day in Chennai, Sundal on the beach would not leave you feeling dehydrated..
All you need to do is let the cool breeze of the sea hit you, lap up the frothy waves around your feet and savor a cone of Sundal. The feeling is purely blissful.
So which one is your favorite snack on the beach?
This is a part of my journey exploring 26 lesser known shades of a country called India, with the #AtoZChallenge 2016!!!
Not Just Sundal…. In Mumbai we get varieties but sadly those poor kids selling Sundals and Samosa’s really hurts me😦
Nice post.. Been to Marina in 2012 and loved it
B – The Eye of the Beholder
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Sundal? Why don’t I know about this? Gosh! I have usually had bhel puris at beaches.
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Aww.. I was re-living my days in Chennai! I didn’t like Sundal too- just cos’ I don’t like the white peas. I used to love the fried groundnuts, corncobs which was available in Besant Nagar beach!
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My favourite snack will always remain the Bombay Bhelpuri but I will definitely try this one when I next visit Madras.
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This is such a mouth watering post..! Slurrppy..!! I’m craving for pav bhaji and Jhal muri now!😛
Cheers
Geets
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Ahh…smack, smack! My fav snacks on the beach….especially Marina include sundal and manga! Loved the pics and your narration Ramya….waiting for your C next!
@KalaRavi16 from
Relax-N-Rave
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amazing this is, childhood memories come to the fore.
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Talking of beaches, Calicut beach offers you mouth- watering pickled mangoes, to pineapples to carrots and beetroots and what not! I am already home sick.Sigh!!!
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Indian beaches are filled with orthodox people enjoying the breeze; hanging out with families and friends and of course savoring tasty refreshments. These snacks actually fall under the category of street food. Popularity of Indian street food reached its peak that it expanded its horizons to other areas including beaches. Thus street food gained immediate attraction among beach-goers and became an integral part of beaches.
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Sundal sounds very interesting! Must remember to try it whenever I visit Chennai!
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sounds yum! my favorite would be a simple tender coconut with lots of water!
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yum! I desperately need Sundal now! I have eaten it on the Marina. I have also eaten that slice of raw mango cut and sprinkled with salt and chilli that they sell at the same place!!
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
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This sundal must be yumm…I have never had it. Pavbhaji and Jhal muri are the regular snacks I savour
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One thing I still miss about my hometown are it’s beaches. Nothing can beat their beauty!
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We get chana chaat in Mumbai. That black gram variety with tomato, onion, coriander, and generous doses of chaat masala😀
Sundal sounds interesting too. I do hope I get a chance to visit Chennai. I’ll surely taste this treat
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Sundal looks tempting. I haven’t been to the beach much. Always stayed in North India. I visited the Marina beach ages ago, when I was 9-10 years old. Don’t remember much about it😛
– Chicky @ http://www.mysteriouskaddu.com
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Have never had Sundal though I can imagine its taste. Have had bhelpuri and chana chor garam at Juhu, Mumbai!
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Now I’m hungry! Our usual beach snacks are potato chips, sodas and beer. Not very imaginative.
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Manga thengai pattani sundal…
Nostalgic.. I love to shop the shells and decor in Marina beach. I love besant nagar beach too.
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I live near the beach in Australia but we don’t have vendors on the beach. I could do with them on a very hot day! Thanks for sharing part of your country. Sue @Sizzling60 from
Sizzling Towards Sixty
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I haven’t tasted Sundal… but nothing beats fried peanuts for me!
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Oh yes please… totally remember having these at this very beach years ago. And I loved it.
My entry for the #AtoZChallenge –
Tv Shows: B – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
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I have never tasted this is ever! I should totally try it sometime soon😛
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Your post left me salivating … thenga manga pattani sundal at the santhome beach are such fond childhood memories for me.
As i grew up they were replaced by the bhutta roasted over charcoal smothered with fresh lemon, salt and chilli powder in mumbai. It used to be a delight at Nariman point over looking the sunset. Sadly the hawkers have all been evacuated citing security reasons Pchhh .
BTW we have something similar about our themes and that is what made me hop on to your blog post. …. will be back for more.
Keep going.
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You had me at green chillies! I would eat that.
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Great, my mouth is watering now…😀 All of them sound delicious!
The first time I ate a coconut it was on a Spanish beach
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
The Multicolored Diary
MopDog
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That sounds so good. I’ve never had it and generally I don’t eat anything when I’m on the beach, just drink lots of water.
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great
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[…] Beaches and Taste Buds #AtoZChallenge […]
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Yum drool slurrrrp , what a post oh what a post . I have eaten sundal, chana jor garam, puffed rice snacks like jhaal muri and others and love all of them, eaten on the beach they acquire yet other dimensions of enjoyment. Lovely post
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My little one saw the pics and is enquiring about our next visit to the beach…. lovely view of the coastal India…
@w0rds4u from
As Time Flies
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Beaches are my favourite place! I would love to have some bhelpuri to munch while strolling next to waves hitting the shores!
Nibha @ Expressions
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I enjoy mango and coconut so Sundal sounds lovely.
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Sundal looks and sounds very delicious. We don’t live very close to a beach, so I can’t say that I have a favorite beach snack . . . I imagine a picnic of any kind would be wonderful on a beach.
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