Exploring BANGALORE’S Tasty AVAREBELE FESTIVAL| VV PURAM FOOD STREET |Avarebele Vada, Dosa, Jilebi!

#AvarebeleMela #Bengaluru #GourmetOnTheRoad

Bengaluru’s Annual Avarebele Mela at Sri Vasavi Vaisistha THindi, VV Puram Food Street, Farm to Food, Hyacinth Beans, Hithkabele Masala Vade, Hithkabele Bonda, Avarebele Dose - Hithkabele Saru, Hithkabele Akki Rotti, Avarebele Mosaru Kodubale, Hithkabele Holige, Hithkabele Honey Jalebi, Payasa, Ellavare, Street Food

Now in its 20th year, Bengaluru’s annual Avarebele Mela that celebrates the Bengaluru bean in an array of ‘snacky’ preparations, goes back to a time when farmers from in and around Bengaluru would congregate in VV Puram to sell their harvest of Avarekai. Given the bean’s short shelf life, any unsold produce would be thrown away. Which prompted Mrs Geetha Shivakumar, owner of Sri Vasavi Vasisitha Mane Thindi to put together a food festival that would make use of the Avarebele. And thus began a unique collaboration between farmers and a food entrepreneur that now has Bangalore’s food lovers congregating here for their share of deliciousness.

Food Lovers’ Editor visits the mela and tasted a delicious smorgasbord of preparations, from vade to bonda to dose to hollige to rotti to jalebi to payasa to pootharekulu, with one ingredient in common, the avarebele. Enjoy!

Hithkabele Masala Vade
A top draw at the mela, and also all year around, one can taste the freshness of coriander and dill in this spicy hithabele masala vade.
Rs. 20 (usd 0.3) for 2 nos.
9/10

Hithkabele Bonda
A tad mellow in flavour, the bonda benefits from the weight of the avarekalu. It’s a pleasing snack, but fails to make as impactful an impression on the palate as the masala vade.
Rs. 20 (usd 0.3) for 2 nos.
7/10

Avarebele Dose - Hithkabele Saru
The most popular item at the mela, this dosa is topped with a spirited mix of avarebele, coriander, dil and onions.
Rs. 60 (usd 0.8)
9.5/10

Hithkabele Akki Rotti
The akki roti is toasted nice and thin, and crispened around the edges making for a delightful crunch.
Rs. 50 (usd 0.7)
8.5/10

Avarebele Mosaru Kodubale
Crisp and crunchy on the bite, but chewy as you linger on this bangle-shaped jeera and ajwain flavoured treat made of steamed rice flour, yoghurt and avarebele.
Rs. 30 (usd 0.4) for 4 nos.
8/10

Hithkabele Holige
Dripping with ghee and stuffed with tuvar dal, jaggery and hithkabele, one can taste the lingering aroma of cardamom on the palate.
Rs. 30 (usd 0.4)
8.5/10

Hithkabele Honey Jalebi
The jalebi are a light pista green in colour from the avarebele which lends its strength to the fermented batter and renders the jalebis cripier and also lends it a tart edge.
Rs. 20 (usd 0.3) for 4 nos.
8.5/10

Payasa
The avarebele payasa is smokey in its flavour. Although made with gas gase, poppy seeds, one does not taste the nuttiness of the ingredient.
Rs. 30 (usd 0.3)
6.5/10

Ellavare
Sesame seeds, coconut milk, avarebele and jaggery come together in this thick dessert. I quite enjoyed the crunch of the fresh coconut and the earthy sweetness of the jaggery.
Rs. 30 (usd 0.3)
7/10

Putharekulu
The avarebele makes its way into the putharekulu as well. However, I’m tasting more of the wrap in this version as compared to the filling and that takes away from the enjoyment of what is otherwise an interesting sweet.
Rs. 30 (usd 0.3)
6/10

ADDRESS - Sri Vasavi Vaisista Thindi, #78 3rd Block 5th Main Road, Thyagarajnagar Bull Temple Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560028; tel +91 97432 69356
LOCATION TAG - https://goo.gl/maps/Lt6hyr2okH8U9HJr5

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