Shingara, the beloved pyramid-shaped teatime snack, is an emotion itself for most of us Bangalis. Be it beside a bustling roadside tea stall in the morning or at home with family in the evening, the act of unfolding a neatly packed shingara with a steaming cup of milk tea is almost a ritual.
But, when it comes to having this perfectly folded savoury delight in your mouth, there comes the divide! Should the peanuts interrupt your tongue? Is it a nuisance or a blissful twist?
In the world of culinary conundrums, few stuffing initiates as much fervour as the question of peanuts in shingaras! For some, the sweet, nutty flavour of peanut perfectly complements the stuffed spicy potato mix, transforming each bite into a burst of contrasting flavours. For others, peanut is an unforgivable addition, one that has no place in an otherwise perfect savoury dish.
This culinary controversy has raged for decades, and despite numerous polls and taste tests, the question still remains! So, we have asked a few people about their opinion on this to see what makes this question more complex than it might seem.
Yastafa Alam, a contemporary food blogger and representing Team peanut, says, "The earthly-sweet notes of peanuts perfectly complement the spicy potato mix of shingara. It's like a match made in heaven for me. The roasted nutty flavour of peanut cuts through the zesty stuffing of shingara, and that feels like a rollercoaster ride with every bite."
"Shingara is meant to be enjoyed with tea, and there are no ideal set of rules for the recipe; I often put anything and everything as the stuffing," says Rubana Tasnim, a university student studying food and nutrition. "Peanut has its own health benefits. So, I put it with other seasonal vegetables available out there, for example, cauliflower, peas, etc. and yes, I enjoy the stuffing like this," adds Rubana.
But we are here to argue today! And on the flip side, team anti-peanut argue that peanuts simply don't belong in a shingara. "It's like biting into cardamom (elachi) in biriyani. It's a nuisance, an unwanted intruder in a world of potatoes, onions, and spices," declares shingara admirer Tahsin Biva. For her, and others on Team Anti-Peanut, peanut's grittiness and earthiness clash with the savoury essence of shingara.
Many also point out that shingara's origins are rooted in Central Asia, where the stuffing is generally simple and savoury. "Shinagara has always been about balance, and peanuts throw that balance off entirely," says Sadik. He also has a strong sensory argument on this, stating, "Biting into a piece of hard roasted peanut in shingara feels wrong. The textures clash and the flavours are just too jarring."
Let's now listen to some idealists who believe that the peanut controversy doesn't have to be so divisive. "Why can't we just let people enjoy what they like?" asks self-proclaimed culinary expert, Ahnaf Zareef. "Shingara is the most versatile food out there. People put all sorts of things in it as stuffing. From chopped liver to seasonal vegetables; anything and everything works! Stuffing peanut is just another way for people to make shingara their own."
So, does peanut belong in shingara? It all depends on who you ask! And whatever side of the debate you find yourself on, it's clear that peanut isn't going anywhere. After all, in a world where people are passionate about their shingaras, even the most polarising stuffing have their place. We may not always agree on the stuffing or even the name, but we have to admit that shingara is one of the few snacks that unites everyone, regardless of whether you are a peanut devotee or a purist who would rather prefer to keep the nut out of it.
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