Indian cuisine is known for its large variety of delicious leavened and unleavened breads, such as flatbreads like naan and roti or puffy fried poori. Another fantastic bread is bhatura (or bhatoora), a deep-fried leavened bread from the Punjabi region that’s especially popular across the Northern Indian peninsula and western Pakistan.

Since bhatura is a leavened bread, it includes a rising agent, usually baking powder or baking soda, which is added to all-purpose flour, semolina, sugar, salt, yogurt, milk, and oil. By using two different types of flour, the final bread achieves a crispier crust that is wonderful when served with curries or eaten on its own.

Once the bhatura dough is made, it is rolled out into a thin disc and fried in hot oil, which makes it puff up like a balloon and creates a vehicle for stuffing with other ingredients, like paneer. The taste of fresh bhatura is fermented, similar to sourdough, and the most popular way to eat the bread is with chole bhature, a spicy chickpea curry,

Besides chole bhature, bhatura is often paired with condiments and sides like onions, pickles, and mint chutney, and lassi, a creamy yogurt drink that can be flavored with mango, spices, and more, is the perfect beverage to wash it all down. Lucky food lovers on the streets of North India can buy and enjoy chole bhature any time of day.