When you hear Kolkata, most people think of trams, the Hooghly river, adda sessions over chai, and of course, that iconic street food—the Kolkata roll. Among the many varieties, I say this jokingly R for Rasogolla and R for roll. The egg roll and Kolkata chicken roll is a perennial favourite. It’s simple,atleast thats what they make it look like when you stand in front of the roll shop. yet complex in taste; comforting, yet exciting in execution. Here’s what makes it special.

Evrery para or neibghbiourhood will have one roll shop, each one a market leader in its own sense. If you analyse closely – roll is one such food like many which has broken all the barriers. A roll is a meal , is a snack, is a quick bite and a working lunch too. I still remember many a times while on the move on official work I have often picked up a roll to satiate the hunger.

Kolkata kathi roll

What Is a Kolkata Chicken Roll?

The Kolkata chicken roll is the one which is often considered as a kathi roll across India. An interesting fact is that in Kolkata we dont call it a Kathi roll at all. We keep it simple – egg roll, chicken roll, double egg , double chcken etc etc . A handheld delight consisting of succulent spiced chicken wrapped inside a thin, flaky paratha (flatbread), often with eggs, onions, green chilies, and sauces. It is skewered or pan-cooked, then rolled up so you can eat it on the go. It strikes a beautiful balance between textures, soft chicken, crisp exterior, and the fresh crunch of onions and green chilies.

egg chicken roll

Since when I stopped asking for sauces in my Kolkata chicken roll?

I stopped asking for sauces in my rolls since I realised that the melange of flavour and fun lies in chicken. The marination is key: mustard oil, curd, and spices. You can add either raw onion slices and green chilli, or if the chicken is already tawa fried with onions, then the caramelised flavour of the onions is the perfect combo. Add a dash of lemon juice and sprinkle some chat masala to enhance the flavour. That’s it. Sauces don’t go with a Kolkata chicken roll. Any extra sauce feels wasteful and kills the original taste. I loved tomato and chilli sauces as a child, but most of what you find on the street is poor quality.

There’s one more reason. If you get greedy and ask for extra sauce, the lower half of the roll turns soggy. By the time you unwrap the paper, it’s soaked and starts dripping.

Kolkata chicken roll

Variants of Kolkata Chicken roll

There is egg chicken, single egg double chicken, double egg single chicken, double egg double chicken and so on.

Calcutta street-food that you cannot miss

Chicken egg roll (2)

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