New Delhi | June 8: Accident, a cursed word, sometimes reaps a fruitful benefit! Of course, we are talking in terms of food. Do you know that throughout history, some of the most delectable and beloved foods were stumbled upon purely by chance? These accidental culinary discoveries have not only shaped our food plates but have also become integral parts of various cuisines worldwide and some might be your favourite. Let’s talk about some of the most beloved foods that stumbled onto our plates purely by accident.
1. Potato Chips – Your favourite munchies were the result of a fortunate event reconciled with unfortunate scenarios with a chef named George Crum. In 1853, he was working at a restaurant in New York, where he received a consecutive complaint from a customer who said that his fried potatoes were too thick and soggy. Crum was annoyed by the criticism and decided to slice the potatoes as thin as possible, fry them until they were hard and brittle, and sprinkle them with salt. He expected the customer to hate them, but to his surprise, the customer loved them and asked for more. Crum’s invention soon became a hit, and he opened his own restaurant where he served his “Saratoga chips”.
2. Jalebi – Everyone’s favourite and crispy, orange, and oh-so-addictive, Jalebi’s exact origin is disputed. One theory suggests it evolved from an ancient Persian sweet, it is believed that Jalebi was invented by a Persian cook who accidentally dropped some batter into hot oil and then dipped it in honey, while another points to accidental fermentation of batter resulting in the unique, tangy flavour. Regardless of these theories, this spiral-shaped sweet remains as a street food favourite.
3. Chocolate Chip Cookies – Initially, supposed to be chocolate only, these cookies accidentally appeared as a result. Actually, in 1930, Ruth Wakefield, a lodge owner in Massachusetts, was making her signature chocolate cookies for her guests. However, she ran out of baker’s chocolate and decided to substitute it with Nestlé’s chocolate morsels, hoping that they would melt and blend with the dough. To her surprise, the chocolate pieces retained their shape and created a delicious contrast with the soft cookie. Wakefield’s invention soon became a sensation, and Nestle even featured her recipe on the back of its chocolate bags for years.
4. Chena Poda – Famous as Indian cheesecake, this dish too was the result of an accident cum experiment. According to a popular story, Sudarsan Sahoo, a confectioner in Dashapalla, Odisha, invented Chhena Poda in 1947. After setting up his hotel, he experimented with leftover chhena (cottage cheese). He mixed it with sugar and cardamom and put it in the still-hot oven until the next morning, only to find the now-caramelized and browned chhena surprisingly delicious. This “happy accident” became the foundation for the beloved Chhena Poda recipe.
5. Rumali Roti – Translating as a ‘handkerchief chapati’ is a new social media sensation. But the story behind its invention is pretty unique. This playful story dates back to the Mughal Era, placing the invention in the royal kitchens. Legend says that chefs would prepare these exceptionally thin and soft rotis for the emperors. During meals, these rotis were used as “rumals” (handkerchiefs) to wipe off excess oil from their hands and fingers. These “royal handkerchiefs” were later served alongside the meal for their unique taste and texture.
6. Tofu – Gyms enthusiasts are thanked every day for whosoever has invented this dish as a cheaper and almost the same substitute for paneer. Legends attribute Tofu’s creation to Prince Liu An of the Han Dynasty (179-122 BC) when the prince was experimenting with soybeans and accidentally curdled them with nigari seaweed (made from seawater), which resulted in the first batch of Tofu.
7. Raisin – Earlier, this dry fruit was used as a good luck charm or as a decoration item and is now topping the list of favorites of many individuals. Individuals, can you imagine your life without kismish? According to researchers, these small dry fruits were discovered around 2000 BC, when someone stumbled upon a dried grape crop.
