Bhel

Indian street food??!!! Who cares about the gym sessions? Who cares about a few (or more) extra calories? Who cares about a plate full of comfort food? If not you, I’m definitely the one who can leave thinking of all these tidbits and enjoy my plate of street-food… :P What if you get to have a low-calories, super-yummy, quick on-the-go snack?

My fondest memory of foodie-days back in India is seeing a ‘Khumcha wala’, standing outside Pantaloons with his portable cart covered with red cloth… He used to make a cone using a piece of newspaper, put all ingredients of bhel inside, toss it quickly and sprinke a few spices along with lots of coriander leaves & namkeen sev on top before serving! And that all for just Rs. 10/- :) I wish… I could have it once at least during this visit :( Anyways, I made this yummylicious ‘Bhel’ last week in-house…

All the words above and pictures shown below can’t tell you how it feels like to have a spoonful of bhel from this cone… Actually, to get a real feeling of street-food, it’s eaten with papdi only (no spoon or fork)!!! And yes, if you’re going to have it in plate, add some tamarind and coriander-mint chutney too… :D

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups Puffed Rice

1/4 cup Namkeen Sev

4-5 Papdi

1/2 Boiled Potato

2 tbsp Black Chickpeas, boiled

2 tbsp Onions, chopped

2 tbsp Tomatoes, chopped

2 tsp Amchoor (or Tamarind) Chutney

2 tsp Coriander-Mint Chutney

Coriander Leaves, to garnish

Black Salt, to taste

1 tsp Cumin Powder

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

1. If you’re going to serve immediately, take everything in a big bowl and toss quickly.
2. Garnish with coriander leaves, sev and serve!!!
3. To keep it prepared in advance, mix puffed rice, sev and papdi in a bowl.
4. Add rest of all ingredients before serving.

SJ’s NOTE:

• I usually roast puffed rice in oil with a pinch of turmeric powder, red chilly powder and salt.
• Also, you can add tamarind chutney, garlic chutney, coriander-mint chutney, pomegranate seeds before serving! I made ‘Sukhi (dry) Bhel’ this time :)