Bhel puri - One of the iconic Indian street foods, this chaat brings you a unique combination of various flavors and textures. You won't believe how simple ingredients are packed with so much flavor and goodness. So grab a cone and get ready for the ultimate taste party in your mouth.
Street food, especially chaats, are at the heart of India's traditional cuisine. They vary from region to region bringing you an unforgettable culinary experience. However, no matter whether you're a first-timer or a regular visitor to your nearest street food hub, chaats never fail to impress.
So, when I made the papdis (crispy crackers), I had a few chaat recipes on my mind. Papdis are a huge part of many Indian chaats, so I just couldn't stop myself from thinking about making chaats out of them. And the very first name that popped up in my mind is this bhel puri. I had all the ingredients on hand, so it was just a matter of combining everything together.
If you love Indian street food, this bhel puri is a must try. With a startling contrast of a variety of flavors and textures, this chaat will totally immerse you in an unmatchable culinary experience.
The real magic happens when the two chutneys (coriander chutney and tamarind date chutney) flavor the rest of the ingredients in this chaat. Ok, let's start with the main element in this recipe - puffed rice. Such a humble ingredient that makes the base of this bhel puri.
Second element - Indian mixture. Crunchy ingredient with so many different levels of textures. It's easily available in Indian grocery stores, or you can make your own.
Third - Chopped onions, tomatoes and coriander (cilantro) leaves that add to the flavor of this chaat.
Fourth - papdis or crispy crackers. You'll only need a few of these, but always feel free to add more if you like them. You know, chaats are all about customization.
Fifth - A few spices like chaat masala and red chili powder. Add chili powder depending on your spice level.
And lastly, the two chutneys that are going to make this bhel puri really awesome. Date chutney and green coriander (cilantro) chutney. Although store bought chutneys are easily available, I highly recommend making your own homemade version.
Combine all the ingredients with a touch of fresh lemon, and you're in for a treat. So yum, right? To be exact, freaking awesome.
Bhel Puri | Indian Street Food | Video
Ingredients
Bhel puri:
- 2 cups puffed rice
- 1 cup mixture I used store bought mixture
- 1 cup chopped onions
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- ¼ cup chopped coriander cilantro leaves
- 4 papdis crushed (recipe link below this recipe)
- 2 teaspoon chaat masala
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- A handful of sev I used store bought sev
- 5 teaspoon tamarind date chutney recipe link below this recipe
- Juice from half of lemon
- Salt to taste
- Chopped onions tomatoes, coriander (cilantro) leaves and sev, to garnish
Green chutney:
- 1 cup coriander cilantro leaves
- 1 green chili
- ½ teaspoon chaat masala
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin cumin powder
- Juice from half of one small lemon
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
- Salt to taste
- Water
Instructions
- Follow the recipe instructions (link below this recipe) to make papdis. You can either deep fry or bake them.
- Follow the recipe instructions (link below this recipe) to make tamarind dates chutney
- To make green chutney, place coriander (cilantro) leaves, ginger, green chili, chaat masala, ground cumin, lemon juice, salt and enough water in a blender. Process until smooth. You'll only need 5 teaspoon chutney in this recipe.
- To make bhel puri, place puffed rice, mixture, crushed papdis, sev, onions, tomatoes, coriander (cilantro) leaves, chaat masala and red chili powder in a bowl. Drizzle with tamarind date chutney and green chutney. Combine all the ingredients together. Season with salt.
- Garnish with more chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, coriander (cilantro) leaves and sev. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- You can add chopped raw mangoes to this recipe when they are in season
- Mixture contains plenty of peanutes. However, you can add more roasted peanuts if you like.
- This bhel puri is also served without chutneys, and its called dry bhel.
Nutrition
*** Click here for papdi / crispy crackers recipe
***Click here for tamarind date chutney recipe
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