Celebrity Master Chef Dr Kaviraj Khialani
Bhel Puri is a savoury snack originating from India, and is also a type of chaat. It is made of puffed rice, vegetables and a tangy tamarind sauce, and has a crunchy texture. Bhel is often identified as a ‘beach snack’, strongly associated with the beaches of Mumbai, such as Chow patty or Juhu.
Bhel puri is thought to have originated within the Gujarati cafes and street food stalls of Bombay, and the recipe has spread to most parts of India where it has been modified to suit local food availability. It is also said to be originated from Bhadang, a spicy namkeen from Western Maharashtra
Bhel Puri is a low-fat, nutritious and popular comfort snack enjoyed in Western India. Bhel puri is also known as bhel in Marathi, Jaal Muri in Bengali and Churumuri in Kannada. Jhal means spicy and Muri is puffed rice. Jhal Muri is a spicy puffed rice snack that is loved by everyone. Bhel puri & churumuri are 2 other popular variations of Jhal Muri. Puffed rice is known by different names in India. This easy snack is whipped up using the puffed rice, groundnuts, bhel, potatoes and tamarind sauce.
In Mumbai bhel puri is enjoyed as a beach savouries or comfort snack. Bhel puri always tastes good when prepared and served immediately. Normally juices of tomatoes and chutneys are used to soften the puffed rice and to add flavour to the bhel puri. Another dry variant of bhel puri called bhadang is also enjoyed throughout North India. Bhadang is served after garnishing with coriander, lemon juice and onions.
Common Ingredients Used in Bhel Puri Recipes
There is lots of confusion regarding what goes in the preparation of a bhel puri. But some of the commonly used ingredients are puffed rice, mixture, sev (fried noodles like snack prepared from besan flour), onions, chilies and boiled cut potatoes. Generally different types of sauces and chutneys are also used to impart the spicy flavor to the bhel puri. Atleast two types of chutneys: date chutney and tamarind chutney are used in the preparation of the bhel puri. The date chutney is prepared by using dates and tamarind; tamarind chutney is prepared using coriander leaves and green chilies. Generally, the bhel puri is served after garnishing with diced onions, coriander leaves and green chilies.
During the summers sweet mango chunks are also added to the bhel puri. The bhel puri is either eaten with a spoon or a crispy wheat bread called papri puries. Bhel puri may also be garnished with a combination of chunks of diced raw sweet mango, diced onions, coriander leaves and chopped green chilies. It is sometimes served with papri puries, a deep-fried small round and crispy wheat bread.
Variations of Bhel Puries
Sev Papdi Chat: It is prepared by mixing 2-3 types of chutneys, chana masala (horse gram mixture) and boiled potatoes.
Sev Puri: It is just a simplified version of the bhel puri. It is prepared using sev, chutney, bhel puri and Papdi.
Dahi Puri: Dahi puri is the mixture of bhel puri, Papdi, chutney and yoghurt.
Mumbai Bhel Puri: This is a simple bhel puri which is enjoyed as an evening snack across Mumbai, has become popular the world over now and people especially come and relish this delicacy when are in Mumbai and want to treat on some street side famous foods also adapts itself to fusion concoctions as well.
Churumuri – finely cut pieces of onion, tomato, coriander leaves along with chilli powder are mixed, adding a few drops of coconut oil. Sometimes fried or roasted groundnuts may be added.
Sharing a few interesting fusion twist of taste ideas with our world famous bhel puri concept to sit back and enjoy this weekend:
TAK-A-TAK BHEL PURI
Ingredients
For the Bhel Mix
Kurmura/ puffed rice- 2 cups
Flat papdi- 10-12 no
Nylon sev/ bhujia- ½ cup
Onion-1/2 cup chopped
Raw mango- 2-3 tsp chopped
Tomato-1/2 chopped
Green chili-1 tsp chopped
Salt to taste
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Lime juice-1-2 tsp
Boiled cubed potatoes-1/2 cup
Assorted farsan/ gathiya etc as desired- ¼ cup
Assorted chutneys
Green mint-coriander, red chili and garlic, sweet jaggery and sour tamarind chutney or saunth- with ginger powder.
Method
- Assemble the ingredients for the bhel and keep ready.
- In a mixing bowl, combine together the listed ingredients.
- Add in the chutneys and seasonings and give it a nice toss and mix.
- Dish out into the serving bowls/ dishes immediately and garnish with fresh coriander/ roasted crushed peanuts/sev/ fresh pomegranate seeds etc.
CHATPATI MAKHANE KI BHEL
Ingredients
For the Bhel Mix
Lotus seeds/ makhanas- 2 cups lightly roasted.
To add while roasting the makhanas
Salt and pepper powder to taste
Turmeric powder and chaat masala to taste
Flat papdi- 10-12 no
Roasted/fried peanuts-1/2 cup
Nylon sev/ bhujia- ½ cup
Onion-1/2 cup chopped
Raw mango- 2-3 tsp chopped
Tomato-1/2 chopped
Green chili-1 tsp chopped
Salt to taste
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Lime juice-1-2 tsp
Boiled cubed potatoes-1/2 cup
Assorted farsan/ gathiya etc as desired- ¼ cup
Assorted chutneys
Green mint-coriander, red chili and garlic, sweet jaggery and sour tamarind chutney or saunth- with ginger powder.
Method
- Assemble the ingredients for the bhel and keep ready.
- In a mixing bowl, combine together the listed ingredients.
- Add in the chutneys and seasonings and give it a nice toss and mix.
- Dish out into the serving bowls/ dishes immediately and garnish with fresh coriander/ roasted crushed peanuts/sev/ fresh pomegranate seeds etc.
KURMURE WALI BHEL
Ingredients
For the Bhel Mix
Kurmura/ puffed rice- 2 cups
Flat papdi- 10-12 no
Nylon sev/ bhujia- ½ cup
Onion-1/2 cup chopped
Raw mango- 2-3 tsp chopped
Tomato-1/2 chopped
Green chili-1 tsp chopped
Dates- 2-3 finely chopped
Salt to taste
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Lime juice-1-2 tsp
Boiled cubed sweet potatoes-1/2 cup
Also try adding a fruit like guava cubes- ½ cup
Assorted farsan/ gathiya etc as desired- ¼ cup
Assorted chutneys
Green mint-coriander, red chili and garlic, sweet jaggery and sour tamarind chutney or saunth- with ginger powder, date chutney etc.
Method
- Assemble the ingredients for the bhel and keep ready.
- In a mixing bowl, combine together the listed ingredients.
- Add in the chutneys and seasonings and give it a nice toss and mix.
- Dish out into the serving bowls/ dishes immediately and garnish with fresh coriander/ roasted crushed peanuts/sev/ fresh pomegranate seeds etc.
GULUGULU BHELPURI
Ingredients
For the Bhel Mix
Kurmura/ puffed rice- 2 cups
Flat papdi- 10-12 no
Nylon sev/ bhujia- ½ cup
Onion-1/2 cup chopped
Raw mango- 2-3 tsp chopped
Tomato-1/2 chopped
Green chili-1 tsp chopped
Crumb fried paneer cubes- 1 cup can be used for veg
Boiled chicken cubes/shred- 1 cup for non-veg
Boiled eggs-2-3 cubed also work well
Fried noodles-1/2 cup as an option
Schezuan sauce- 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Lime juice-1-2 tsp
Boiled cubed sweet potatoes-1/2 cup
Also try adding a fruit like guava cubes- ½ cup
Assorted farsan/ gathiya etc as desired- ¼ cup
Assorted chutneys
Green mint-coriander, red chili and garlic, sweet jaggery and sour tamarind chutney or saunth- with ginger powder, date chutney etc.
Method
- Assemble the ingredients for the bhel and keep ready.
- In a mixing bowl, combine together the listed ingredients, choose between veg and non-veg.
- Add in the chutneys, schezuan sauce and seasonings and give it a nice toss and mix.
- Dish out into the serving bowls/ dishes immediately and garnish with fresh coriander/ roasted crushed peanuts/sev/ fresh pomegranate seeds etc.
KHASTA MAZA BHEL PURI
Ingredients
For the Bhel Mix
Kurmura/ puffed rice- 2 cups
Flat papdi- 10-12 no
Nylon sev/ bhujia- ½ cup
Onion-1/2 cup chopped
Raw mango- 2-3 tsp chopped
Tomato-1/2 chopped
Green chili-1 tsp chopped
Boiled sweet corn-1/2 cup
Roasted/fried peanuts-1/4 cup
Pomegranate seeds-1/2 cup
Apple-1/2 no cubed
Salt to taste
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Lime juice-1-2 tsp
Boiled cubed sweet potatoes-1/2 cup
Also try adding a fruit like guava cubes- ½ cup
Assorted farsan/ gathiya etc as desired- ¼ cup
Assorted chutneys
Green mint-coriander, red chili and garlic, sweet jaggery and sour tamarind chutney or saunth- with ginger powder, date chutney etc.
Method
- Assemble the ingredients for the bhel and keep ready.
- In a mixing bowl, combine together the listed ingredients, adding a little fruity element into a bhel also creates crunch, variety and color combination in bhel puri concepts.
- Add in the chutneys and seasonings and give it a nice toss and mix.
- Dish out into the serving bowls/ dishes immediately and garnish with fresh coriander/ roasted crushed peanuts/sev/ fresh pomegranate seeds etc.
MOONGERI BHEL PURI
Ingredients
For the Bhel Mix
Kurmura/ puffed rice- 2 cups
Flat papdi- 10-12 no
Nylon sev/ bhujia- ½ cup
Onion-1/2 cup chopped
Boiled green moong-1/2 cup
Raw mango- 2-3 tsp chopped
Tomato-1/2 chopped
Green chili-1 tsp chopped
Moong dal Kachories- 8-10 fried, cut 1 x 2
Roasted/fried peanuts-1/4 cup
Pomegranate seeds-1/2 cup
Apple-1/2 no cubed
Salt to taste
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Lime juice-1-2 tsp
Boiled cubed sweet potatoes-1/2 cup
Also try adding a fruit like guava cubes- ½ cup
Assorted farsan/ gathiya etc as desired- ¼ cup
Assorted chutneys
Green mint-coriander, red chili and garlic, sweet jaggery and sour tamarind chutney or saunth- with ginger powder, date chutney etc.
Method
- Assemble the ingredients for the bhel and keep ready.
- In a mixing bowl, combine together the listed ingredients, adding a little fruity element into a bhel also creates crunch, variety and color combination in bhel puri concepts, in this case we are using moong dal Kachories and boiled green moong, we can also use a variety in that place.
- Add in the chutneys and seasonings and give it a nice toss and mix.
- Dish out into the serving bowls/ dishes immediately and garnish with fresh coriander/ roasted crushed peanuts/sev/ fresh pomegranate seeds etc.
Celebrity Master Chef Dr Kaviraj Khialani is a Mumbai-based hotel-restaurant and food consultant. He is specialised in over 33 international cuisines and has quality experience with hotels and airlines as a part of his long journey of over two decades in his chosen field. Chef Kaviraj is a renowned author, academician, food designer, writer and has also been awarded several national awards and global recognitions for his talent & outstanding achievements. Besides having been featured on several food shows on ColorsTV and Star Plus he is a mentor, coach and guide to aspiring to be future chefs and hoteliers of tomorrow.
