There are many variations of chaat, but this healthy & delicious Bhel Puri will forever be my favourite. This Mumbai-based street food is made with puffed rice, sev, papdi, boiled potatoes, chopped veggies, and a medley of chutneys.
A Core Memory
Some moms bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the beach, but my mom brings Bhel Puri. Even when we were on vacation far from home, my mom would make sure to chop all the ingredients ahead of time, store them in separate containers and mix them all together at the beach after a long day in the heat. And let me tell you, it ALWAYS hit the spot. She would mix together all the dry ingredients in one box, all the chutneys in another, and the veggies in the third box. Bhel Puri was such an easy, fun beach snack growing up that it’s now become a core memory for me.
What is Bhel Puri?
In simple words, Bhel Puri is arguably the most popular Indian street food. The best part about it is how simple it is to throw together and how the complex tastes come together to form a delicious medley of flavors. It’s sweet, spicy, sour, crunchy, soft: everything you look for in a summer snack! Common ingredients include puffed rice, papdi, peanuts, sev, a blend of fresh veggies, topped with cilantro, tangy and sweet chutneys, and a wide range of powdered spices. Trust me when I say this recipe is ADDICTIVE and there is no going back. Loved by all ages, this Bhel Puri recipe is perfect for your next beach trip or afternoon snack on a hot summer day.
What you Need to Make Bhel Puri
- Puffed Rice : This is an easy-to-find ingredient that that can can be found at shop-rite or at your local Indian grocery store as murmura.
- Papdi: fried, crunchy puris that get crushed and tossed into the mix.
- Sev: These thin, crispy noodles are part of what makes Bhel Puri so hard to stop snacking on.
- Boiled Potatoes & Chopped Veggies
- Spices: salt, red chili powder and chaat masala
- Green Chutney & Tamarind Chutney : complementing spicy and sweet chutneys for a sweet and savory flavor profile.
- Fresh Garnishes: Some freshly chopped cilantro and maybe pomegranate seeds can add a tasty garnish to the recipe to give it a final burst of flavor!
Tips for Success
Here are some tips to ensure tasty access when you recreate this recipe. Keep these in mind when you are throwing this simple yet refreshingly delicious dish together!
- Make sure your sev, papdi, and puffed rice aren’t stale. If they aren’t crispy, dry roast or bake in the oven until they are.
- If you’re making it in small portions and don’t have the individual ingredients at home, buy a bag of bhel mix that has puffed rice, sev, and papdi in it to save time and money. Sometimes the mix is also seasoned with spices so you won’t have to worry about that part of the recipe either!
- It’s hard to make chutneys in small portions so it’s okay to make a big batch and freeze it so you can use it again in the future and don’t have to make it every time you’re craving bhel!
- Serve it right away! The chutneys and wet ingredients will cause it to go soggy which is fine but the crunchy texture is a highlight of the dish so I recommend eating it right away.
Step by Step : Bhel Puri
It truly isn’t as complex as it might seem to make Bhel Puri. It’s quick and simple!
- Boil your potatoes, chop up all your veggies and set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together the puffed rice, papdi and sev.
- Toss in your chopped veggies and roughly mashed potatoes.
- Add in your spices and toss to mis well.
- When you’re ready to eat, drizzle on your chutneys, toss and serve!
Healthy Bhel Puri Chaat
- Total Time: 20
- Yield: 3
Description
This healthy & delicious Bhel Puri will forever be my favourite. This popular chaat is made with puffed rice, sev, papdi, boiled potatoes, chopped veggies, and a medley of chutneys.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Puffed Rice, or Mamra
- 5 Papdi, crushed
- 1/2 cup Sev
- 1/2 cup boiled & fork mashed potato
- 1/2 cup chopped white onion
- 1/2 cup finely chopped tomato
- Small bunch of cilantro, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp tamarind chutney
- 2 tbsp mint chutney
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp chaat masala
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil and drop your potato in there. Boil on high until cooked. You can check this by sticking a fork in. Once cooked, peel the potatoes. You can either cub into small cubes or roughly mash it. Set aside.
- Chop up the onion, tomato and cilantro and set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together the puffed rice and sev. Crush the papdi/puri with your hands and sprinkle in. Mix together.
- Add in the chopped veggies, potato and spices and toss well to combine. Set aside until you are ready to eat.
- When you are ready to eat, drizzle the chutneys and mix well. Taste and add more red chili powder or mint chutney for spice or more tamarind chutney for sweetness. Serve immediately and enjoy! Be sure to click a pic, tag me on Instagram and leave a review below 🙂
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Rice
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Calories: 197
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Protein: 3