Bhel Puri

There's something very comforting about eating chaat. You know what I mean? It's comforting against all odds. Its usually not hot, usually not smooth. Think about it - its cold food, crunchy, even has raw onions which usually is such a turn off! Yet, chaat beats out all this and emerges as one of our favorite comforting foods. When I eat it, I just feel good - feels like I'm home - feels like you want to cuddle up with a great book or chat with an old friend. Feels like the only available program on tv is oliyum oliyum and its almost 8:00 on friday nights! Feels like a tearjerker Shivaji movie - or a feel good kick ass Rajini movie - or a romantic kamal movie. Well..it feels like chaat.


I can't believe I wrote so much about chaat. I need a life!


Anyways, my inlaws are here now. And its friday today. So, we all wanted to eat something different - something out of the ordinary. So, it was my husband's on-demand menu - Bhel Puri.


I kind of take the easy step when making Bhel Puri. I do buy the bhel mix from stores here. If you do get it in your store - just go for it. Its a much more sensible option than buying 5 different things and mixing them up and having a lot of leftovers.


I do make the green chutney at home as I love the taste of the homemade chutney. But, for the red chutney, I have this great little indian place close by that makes a real good red chutney. I have tried to make it many times and it has turned out good. But I never get the red color that they do - maybe they add beets or something. So, I buy my red chutney from them. End of story.


Here's the recipe for green chutney - I also used the same to make Samosa chaat (another post in my blog)


1 pack of fresh green pudina (mint leaves)
2 packs of fresh cilantro
a couple of green chillies
about 1/2-1 cup of peanuts
about half an onion chopped up
one tbsp of yogurtDhaniya-Jeera powder
Salt to taste.

Blend everything together - green chutney is ready!


Other add-ons for Bhel Puri -


Boiled potatos - about 2 -3. Boil them and mash it up with your hand into small pieces - Don't mash them completely into a paste. If you do, change your menu to something else like Aloo Parathas or Potato podimas!
Tomatoes - about 3-4 - cut into small pieces
Onions - about 1 cup - chopped into fine bits.
Green Chillies - 1-2 choped finely
Cilantro - chop finely - enough to garnish on top
Roasted peanuts - about 1/2 cup
Salt and pepper to sprinkle on top
Green Chutney
Red Chutney




In a big mixing bowl, add the potatoes, tomatoes, onions, green chill, and peanuts. Mix 2-3 tbsp of both the green chutney and red chutney to this and mix well. Add salt and pepper(optional again) to taste.




Now, just before eating, add the bhel mix to this and mix it up well. Don't do this if your husband is watching the game and will not eat for the next 45 mins. Mix it up fresh when your folks are at the table ready to eat. The bhel will turn soggy after a few minutes.





Serve on a plate and sprinkle chopped cilantro on top. If you have fine thin sev, add a little bit on the top.

Pull out that old Rajini movie and watch while eating! Enjoy!