BOMBAY BHEL

There is nothing like the spicy, tangy, lip smacking street food of India. My mouth simply starts to salivate the minute I think about the "puchkaas"  (as they call them) of kolkata (elsewhere known as golguppas, mini puffed crackers filled with spicy water, mashed potatoes and spices), or the tikki chana and dahi bhalle of delhi, or off course the bhel, vada pao and pao bhaji of bombay.

I have been lucky enough to taste all of these right from where they belong. Well, its actually impossible not to taste street food growing up in India. Each city has its own speciality.

After moving to the US, I literally crave for these tastes and how much ever you try you can not get the same taste like you do back in India. You use exactly the same ingredients, exactly the same method, but alas......something is always missing. Maybe the whole feel of standing on the roadside and eating from a paper plate with people all around you.......

Well before I get nostalgic let me get down to my recipe. Bhel. This is a snack, street food item made out of puffed rice or murmura or muri. Its mixed with boiled potatoes, spices, chutneys, and lemon juice. Make it as hot as you want and you got yourself a tasty bowl of India right in your hands, awakening your senses and your taste buds.

This is my recipe for RECIPE MARATHON DAY 20

You will need

• boiled potatoes (diced)-1 cup
  
• onion diced- 1/2 cup
  
• coriander chopped- 1/2 cup
  
• muri/murmura/puffed rice-2 cups
  
• nylon sev (available at any indian grocery)- 1/2 cup
  
• papdi (thin fried crackers, available at indian grocery)- 4-5
  
• green chutney- 1/4th cup (make it at home or use store bought ones)
  
• tamarind chutney-1/4th cup (make it at home or use store bought ones)
  
• green chillies (chopped)-1 tsp
  
• peanuts-1/2 cup
  
• salt - to taste
  
• red chilly powder-1/2 tsp
  
• lemon juice- 1 tsp (or more, depending on your taste)
  

puffed rice

this is what sev looks like

chopped  coriander, onion and potatoes.

You have to 

1. take a bowl. add the murmura, potatoes, onions and the spices. mix it all up.
   
2. crush the papdi and add to the above mixture. 
   
3. mix in the chutneys and the peanut. taste. adjust flavouring if you need it more sour or spicy.
   
4. put it on a plate, sprinkle some nylon sev and garnish with coriander. 
   
5. indulge.......

note: you can keep everything ready, but mix everything only at the time of eating, as it tends to get soggy.

whats smelling so good in all the other marathon kitchens

1) DK 2) Siri 3) Srivalli 4) Ranji 5)PJ 6)Curry Leaf 7)Medha 8)Priya 9)Bhawna 10)Raaji 11)Ruchii 12)Anu 13)Kamala 14)Roopa 15)Divya Kudua 16)Rekha 17)Divya M 18)Lakshmi 19)Raaga 20)Lakshmi Venkatesh 21)Sripriya 22)Viji 23)Pavani 24)Kamalika25)Roochig