Share
Hardly there are any Indians who do not love to indulge in street foods. Among the wide range of street foods namely gol gappas, kathi roll, pav bhaji, dabeli, and others, bhel puri has acquired a prominent position in culinary world.
Hailing from Mumbai, bhel puri is one such snack that is loved by kids and adults alike. Bhel puri is a delightful combination of puffed rice mixed with tangy tamarind chutney, spicy green chutney, and a whole lot of fresh ingredients. Instead of relying on the street-side bhel puri all the time, you can easily make it at home. Making bhel puri at home helps you to customise according to preference and ensures freshness.
Here are some of the tips you can follow to achieve a perfect street-side bhel puri at home.
- Select High-Quality Ingredients
The USP of bhel puri lies in its use of fresh ingredients. First and foremost, your puffed rice should be fresh and crispy. You can use ripe tomatoes, crunchy onions, and crispy sec for added texture and flavour it up with a handful of fresh coriander leaves. Use freshly made tamarind and green chutney to spice up your flavouful bhel puri.
- Balance Of Flavors
Bhel puri is all about the perfect balance of sweetness, tanginess, spiciness, and savoury flavours. When you’re preparing the chutneys, adjust the sweetness and tartness according to your preference. The tamarind chutney should be sweet and tangy while the green chutney should be spicy and slightly tangy. Adjust with sweetness, spiciness, and tanginess as needed.
- Keep Ingredients Dry
It is important to keep the ingredients used in bhel puri to be dry as wet ingredients can make the dish go soggy. Before assembling the ingredients for bhel puri, make sure all the ingredients are dry. After washing the vegetables, drain the water and pat them dry with a paper towel. Also, store the puffed rice in an airtight container to keep it crispy and ready to use.
- Mixing Technique
What makes a bhel puri perfect is its mixing technique. Here, combine the puffed rice with vegetables, sev, and chutneys in a large bowl. Use your light hand to gently toss the ingredients together. Make sure that the ingredients are evenly coated with the chutneys, without crushing the puffed rice. Aim for a uniform distribution of flavours and textures throughout the mixture.
- Serve Immediately
Bhel puri is always enjoyed fresh and crisp, thus it is important to serve it immediately after making it. After the mixing process is done, transfer the bhel puri to serving plates and bowls and garnish with extra sev and chopped coriander leaves for added crunch and freshness. Serving immediately prevents the puffed rice from becoming soggy.
- Customize To Taste
The advantage of making bhel puri at home is that you can customise it according to your preferences. Feel free to experiment with additional ingredients like boiled potatoes, roasted peanuts, or papdi for extra flavour and texture. You can also adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less green chutney and chilli powder according to taste.
