Chaat Muri

'Chaat Muri' or Murir Chaat is a well-known name of a snack that's been savoured in Bengal since centuries ago. (Chaat= Spicy lick, Muri= Puffed Rice)

'Chaat Muri' is not a particular recipe to behold upon with certain instructions to follow, but it's only a mixture of favourite veggies or fruits along with the preferable amount of some spices to make the snack quite spicy. 'Chaat Muri' as what we Bengalis usually call it as a pet name to the snack is given splendidly, it is nothing but the famous 'Jhaal Muri' of Kolkata or the widely consumed 'Bhel Puri' of Mumbai.

Muri (Puffed Rice)

'Chaat Muri' is one of the most sorts out traditional Bengali street food which is well seasoned with mustard oil, puffed rice and a number of vegetables alongside. Traditionally if one would want to know the way Bengalis prepare the 'Puffed Rice', then you would need to visit a kitchen of a Bengali household situated anywhere in the suburbs of Kolkata or anywhere in West Bengal.

My forefathers belonged to a rural habitat where puffed rice was prepared and consumed on a daily basis especially in the mornings and evenings. They would use a thick rice straight brought up from their own crop fields, they themselves remove the husks from the rice, then parboil the rice in a huge clay pot, then drain the water and spread the boiled rice under the sunlight for the whole afternoon. Next day from the very early morning all the ladies would start frying the rice, one after the other they take their turn for frying in batches and it takes one whole day to finish up frying the wholesome amount of rice. The frying technique is the most ancient method where they heat a clay pot filled with sand, they then put the rice in the hot sand and keep stirring with a spatula made up with the sticks of dried coconut leaves. The fried puffed rice is then put in a big strainer to remove the sand and it comes out neat and clean to be eaten crisp and crunch, and also stored in huge containers for future daily use, they also sell it to the markets.

Well, that was a small recall of my native's method of preparing the 'Puffed Rice', this technique is still been followed in remote places in West Bengal and other Eastern regions of India, although modern technological methods have taken its place for the heavy demands in the markets. However, this machine made puffed rice are not good for health as it contains a huge quantity of Urea mixed to make the puffed rice more fluffy. But we city dwellers still rely on this machine made puffed rice as a quick breakfast cereal or snack foods, because following the age-old tradition is impossible for today's fast-paced population.

Chaat Muri

Now coming back to the 'Chaat Muri' that I'm talking in this section is a yummy treat to your evening hunger pangs with a cup of hot tea is enough to keep you full for at least two hours or even more. 'Chaat Muri' snack is gluten-free, low-calorie, easy and free from any adulterated spices. It does not require any method of recipe instructions as it is just mixing up all the ingredients together, however, given below is a small method of how this 'Chaat Muri' is prepared in my pantry. Head on!!

Tips:

1. Savour the "Chaat Muri' immediately after mixing all the veggies as it may release water once mixed with salt or sprinkle an adequate amount of salt at the end to avoid the moisture.
2. I've used these veggies in the pic, but there is no hard rule and you can choose your own favourite veggies.

[Veg]

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: Nil

Total Time: 5 minutes

Course: Main

Cuisine: Indian/ Bengali

Serves: 4

Measuring Items: 1 cup = 250 ml ; Teaspoon

Ingredients:

1. Puffed Rice (Muri)- 2 cups
2. Cucumber- 1 whole
3. Carrot- 1 whole
4. Onions- 2
5. Tomato- 3
6. Coconut- half portion
7. Green Chili- 3
8. Spring onion stalks- 2
9. Coriander leaves
10. Lemon juice
11. Green Peas- half a cup
12. Mustard oil- 2 Tsp
13. Chaat Masala- 2 Tsp
14. Salt- as per taste
15. Sev- half a cup

Method:

How to prepare 'Chaat Muri' with step by step pictures and instructions-

1. Chop all the vegetables.
   
2. Take a huge mixing bowl, put the puffed rice with salt and chaat masala.
   
3. Mix all the veggies with a dash of mustard oil and lemon juice on top of it.
   
4. Lastly, sprinkle sev, finely chopped coriander leaves and serve immediately.

There you go quick and easy 'Chaat Muri' snack is ready in less than 10 minutes. Enjoy this super yummy and light snack to take a break from your cooking schedules, or when you are not in a mood to stir anything in front of the hot gas flame, this snack serves the best option. This 'Chaat Muri' is a simple version of my preparation, but you can share your 'Muri' recipes with me. Till then enjoy cooking, serving and eating!!

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.