Bhelpuri

Bhelpuri

Alternative names	Bhel (Maharashtra), (Gujarat), Bhela, Churu Muri / Churmuri (Karnataka), Jhaal Muri (Kolkata), Jhāla Mudhi (Orissa)
Type	Snack, chaat
Place of origin	India
Region or state	Maharashtra, Nepal, Gujarat
Main ingredients	Puffed rice, sev
Variations	Sevpuri, dahi puri, sev papdi chaat

Bhelpuri (Marathi: भेळ, Gujarati: ભેળ, Nepali: चट्टपटे) is a savoury snack, and is also a type of chaat. It is made out of puffed rice, vegetables and a tangy tamarind sauce.

Bhel is often identified with the beaches of Mumbai, such as Girguam or Juhu. Bhelpuri is thought to have originated within the Gucafes and street food stalls of Mumbai, and the recipe has spread to most parts of India where it has been modified to suit local food availability. It is also said to be originated from Bhadang (भडंग), a spicy namkeen from Western Maharashtra. Dry Bhel is made from Bhadang, The Kolkata variant of Bhelpuri is called Jhaal Muri (meaning "spicy puffed rice"). A native Mysore variant of Bhelpuri is known as Churumuri or Churmuri in Bangalore. A dry variant of Bhelpuri popularly known as Bhadang is consumed after garnishing with onions, coriander and lemon juice.

There is no clear mention of when and where bhelpuri was first prepared, but it likely originated in cafes and street food stalls of Mumbai. Bhelpuri belongs to the family of chaats, which are salty and spicy snacks sold on carts throughout India.

Bhelpuri is made from puffed rice and Sev (a fried snack shaped like thin noodles made from besan flour) mixed with potatoes, onions, Chat masala and chutney and mixture (a mix of different types of fried snacks), as the base of the snack. Bhelpuri has a balance of sweet, salty, tart and spicy flavors, with different textures as well, including crispy and crunchy from the puffed rice and fried sev. Other commonly used ingredients include tomatoes, and chilis added to the base; In northern India recipes also made by adding boiled potatoes cut into small pieces.

...
Wikipedia