Bhelpuri is a savoury snack originating from
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
, and is also a type of
chaat
Chaat, or chāt ( IAST: ''cāṭ)'' () is a family of savoury snacks that originated in North India, typically served as an hors d'oeuvre or at roadside tracks from stalls or food carts across South Asia in North India, Pakistan, Nep ...
. It is made of
puffed rice
Puffed rice and popped rice (or pop rice) are types of puffed grain made from rice commonly eaten in the traditional cuisines of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia. It has also been produced commercially in the West since 1904 and is popu ...
, vegetables and a tangy
tamarind
Tamarind (''Tamarindus indica'') is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is probably indigenous to tropical Africa. The genus ''Tamarindus'' is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. It belongs to the family Fabaceae.
...
sauce, and has a crunchy texture.
Bhel is often identified as a 'beach snack', strongly associated with the beaches of
Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the '' de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the secon ...
, such as
Chowpatty or
Juhu
Juhu (Pronunciation: ͡ʒuɦuː is a posh and upmarket neighbourhood of Mumbai. It is known for the sprawling Juhu Beach. It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea to the west, Versova to the north, Vile Parle to the east and Santacruz to the sou ...
. One theory for its origin is that it was invented at a restaurant called Vithal near
Victoria Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (officially Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bombay station code: CSMT ( mainline)/ST (suburban)), is a historic railway terminus and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
The terminus was d ...
. According to another theory, bhelpuri was conceived by the city's
Gujarati community, who made it by adding complex flavours to the simple
North Indian
North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Central ...
chaat
Chaat, or chāt ( IAST: ''cāṭ)'' () is a family of savoury snacks that originated in North India, typically served as an hors d'oeuvre or at roadside tracks from stalls or food carts across South Asia in North India, Pakistan, Nep ...
. Gujarati housewives began making it, and invented several varieties like the pakodi puri, and as it spread in popularity so many different communities made their own regional variations.
The original Mumbai recipe has spread to most parts of India, where it has been modified to suit local food availability. Dry bhel is made from bhadang, a spicy
namkeen from Western Maharashtra, and is consumed after garnishing with onions, coriander and lemon juice. The
Bengali variant of bhelpuri is called ''
jhalmuri
Jhalmuri ( bn, ঝালমুড়ি, ) is a popular street snack popular in Bengali/Bihar/ Odia, made of puffed rice and an assortment of spices, vegetables, chanachur and mustard oil. It is popular in Bangladesh and in the neighbouring ...
'' (meaning "spicy puffed rice"). A local
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karn ...
variant of bhelpuri is known as ''churumuri'' or ''churmuri''.
Commonly used ingredients
Bhelpuri is made from puffed rice and
sev (a fried snack shaped like thin noodles made from
besan
Gram flour or kadala maavu is a pulse flour made from a variety of ground chickpea called Bengal gram or ''kaala chana''. It is a staple ingredient in the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent, including in Indian, Bangladeshi, Burmese, Nepali ...
flour) mixed with potatoes,
onion
An onion (''Allium cepa'' L., from Latin ''cepa'' meaning "onion"), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus ''Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the oni ...
s,
chat masala
Chaat masala, also spelled chat masala, is a powder spice mix, or masala, originating from South Asia, typically used to add flavor to chaat. It typically consists of amchoor (dried mango powder), cumin, coriander, dried ginger, salt (often blac ...
and
chutney
A chutney is a spread in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Chutneys are made in a wide variety of forms, such as a tomato relish, a ground peanut garnish, yogurt or curd, cucumber, spicy coconut, spicy onion or mint dipping sauce.
...
and a mixture of other 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
tomato
The tomato is the edible berry of the plant ''Solanum lycopersicum'', commonly known as the tomato plant. The species originated in western South America, Mexico, and Central America. The Mexican Nahuatl word gave rise to the Spanish word , ...
es and
chilis added to the base. In northern India recipes also include boiled potatoes cut into small pieces.
See also
*
Chotpoti
Chotpoti ( bn, চটপটি ), is a Bengali street food mostly popular in Bangladesh, along with other urban areas. The word chotpoti, translates to 'spicy.'
The dish consists mainly of potatoes, chickpeas, and onions and is usually topped with ...
*
Phuchka
*
Sev mamra
*
Ghugni
Ghugni ( bn, ঘুগ্নি, or, ଘୁଗ୍ନି) or ghuguni ( as, ঘুগুনি, or, ଘୁଗୁନି) is a curry made of peas or chickpeas. Different variations of the dish use different types of peas or chickpaes, such as blac ...
References
{{Street food
Indian snack foods
Jharkhandi cuisine
Indian fast food
Culture of Mumbai
Gujarati cuisine
Bengali cuisine
Street food