What is Bhel Puri?
Bhel puri is a snack food that is a common part of Indian cuisine. As a favorite snack around Mumbai, the dish is usually considered a form of chaat, a family of snacks that are normally served on small plates that fit easily in the palm of the hand. While there are a number of different recipes for bhel puri, most include some combination of fruits, vegetables, and spices. There is some difference of opinion on exactly when bhel puri was first created. Many culturists believe that the earliest recipes called for the use of puffed rice combined with several fried snacks, some of them made with the use of chickpea flour. Adding to the flavor and texture of the snack, diced tomatoes, fresh onions and hot peppers are tossed with the puffed rice and crunchy flour based ingredients. It is not unusual for add some sort of fruit to the mixture, such as diced mango, shredded coconut, or some type of sweet chutney.
