The Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook. Amrita Sondhi

Bhel Indian Tea Time Snack

      Bhel is a favorite “street food” in India and a special treat for guests. It looks festive and colorful when ingredients are served in individual bowls for guests to combine themselves on puris, much like tacos. Half the fun is putting them together to suit your personal taste.

Another way to serve this snack is to add all ingredients except lime wedges and chutneys to a large bowl, toss, and serve with lime wedges and chutney on the side so guests can add their own.

      3 cups puffed rice (may use cereal instead)

      1 onion, chopped

      • To reduce Pitta: omit

      2 tomatoes, diced

      • To reduce Pitta: omit

      2 cups potatoes, boiled and diced

      • To reduce Vata: use only a small amount or omit

      3 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

      ½ cup fine sev (see note)

      2 cups mung bean sprouts, parboiled (see Sprouting)

      ¼ cup almonds, crushed

      • To reduce Kapha: omit

      1 lime, sliced into wedges

      4 tbsp green chutney (Cilantro Mint Chutney or Cilantro Garlic Chutney)

      • To reduce Pitta: use version without chilies

      4 tbsp Tamarind Chutney (Tamarind Chutney)

      • To reduce Pitta and Kapha: omit

      Salt to taste

      10–12 Bhel Puris (Bhel Puris)

      Serve each ingredient (except puris) in separate bowls so guests can make their own combinations on a puri.

      Makes 5–6 servings (2 puris per person).

       Fine sev is a snack that is made of thin strands of dough (made from gram flour) and deep-fried until crispy. It looks like golden angel hair pasta that has been broken into small pieces. Salt and spices are added as flavoring. Fine sev can be found at Indian grocery stores.

Puris & Chat

      This is another favorite savory street food snack. If you can’t find puris at your local Indian grocery stores, or make them yourself (Bhel Puris), use circular tortilla chips.

      1 cup potatoes, boiled and cubed

      ½ cup Tamarind Chutney (Tamarind Chutney)

      4 tsp whole cumin seeds, toasted

      3 fresh green chilies, finely chopped

      • To reduce Pitta: omit

      ½ cup plain yogurt, whipped up and runny

      3 tsp cayenne pepper

      12 Bhel Puris (Bhel Puris)

      Serve each ingredient (except puris) in separate bowls. You or your guests can pop a hole in a puri and stuff with 1 tsp diced potato, 1 tsp tamarind chutney, and a pinch each of cumin seeds and green chilies. Add 1 tsp yogurt sprinkled with a pinch of cayenne.

      Makes 4–6 servings (2 or 3 puris per person).

      Deviled Eggs with Green Chutney