What’s the fun if you didn’t chomp away on hot samosas, pyaaz, mirchi pakodas, spicy bhajiyas, vadapaav, momos and sipped steaming cups of adark waali chai in the monsoon season in India?
The rainy season is incomplete without these fried munchies and for most street chat and fried food sellers the rains are a time of maximum sales. But in case you are too lazy or too health conscious to eat these lip smacking, fried street foods try some homemade recipes.
“Monsoons also bring their share of hygiene and digestive problems. Choosing the right ingredients and preparing snacks and sauces at home could be one way to overcome this problem”, says food blogger Namita Seth. “Incorporating natural spices and ingredients such as ginger, garlic, black pepper or chillies that boost immunity and aid digestion should be used in the monsoon season to beat indigestion blues”, she adds.
Here are a few simple homemade piping hot and crispy treats you could try with some tulsi or masala chai.
BhelPuri – Crunchy, munchy, spicy, tangy and the mouthwatering bhelpuri is the most famous and easy to make snack, preferred in every part of country. You can make a bowl full of bhelpuri for the entire family with just two three cups of puffed rice or murmure (roasted or slightly fried), 1 cup of sev, a cup of onions and tomatoes, lemon juice and fresh coriander for garnishing. Just mix all the ingredients and green pudina chutney and sweet tamarind chutney, chopped green chillies and garlic to taste and your bhelpuri is ready within 5mins.
Bhutta Kebabs – Ever tried your favorite bhutta and kebabs together? Try this. Crush some corn to soften it and add mashed potatoes, chana powder, corn flour, salt, jeera powder, green chillies, coriander and red chilli powder. Mix all the ingredients well and prepare binding dough. Now take a baby corn and roll some dough mixture over it and bind it well. Deep fry it till it gets crispy and brown.
BesaniMirchi – For all those who love spicy hot food, besanimirchis are a delight. Easy to make and great to have on a rainy day! Curl up with a book and savor your besanimirchis with any homemade chutney or readymade sauce. Slit the green chillies lengthwise, saute the gram flour mixture in mustard oil,and stir continuously till it darkens. Fill the green chillies with the mixture when it cools. Saute the stuffed chillies till they turn glossy.
Stuffed Jalapenos- Do not feel guilty for having eaten fish in the monsoon… its legal now! This one’s a whole jalapeno filled treat with spicy tomato and fish mixture. Saute the fish in olive oil and green chilly. Crumble, and add onion and garlic.Also add tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add spices to taste. Stuff the jalapenos with the fish and decorate with parsley.
Now don’t think too much, enjoy the 'fried' fare because once in a while you can definitely indulge!
