Puffed Rice · Tossed Snack Mix

Jhal Muri

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There's no fixed recipe — a good jhal muri vendor tosses it together by feel, adjusting mustard oil and chili on the spot for each customer.

Puffed rice is tossed with mustard oil, chopped onion, green chili, tomato, and often peanuts or crunchy chanachur, then served in a paper cone. Vendors carry the ingredients in a portable cart or basket and mix each portion fresh.

Why it's made this way: The dry, puffed-rice base needs almost no cooking equipment, which made jhal muri an easy dish for mobile vendors to prepare on the spot with just a mixing bowl and a handful of ingredients.