Mundakki Churmuri / Puffed Rice instant snack.

 Mundakki Churmuri / Puffed Rice instant snack.

In the temple town of Udupi , where I spent my childhood days, there is a circular ‘Car Steet’,  aound and inside which are the famous Ashta Mutts (Eight Mutts), each one of which, headed by a Swamiji,  would be worshipping the Deity, Lord Krishna, for 2 years by turns. Mornings and paricularly all evenings there would be huge crowd of devotees visiting the Udupi Krishna Temple. By the road side on this car street, among others there would be some carts selling  ‘Churmuri’. They dish out this spicy, tongue tickling ‘Churmuri’ instantly on order for a continuous stream of people from all walks of life. This was one of the U S P of Udupi Car street.   

It can be prepared in 3-4 minutes flat, served in a paper cone and has to be eaten instantly, before the crisp puffed rice becomes soggy. It goes very well at home also , as a snack along with a cup of steaming evening coffee or tea. 

Ingredients.
1) Crisp and good quality puffed rice - about 4-6 cups or 3 - 4 bowls.  2) Table salt and red chilli powder mixture  - about 1/2 tsp and 1 to 1 1/2 tsp respectively. 3) Sugar - about a small tsp.  4) One large onion chopped fine.  5) Coriander leaves - chopped fine.  6) Lime juice 3 - 4 tsps or one large lime.  7) Coconut oil -  3 to 4 tsps. 8) Optional - Aloo bhujia or Boondi, ready made from market  - say 1/2 small packet of ‘Town Bus’.  

Showing all ingredients - Mundakki, Coconut oil, Lime juice, Onion and Coriander leaves and mixture of salt, red chilli powder and sugar.

Method.
 Take the fresh crisp puffed rice in a large vessel or bowl, Chop fine and keep eady Onion, Coriander leaves and also lime juice. Mix the salt, Chilli powder and sugar.
 
Then quickly prepare the chumuri by slowly adding a generous quantity of coconut oil, constantly stirring the contents, to give a thin coating of oil to each grain of puffed rice, to make it water proof.  Then add the salt-chilli powder-sugar mixture and stir vigorously. Then add onion and coriander leaves  and lastly add the lime juice as you continue to stir the contents at a fast rate. Adding aloo bhujia or boondi is optional.

All ingredients quickly mixed and stirred vigorously.

Add aloo bhujia or boondi to add to crispness.

Serve in a bowl with steaming cup of Coffee/Tea.

Immediately serve in smaller bowls to the eagerly waiting consumers. To be eaten immediately along with hot steaming coffee or tea.

Preparation time about 5 - 6  minutes.
Serves 3 - 4 persons.