Sunday 30 October 2016

Churmur Recipe / Kolkata Street Food Churmur Chaat Recipe / Indian Street Food


Churmur or Churmur Chaat is a tasty street side snack from Kolkata, India. It has boiled potato as its base and the tongue tapping build up of this snack is done by adding veggies, condiments, fritters, flavoured liquids etc. resulting in a flavour bomb which is sure to delight your senses. There are different ways of making this and every street food vendor selling Churmur has his own touches added to this. What's wonderful about this snack is that you do not have to visit Kolkata to experience that immense flavour burst. You can make it in your home by following my easy step-wise pictorial recipe, given right below. But one thing I must tell you, whenever you visit the City Of Joy, Kolkata do surely stop by at a roadside Phuchka Cart and try Churmur from there.



As Diwali Celebrations are in full swing with fairy lights adorning buildings and the night sky is sparking with the burst of fireworks, I think about far away places from India and wonder, do Indians living there celebrate Diwali with pomp and show. I am amazed to read this article published a few days back in Gulf News, says that Leicester in United Kingdom, hosts the largest Diwali carnival outside India. The Diwali in New York is extraordinary and quite a legend. Times Square becomes resplendent with eight hours of song, dance, Bollywood drama, fashion shows and digital fireworks. Sydney's Opera house is radiant in a golden hue on Diwali Night. 
My Friend Janner Amoz posted a beautiful picture from Indonesia to wish his friends Happy Diwali ~ https://www.instagram.com/p/BMLS_KNDi8N/?hl=en
Another dear friend +Shana Shameer  posted pictures of decorated streets in Singapore ~ https://plus.google.com/+SimplesRecipes/posts/cytFCpuBb7m
Even the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the very first time this year, lit up to mark Diwali, amazing isn't it? In my home away from home, Dubai too the festivities were quite palpable. Everywhere the fairy lights made their appearance, so did the Laddoos and kaju katlis and also men in kurtas and women in silk sarees.


I am totally in love with these colouful diyas. When lit they remind me of happy things. That is what Diwali is all about, happiness, light, smiles and loads of sweets. I pray and wish that these lights of Diwali brighten the hearts of one and all, so that they only love and erase any malice from their hearts. We have been gifted such a beautiful planet to live in, so let's not waste our time in wars, hatred or anything negative. Let's together bask in it's bounty and fill this world with compassion, smiles and peace. It's not at all difficult, trust me. If we all will we can. No one is born evil and every person has loads of goodness inherent within. 


CHURMUR RECIPE ~


AUTHOR ~ PIYALI MUTHA
SERVES ~ 4
CUISINE ~ INDIAN / BENGALI
TYPE ~ SNACK / STREET FOOD / CHAAT
TIME ~ 10 MINUTES PREPATION + 20 MINUTES COOKING + 10 MINUTES ASSEMBLING

INGREDIENTS ~

1) 1 Tomato, medium sized, chopped
2) 1 Red Onion, medium sized, finely chopped
3) 2 Potato, medium sized, boiled
4) 8 pieces Gram Flour Fritter / Besan Pakora
5) 2 Tbsp Yellow Peas, boiled
6) 1 Tsp Red Chilli Powder
7) 2 Tsp Bhaja Moshla (click on Bhaja Moshla to get the easy homemade recipe)
8) 1 Tbsp Tamarind Pulp
9) 4 Tbsp Water, to dilute the tamarind pulp and make tamarind water
10) 16 pieces Fried Crisp Puri(puffed up semolina balla) / GolGappa / Panipuri / Phuchka (Avaiable in Indian Stores easily or you can easily make them at home by following my dear friend's brilliantly described recipe Padma ~ Masalakorb ~ Puri Recipe for Pani Puri)
11) 1 Tbsp chopped coriander leaves
12) 2 Tbsp Deep Fried Gram Flour Fine Noodles / Sev
13) 2 Tbsp Savoury Deep Fried Gram Flour droplets / Khara Boondi


FOR THE GRAM FLOUR FRITTERS ~

1) 4 Tbsp Fram Flour, Besan
2) 1/4 Th Tsp Red Chilli Powder
3) 1/4 Th Tsp Salt
4) 1 large pinch Baking Soda
5) 1/2 Cup Oil for frying
6) Water to make the batter


MAKE CHURMUR CHAAT WITH ME IN EASY STEPS ~

TO MAKE THE GRAM FLOUR FRITTERS ~

1) In a bowl take gram flour, salt, baking soda, red chilli powder.
Prepare the batter for the fritters by adding water little by little.
The batter should not be runny but should easily fall off a spoon when the spoon is slightly tilted.

2) Heat oil in a pan. When it smokes, take a spoonful of the batter and gently leave it in the hot oil. Repeat the same with the rest of the batter. 
Let the fritters fry. Reduce the heat, to allow them to cook completely. High heat makes the fritters crisp on the outside, leaving them uncooked inside.
Once the fritters become golden on one side, gently flip them over.
Fry the fritters for a few more seconds till done. Switch off the heat.
Transfer the fritters into a kitchen napkin to allow excess oil to be absorbed. Immediately put the fritters into a bowl containing 1/2 Cup water with a large pinch of salt. Initially the fritters will float on the top. Leave them there till they settle at the bottom on the bowl, which should not take more than a minute. Then take the fritters out after squeezing the water out of them and keep them on a plate ready to use.

3) You can boil the potatoes and skin them ahead or simultaneously while you are working on steps 1,2 & 3. Similarly boil yellow peas and keep them ready to use. 
For the Tamarind water, Mix the tamarind Pulp in 6~8 Tbsp water and set aside.
Chop onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves and keep ready.

FOR ASSEMBLING CHURMUR CHAAT 

The list of things to be assembled. Take a look at the picture below. The list is from bottom to top anti-clockwise.
1) Mixing bowl with boiled skinned potatoes.
2) Chopped Tomatoes.
3) Fried Gram Flour Noodles.
4) Tamarind Water.
5) Chopped Onions.
6) Boiled Yellow peas.
7) Gram Flour Fritters.
8) Red Chilli Powder.
9) Salt.
10) Puffed Semolina Balls or Puri / Phuchka.
11) Chopped Coiriander leaves.
12) Fried Gram flour droplets.
13) Bhaja Moshla (Not in this picture)

TO MAKE THE CHURMUR CHAAT ~
1) Mash the potatoes.
2) Add Chopped Tomatoes and onions.
3) Mash the gram flour fritters and add next.
4) Add boiled yellow peas and tamarind water.
5) Sprinkle Bhaja Moshla.
6) Finally crush the Puffed Semolina Balls / Puris / Phuchkas
7) Delicately Mix everything.
8) Your Churmur Chaat is almost ready.
9) Finally top it up with Fried Gram droplets /Khara Boondi and fried gram flour noodles / Sev.
10) Sprinkle the chopped coriander leaves.

Mouthwatering, tongue tickling, Churmur or Churmur Chaat is ready to serve. Lap it up with a smile.
Make your festive gatherings and every other celebrations fun with this Chaat.

No comments:

Post a Comment