The Jhaalmuri Saga

The Jhaalmuri

Jhaalmuri is a roadside snack which consists of puffed rice or muri as the primary ingredient. It is prepared with a variety of ingredients like chopped onions, coconut, green chilli, raw mango and so on(the list continues) which are mixed with the muri and spiced up with mustard oil, salt and spices.

The most important ingredient for jhaalmuri is dust aka dhulo, which any bong can bet on..however there are healthy jhaalmuris, which are not considered to be kulin (elite) class. Bongs suffering from gass or ombol prepare plain muri tousled with little salt and oil. Some prefer a quite traditional version of muri mixed with onion, chillis and a dab of lemon juices while others like it with loads of spices.The jhaalmuri wallah prepares the mix live and gives u an option to choose your ingredients which would go with the muri. Comments keep flying  around the jhaalmuri corner ‘Dada amartay lonka deben na’, ‘Amartay peyaaj din’, ‘Ar ektu mashlaa din’ etc.  These secret of the jhaalmuri lies in the art of blending and each jhaalmuri wallah has his/her trademark mix.

The spread

Newspapers are an inseparable part of jhaalmuri. The taste of jhaalmuri is enhanced when wrapped in days old newspaper thonga or cones. This thongas are prepared overnignt by the jhaalmuri-wallah. The sizes are kept according to the prices one would pay for their evening snacks. The cones are prepared on the spot. The expert hand of the jhaalmuri wallah deftly curves the finest cones for their special jhaalmuri mix.

Jhaalmuri corners are available around markets, multiplexes, main roads, schools, colleges and office paras. Bongs who prefer window shopping or shopping in the multiplexes are often found in the jhaalmuri corner perched outside after their shopping. Jhaalmuri corner around schools and colleges would find teenagers hovering around them. The jhaalmuri corner by the office para has its significance too. From pay hikes to pnpc, EMA’s to breakups everything finds a place in the evening adda around jhaalmuri. It is while munching the jhaalmuri some great ideas come to being. One such is the birth of this blog. It was in one jhaalmuri corner where the idea of “Jhaalmuri” was conceived by the gang.

Jhaalmuri can also be prepared at home. But I can assure you it would never be as tasty as the roadside one. The jhaalmuri prepared by the jhaalmuri wallah mixed with dirt, dust, grease wrapped in a browned newspaper tastes much better. Anyway try it at home on a rainy evening.

Ingredients: a mug full of muri, chopped onions, chopped green chillis, chopped coconut, Haldiram bhujia, ½ tsp red chilli powder, 1 tbsp mustard oil and salt to taste

Preparation: Mix all the above ingredients thoroughly and add a dab of lime juice. Garnish with coriander leaves.


-- Suparna