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| 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.
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| 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
-- Suparna
