Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for his playful interactions with fellow party leaders. On Wednesday evening, he shared a reel on Instagram where he can be seen enjoying a popular street food with fellow NDA leaders at the NDA meeting. Scroll down to read the details.
PM Modi's Jhal Muri Moment
In the reel shared on Instagram, he can be seen instructing a party worker to serve him the famous street food—Jhal Muri. With a bright smile, he says in the video, "Ye wala chahiye." The party member can be seen mixing chopped raw onion into a small bowl of Jhal Muri, while a big bowl mixed with all the dry ingredients can be seen in the video as well.
This is not the first time PM Modi has been seen enjoying the popular street food of Bengal. On April 19, he paused between rallies in West Bengal to try Jhal Muri too, and the reel went viral in no time. In the clip, he was seen asking the shopkeeper to make the snack. He says, "Bhai hamein apna jhalmuri khilao." He further adds, "Kitne ka hota hai apka acha wala jhalmuri." To which the seller replies, "10 ka 20 ka, bus yehi." PM Modi smiles and replies, "Jo bhi hai bana do." When he offered to pay, the vendor initially declined before accepting the money after insistence. On a candid note, when the vendor asked whether to add onion or not, PM replied, "Haan khate hain, bus dimag nahi khate."
What is Jhal Muri?
Jhal Muri is a popular snack from India, particularly in Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand. It is prepared by simply tossing the selected ingredients together. A simple translation of the name reveals what it is all about; "jhal" means spicy, and "muri" stands for puffed rice, which is also the main ingredient of the dish, according to Taste Atlas. The key ingredient of this street snack is muri or puffed rice, which is mixed in a deep bowl along with roasted peanuts, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, sliced onions, and various spices such as chaat masala and cumin powder. It offers a unique kick to the palate, which comes from raw mustard oil, added to mix the spices well with puffed rice. This savory snack comes packaged in a thonga—a paper cone—and can usually be purchased at various street food stalls.
What Makes Jhal Muri a Special Street Snack?
Burst of Flavour
The use of lemon juice, chaat masala, achar masala, green chili, and more offers a true burst of flavour that complements the crunchiness of puffed rice and makes it a comforting snack.
Light and Satisfying
This no-cook snack is very light and can be digested easily. Ingredients like puffed rice, peanuts, and chana make it quite satisfying and boost gut health.
Healthy and Nourishing
It is low in calories and fat. Puffed rice is light on the stomach and easy to digest, making Jhal Muri a good snack option for all age groups, including those who prefer lighter meals. According to celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, it makes for a great evening snack for weight management.
Affordable
In the present time, when a sandwich or pakoda costs at least Rs 50-60 per plate, Jhal Muri is still available for Rs 10-20 in local markets in many states.
Aroma of Raw Mustard Oil
One thing that makes this street food truly special is the use of raw mustard oil, which adds a pungent, earthy aroma unique to Bengali cuisine.
How to Make Jhal Muri at Home
Ingredients
- 1 cup puffed rice
- 1 onion
- 1 tomato
- 1 green chili
- 4 tbsp sev
- 1 tsp achar masala
- 1 tbsp coriander leaves
- 1 tbsp roasted chana
- 2 tbsp roasted peanuts
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp chaat masala
- 1 tbsp raw mustard oil
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Method
Chop the veggies and set them aside. Take a deep mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well until combined well. Serve fresh.
Images Courtesy: istock
