Muri Bhaja (Fried Puffed Rice)

Muri or Puffed Rice is the most common and popular tea time snacks in the Bengali families. It is prepared by frying the puffed rice in a wok with some mustard oil and dry red chilies which brings that pungent hot flavor. Muri is also a very popular street food in India, often served with fried peanuts and Namkeens (savory snacks). Growing up, Churmura was my favorite snack. Sold by street vendors, it is prepared by combining roasted Muri with some savory snacks like Seo, Namkeens along with onion, lemon juice, tomato and fried peanuts. It has a spicy, tangy flavor and there was a time when it used to be my favorite. If you have eaten this snack you must be smiling right now because it just brings to mind all those happy childhood memories.

Today I am going to share the fried Muri recipe. This tastes great with Mathris and can be prepared within minutes. So, while the water is boiling in the tea kettle for the tea, lets make some Muri Bhaja.

Ingredients:

• Mustard Oil - 2 tablespoons
• Dried Red Chilies – 2, broken
• Salt – a pinch or two
• Puffed Rice – 3- 4 cups

Directions:

• Take a big wok and heat it on high heat.
• Add the oil in it and allow it to reach smoking point.
• Reduce the heat to medium low and after a minute or two add the Dried Red Chilies.
• Add the Puffed Rice and fry it. 
• Add the Salt and once the Rice starts getting reddish brown, turn off the heat and move the wok from the hot burner. 
• Serve immediately with hot Mathris and a cup of tea.

Tips:

• Puffed Rice are delicate and even a little heat will continue to roast them so transfer them to the serving plates as soon as you are done.
• You can use Canola Oil and fry the Puffed Rice in it till it turns golden brown.

Recommended Reading:

• Mathri (Savory Indian Cookies)
• Alu Koraishutir Ghugni (Mamma’s Potatoes and Peas)
• Kabiraji
• Egg Devil (Bengali recipe of Croquettes with egg and minced meat/ Indian Scotch Eggs)
• Besan Mathri (Deep Fried Flaky Gram Flour Cookies)