Homemade Jhalmuri

This Aval Mix from Sri Krishna Sweets is what really makes the difference and its only 50 rupee a pack, that's about $1.05. It's a mix of puffed rice, fried dough and nuts pre-seasoned with all sorts of Indian spices. Eliminating half the work from making Jhaal Muri at home.

(1) Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, boiled potatoes and cilantro into little cubes. I like to add in onion.

(2) Mix in tamarind paste, mustard oil and garnish with lime.

(3) Add in 1 packet of Aval Mix or maybe just half a packet if you like more salad. 

There are other brands of Indian spiced puffed rice around for $1 or $2 if you cannot find the above brand. It sounds easy to make but some prep work is required, tamarind paste needs to be soaked in hot water first before straining, potatoes have to be boiled before mixing into the salad.

This Indian salad is fresh and spicy, the perfect pick-me-up for weekday lunches. I would recommend refrigerating the vegetables before mixing in the spiced puffed rice to make a cold salad for hot summer days. 

This dish reminds me of yusheng, only yusheng has more Chinese flavors to it. Talking about Chinese flavors in Indian food, there's this Indian Muslim place near my place. The Kambing Soup is almost like herbal mutton soup with a little mee soto seasoning thrown in and its served with toasted focacia bread. The marrow was completely melted down into the soup, excellent stuff. 

The murtabak was just freshly chopped onions and canned sardines stuffed into prata. I had to wait 10 mins for it, it was good but not exactly Indian I guess.