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Churmur
চুরমুর (churmur): crushed puchka shells mashed into spiced potato, chickpeas and sour tamarind water
When you have eaten your fill of puchka at the stalls in Vivekananda Park or outside Gariahat market in the evening, the puchkawala will make you a churmur: the same crisp shells crushed into the same spicy potato filling with tamarind water, onion and coriander, served in a leaf bowl. It is part chaat, part crunchy salad, and puckeringly sour. Chef's tip: crush the shells into big shards, not crumbs, and fold them in last so some stay crisp.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz potatoesboiled and peeled
- 3 ½ oz cooked white chickpeas
- 2 tbsp tamarind pulp
- ¼ cup cold water
- 1 tsp roasted cumin powder
- ¾ tsp black salt (kala namak)
- 1 tsp chaat masala
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- 1 red onionfinely chopped
- 2 green chilliesfinely chopped
- ½ limejuiced
- ½ oz fresh corianderchopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Stir 2 tbsp tamarind pulp into ¼ cup cold water to make a thin, sour tamarind water.
1 minStep 2: Mash 10 ½ oz potatoes roughly in a bowl with 3 ½ oz cooked white chickpeas, leaving some chickpeas whole.
3 minStep 3: Add 1 tsp roasted cumin powder, ¾ tsp black salt (kala namak), 1 tsp chaat masala, ½ tsp red chilli powder, 1 red onion, 2 green chillies and the tamarind water and mix with your hand or a spoon until well seasoned and moist.
Step 4: Crush 16 20 puchka (pani puri) shells in your hands into large shards and fold them through. Common mistake: crushing all the shells to dust or mixing too early; churmur should crunch.
Step 5: Squeeze over ½ lime, scatter with ½ oz fresh coriander, crumble the remaining shells on top and serve straight away.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does churmur take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of cooked white chickpeas?
- Cannellini or butter beans, same amount.
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