Bhel Puri: the most delicious Indian street food

Bhel Puri is an Indian street food: a mix of fresh tomato, crunchy peanut, tangy tamarind and crispy puffed wheat, it is a flavour and texture riot. It's simple to make as most of the ingredients are thrown together - but to preserve all the lovely textures and avoid a soggy mess, make sure you mix the dry ingredients in to the wet just before serving. This is great as a snack, starter or side dish alongside a spread of other curry dishes. I've simplified the recipe to make it easier to find the ingredients in standard supermarkets - and while the alternatives suggested might not make for a 100% authentic puri, it will still be delicious!

Serves 4 as a snack, starter or side dish.

Ingredients:
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 red chili, finely chopped
Half a red onion, chopped
Half a teaspoon of chaat masala spice mix (available in Waitrose)
Small handful of mint leaves, chopped
Small handful of corriander leaves, chopped
1 teaspoon soft brown sugar
1 tablespoon tamarind paste
Juice of 1-2 limes
15g puffed rice (mamra - if you have trouble getting these and/or the sev, you could use rice crispies)
50g crunchy chickpea noodes (sev)
Handful of peanuts
4 poppadoms
Yogurt, to serve

Mix together the tomatoes, chili, onion, chaat masala, herbs, sugar, tamarind and lime juice then allow the flavours to mingle for 5 minutes. When ready to serve, add the mamra and sev. Stir, and you will hear the puffed rice popping. Spoon in to small bowls, topping with a spoonful of yogurt and crushed poppadom shards.