That humble bag of puffed rice in your pantry is a blank canvas for flavour. Incredibly light and satisfyingly crunchy, murmura is the perfect base for snacks that can be as simple or complex as you wish. Here are some fresh ideas to get you started.
The Classic Bhel Puri Experience
The most famous avatar of puffed rice is undoubtedly bhel puri, a beloved street food snack. To create this explosion of textures and flavours, start by dry roasting your puffed rice to ensure it's perfectly crisp. Then, toss it in a large bowl with a mix of finely chopped raw onions, boiled potatoes, and tomatoes. For crunch, add roasted peanuts and a generous amount of sev, which are crispy chickpea flour noodles. The magic comes from the chutneys: a sweet and sour tamarind chutney and a spicy green chutney made from coriander and mint. Finish with a sprinkle of chaat masala for that characteristic tangy, savoury kick. Assemble it right before serving to prevent the puffed rice from getting soggy.
Spicy and Pungent Jhalmuri
Hailing from Bengal, jhalmuri is a fiery and pungent cousin to bhel puri. The name itself means 'spicy puffed rice'. The defining ingredient here is raw mustard oil, which provides a sharp, unmistakable flavour. Combine puffed rice with chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillies, boiled potatoes, and fresh coriander. Add-ins often include roasted peanuts, sprouted black chickpeas (kala chana), and crunchy snacks like chanachur (Bombay mix). The seasoning is a mix of salt, cumin powder, and chaat masala or a special jhalmuri masala. A squeeze of fresh lime juice at the end brightens all the flavours. Like bhel puri, it's a dish that needs to be mixed and eaten immediately for the best texture.
South Indian-Style Murmura Chivda
For a snack with a longer shelf life, try making a spicy murmura chivda or mixture. This version is a dry snack made by pan-frying puffed rice with spices. Start by heating oil in a pan and making a tempering (tadka) with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and green or dried red chillies. To this, add peanuts, roasted chana dal (dalia), and sometimes cashews, frying until they are golden and fragrant. Sprinkle in turmeric for colour and red chilli powder for heat. Finally, add the crisp puffed rice and toss everything together until each grain is coated in the spiced oil. A little sugar can be added to balance the spice. Once cooled, this can be stored in an airtight container for weeks.
Sweet and Crunchy Breakfast Bowls
Puffed rice isn't just for savoury snacks; it can also be the star of a quick breakfast or a light dessert. Use it as a healthier alternative to processed cereals. Simply add it to a bowl of yogurt and top with fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds for a delightful textural contrast. For a sweet treat, you can create puffed rice bars by mixing it with melted butter, honey or maple syrup, and pressing the mixture into a pan to set. Another popular sweet preparation is murmura chikki or ladoo, where puffed rice is bound together with a syrup made from melted jaggery and sometimes a hint of cardamom.
Beyond Indian Flavours
The versatility of puffed rice makes it a perfect ingredient for global flavours. For a simple, crunchy topping, toss puffed rice with a little olive oil and your favourite herbs before baking it lightly. Use this as a garnish for salads or soups to add a satisfying crunch without the heaviness of bread croutons. You can also create sweet and savoury bars by combining puffed rice with ingredients like melted chocolate and peanut butter. The key is to see puffed rice as a neutral, crunchy base ready to absorb any seasoning you throw at it, from Italian herbs to Mexican-inspired chilli-lime seasoning.
