I was flipping through past recipes on PhamFatale and realized that while I published the picture, I didn’t share the recipe for poha chudva. The difference in this recipe from other chudva recipes is the addition of rich and creamy Brazil nuts. I deep-fried them with other nuts and mixed them with homemade-puffed rice called "poha". It’s a great fusion South American and Indian rice trail mix flavored with many Indian spices.
I didn’t make the snack too spicy so the little ones could enjoy it too. We made several batches and packed them in cute Chinese takeout boxes for sharing.
1. Info for Poha Chudva Recipe (Indian Puffed Rice Trail Mix)
- Cook Time: unavailable
- Total Time: unavailable
- Servings: 20
- Calories: unavailable
2. Ingredients for Poha Chudva Recipe (Indian Puffed Rice Trail Mix)
- 2 cups fresh curry leaves, cut in thirds with shears
- ½ pound peanuts, blanched
- ½ pound Brazil nuts
- 1 pound cashew nuts
- 1 pound almonds, blanched and halved
- 1½ pounds plump golden raisins
- granulated sugar, to taste
- salt, to taste
- citric acid, to taste
- turmeric powder, to taste
- ¼ cup dry coconut slices, slightly toasted
- 160 fluid ounces canola oil
- 2 (2-pound) packages parched rice (see tips)
3. Directions:
- Line 6 (19.5" x 14.5" x 2.75") aluminum foil pans with absorbent paper towels.
- Heat about ⅓ cup of oil in a small saucepan. When the oil is hot and bubbly, add the curry leaves and cook until fragrant. Set aside.
- Heat about 4 cups oil in a medium-sized saucepan. When the oil is hot and bubbly, put the peanuts into a strainer and place the strainer in the oil. Cook for about 4 minutes until the peanuts are slightly brown. Remove as much oil as possible. Repeat the same procedure with the Brazil nuts. Transfer to one aluminum foil pan. Immediately add the raisins and sprinkle 1 tablespoon citric acid and 1½ teaspoons salt. Toss well.
- Dry roast the almonds until they’re nicely golden. Transfer to the same aluminum foil pan used for the peanuts. Immediately add the cashew nuts and sprinkle about ¼ cup sugar, 1½ teaspoons citric acid, ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder and ¾ teaspoon salt. Toss well and set aside.
- Using the same oil, re-heat until the oil is hot and bubbly and put one cup of parched rice into the strainer. Place the strainer in the oil and fry the rice over high heat. It will become puffed rice instantly (about 3-5 seconds). Remove the strainer from the oil. Drain as much oil as possible. Transfer to another aluminum foil pan. Immediately sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar, ¾ teaspoon citric acid, ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder.
- At this point, it becomes very repetitive. Fry one cup of parched rice at a time. Season with the same spices (2 tablespoons sugar, ¾ teaspoon citric acid, ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder).
- When everything is ready, combine the puffed rice, coconut, nuts and raisins on 3 new aluminum foil pans. Add the curry leaves mixture with as little oil as you can. Toss well using two large spatulas. Taste. You want to make sure the mixture is properly seasoned (sweet, sour and slightly salted).This recipe yields 2 (19.5" x 14.5" x 2.75") aluminum foil pans. It’s perfect for serving large groups.
- Serve with masala chai.
- Bon appétit!