Churumuri Alert! Try Karnataka's Favourite Girmit At Home

Maharashtra has bhel puri, Andhra Pradesh has Murmura, West Bengal has Jhal Muri. Everyone is familiar with some type of delectable chaat made from murmura (puffed rice). In Karnataka, this bracket of chaat made from puffed rice is collectively known as Churumuri and has many different variants. 

Unlike bhel which has wet elements in the form of tamarind or chilli chutney, Churumuri is usually made of dry elements. Each region of Karnataka has it's own depending on the local tastes and in the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad, Karnataka’s second-largest municipality, the go-to Churumuri is Girmit. 

Girmit, also sometimes known as Karnataka mandakki upkari is usually served alongside mirchi bajjis in the evenings as a sundowner munchie with chai. The main flavour bomb is a spicy chutney or gojju made with onions and tamarind. It’s spicy and crunchy and the best part is that the gojju can be made in bulk and added to murmura whenever you feel the Girmit craving.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups puffed rice
  • ¼ cup oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 sprig curry leaves
  • 4 crushed garlic cloves
  • 3 green chillies finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • A big pinch hing 
  • 2 medium onions finely chopped
  • ¼ cup tamarind pulp
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • Salt to taste

For Garnish:

  • 2 tablespoon onion finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoon tomato finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon coriander leaves
  • 2 tablespoon fried gram powder
  • ¼ cup sev 
  • 2 tablespoon fried peanuts
  • 2-4 fried green chillies

Method

  • Soak the tamarind in warm water for 15 minutes and then squeeze out the pulp.
  • Heat some oil in a kadhai, slit some chillies and drop them in to fry. Sprinkle with salt and keep aside.
  • Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds into the oil and let them splutter before adding garlic, chopped green chillies, curry leaves, turmeric and hing. 
  • Next add the onions and cook until they’re soft then add the tamarind pulp and saute for 5 minutes. Your Girmit masala is ready.
  • In a large bowl add the puffed rice, raw onions, tomato, coriander, fried gram powder and girmit masala. 
  • Mix till everything is slightly combined, garnish with coriander, sev, fried peanuts and chillies and serve immediately.