Churumuri also known as Masala Mandakki is a tasty vegan & gluten free puffed rice snack that is also a street food in Karnataka. There are many versions of making Churumuri across Karnataka. It is very easy to make and gets done in less than 15 minutes.
Peel, rinse and finely chop the onion & tomato. Rinse, peel and grate 1 small carrot. Rinse and finely chop 1 green chilli and some coriander leaves.
Keep aside. In the mango season, you can also add 1 to 2 tablespoons of finely chopped raw unripe green mango.
Heat ½ tablespoon coconut oil in a pan or kadai. Keep flame to low or medium-low. Add the puffed rice.
Mix and stir often for 2 to 3 minutes on low to medium-low heat.
Roast puffed rice grains till they are crispy and crunchy. Do not brown the puffed rice.
Making churumuri
Place the pan with the puffed rice on your kitchen counter and wait for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the remaining ½ tablespoon coconut oil, kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric powder, roasted peanuts or masala peanuts or congress kadlekai (bangalore style spicy roasted peanuts).
Season with black salt and regular salt or add as per taste. You can even skip black salt if you do not have it.
Mix the coconut oil, peanuts, spice powders and salt with the puffed rice or mandakki evenly.
Now add the finely chopped veggies, green chillies and coriander leaves.
Quickly add the lemon juice. You can even squeeze lemon juice directly from halved lemons. You can add less or more lemon juice as per your taste buds.
Mix quickly and serve Churumuri or Masala Mandakki straight away. If you serve after some minutes, the puffed rice becomes soggy.
While serving you can garnish with sev (gram flour vermicelli) and a few coriander leaves.
Notes
You can add less or more quantity of red chilli powder.
You can skip green chillies if you want. For small kids you can skip or add less of the kashmiri red chilli powder and green chillies.
Skip coconut oil if you do not have it. You can use sunflower oil or ghee in place of coconut oil.
Lemon juice can be added less or more as per your taste buds.
You can skip black salt if you do not have it.
For a filling snack, you can add 1 medium to large boiled potato.
You can even add 2 tablespoons coconut oil if you want. Roast the puffed rice in 1 tablespoon coconut oil first and then add the remaining 1 tablespoon coconut oil later when adding the ground spice powders and salt.