Kerala Spicy Mixture (Serves 10-15)

MIXTURE is a salty, spicy snack for all occasions and was an essential component of the “tea parties” that often accompany the marriages in Kerala, until recently.Though trendier foods have replaced this salty, crunchy snack in more affluent parties, an average Keralite is still  in love with this awesome snack. It  goes very well with almost any kind of traditional food and serves as a filling tea-time snack. Also, its longer shelf life makes it an ideal face-saver in front of unexpected guests.

Roasted rice flour 1 cup
Gram flour/Besan 1 cup
Red chilly powder 1 tsp + 2 tsp
Asafetida ¼ tsp
Peanuts 1 cup
Chana dal ½ cup
Dry red chilly 3-4 nos
Curry leaves 3 sprigs
Oil 2 TBSP + more for frying
Salt as needed
Water

Preparation

In a mixing bowl, add the rice flour, gram flour/besan, salt and 1 tsp red chilly powder. Mix well and drizzle 1 TBSP oil. Combine well and knead this into smooth dough by adding water little by little. It may stick to your hands at first but the oil will help to get smooth dough as you progress with kneading. Set aside.

Heat oil for frying in a deep pan. When hot (check by adding a piece of the dough, if it comes to the surface promptly, oil is hot enough), using an idiyappam press (picture shown above), with the small hole mould plate, sieve the dough to hot oil in circular motion, like how you do it for idiyappam. Fry until, it gets a golden color and drain the excess oil onto paper towel. In the same oil,fry some ribbon pakodas with the proper mould plate. Set these aside. Now fry the chana dal until it fetches a light golden color. Drain excess oil onto a paper towel. Now fry the peanuts till your hear a cracking sound. Finally fry the red chilly and curry leaves.

Notes: Make sure not to over fry the chana dal and peanuts as they cook pretty fast!!!

In another mixing bowl, place the string hoppers (crush them little bit to get them smaller), ribbon pakodas, fried peanuts and chana dal, red chilly and curry leaves. Add the remaining 2 tsp red chilly powder, salt and asafetida. Mix well and enjoy!!!!Store the remaining in an air tight container.

We have added little extra peanuts than the recipe calls for as we all love peanuts..
Recipe courtsey: Sajna Nishad..Thanks a bunch chechi…

This makes it way directly to Sharmis event “Lets Munch-Light tea time snacks” @ Sharmis passions….