Bombay mix

Bombay mix

Bombay mix
Alternative names	Chanachur
Type	Snack
Place of origin	Bangladesh ,India
Region or state	Indian subcontinent
Main ingredients	Fried lentils, peanuts, chickpea flour noodles, vegetable oil, chickpeas, flaked rice, fried onion and curry leaves
Media: Bombay mix

Chaṇāchura in Odisha.

Mixture in Chennai

Bombay mix is the name most commonly applied in the United Kingdom and Ireland to traditional Indian [snack mixes] known as chiwda, chevdo, bhuso (if made without potato), chevda (चिवडा) or chivdo (चिवडो) in India, or Chanāchura (Odia: ଚନାଚୁର) in Odisha, chanachur (চানাচুর) or sanasur in Bengal, and chuda by people from Mumbai. The English name originates from the city of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), India. It consists of a variable mixture of spicy dried ingredients, which may include fried lentils, peanuts, chickpea flour noodles, corn, vegetable oil, chickpeas, flaked rice, fried onion and curry leaves. This is all flavoured with salt and a blend of spices that may include coriander and mustard seed. A large variety of mixes are sold in the UK under a variety of names with Bombay mix, the best known often used as the generic term. The traditional Indian food can be eaten as part of a meal; as a standalone snack, though, it is usually consumed with the hands.

Variations

Alternative, regional versions include:

• In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Bombay mix sold and served in Indian restaurants, take-aways and newsagents often does not contain dried fruit, although authentic recipes from Maharashtra do.
• In Pakistan, it is very popular, prepared throughout the country, usually known as chevda (although chevda also refers to another foodstuff) or nimko.
• A different version, called gathia mix, and sometimes "Gujarati mix", is a lot spicier and contains only crunchy mix, peanuts and spices.
• In the United States, it is alternatively and more often referred to as "Punjabi mix" or simply "hot mix".
• In Myanmar, they are known as sarkalay chee, which literally means sparrows' droppings, referring to the lentil strips. They are very popular with both the Burmese and the Burmese Indians.
• In Sri Lanka, it is known just as "mixture", and includes a larger variety of exotic ingredients, such as cassava and fried curry leaves.
• In Malaysia and Singapore, it is known as kacang putih. Members of the local Indian community usually refer to it as "mixture" as is done in Southern India. It is available from roadside vendors as well as shops and restaurants. Singaporean supermarket Fairprice refer to their Bombay mix product as 'murukku', which is an entirely different product altogether.
• In Bangladesh, it is known as Chanachur, which is very spicy compared to the other versions, and is much more popular amongst the Bengali people.
• In southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala, it is known as just "mixture", and is available in almost all the sweet shops and bakeries. Usually it consists of fried ground nuts (peanuts), thenkuzhal, kara boondhi, roasted chana dal, karasev, murukku broken into small pieces, pakoda and oma podi.
• In Eastern African countries with large populations of families of Indian descent, especially Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, it is known as chevdo or chevra and is often prepared with some sugar sprinkled in.
• In South Africa it is popular amongst the Indian community of Kwazulu Natal and the Cape Malay community of the Western Cape. Amongst the Indian community it is known as "sev and nuts" and amongst the Cape Malay community as "slangetjies," which is Afrikaans for little snake and refers to the appearance of the chickpea flour noodles.
• A variation of chevdo without root vegetables (where the potato crisps are replaced by matoke (plantain) is defined as Jain chevdo.
• In Nepal it is known as "Dalmoth".
• Called Bhuja in Fiji. Also sold under the "Bhuja" brand in Australia.

See also

• Bhelpuri
• Sev mamra
• List of snack foods
  • List of Indian snack foods
• Makka poha
• Food portal