Jhalmuri (, , , , ) is a popular street snack in the Bengali, Bihari, Bhojpuri, Odia, Assamese and Tripuri cuisine of the

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...

, made of puffed rice and an assortment of Indian spices, vegetables, Bombay mix (chanachur) and

mustard oil Mustard oil can mean either the pressed oil used for cooking or a pungent essential oil, also known as volatile oil, of the mustard plant. The essential oil results from grinding mustard seed, mixing the grounds with water, and isolating the resu ...

. It is popular in

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

and in the neighbouring Indian states of

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...

Tripura Tripura () is a States and union territories of India, state in northeastern India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, third-smallest state in the country, it covers ; and the seventh-least populous state with a populat ...

, eastern Uttar Pradesh,

Odisha Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...

. It became popular in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

when a British chef named Angus Denoon tried this snack in

Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...

and started selling it on the streets of London. The popularity of Jhalmuri has also reached other western cities like

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

through the

Bangladeshi diaspora The Bangladeshi diaspora () are people of Bangladeshi birth, descent or origin who live outside of Bangladesh. First-generation migrants may have moved abroad from Bangladesh for various reasons including better living conditions, to escape pove ...

. Ghoti Gorom () is another similar street snack food famous in Bengal, Bangladesh and North East India. Ghoti gorom is very similar to such street food like Jhal muri, bhel or dhal muri, similar in taste but doesn't have puffed rice or murmura. Ghoti gorom consists of sev/bhujiya mixed with chanachur (a spicy mixture), chopped onions, green chilies, chopped raw mango slices, mustard oil, and various other spices. Widely enjoyed for its spicy and tangy flavor, Jhalmuri is especially beloved in Bangladesh, where it holds the status of a cultural staple and is often regarded as a symbol of the country's vibrant street food scene. It is considered by many to be part of Bangladesh's cultural heritage and is commonly found across cities and towns, sold by street vendors in paper cones or small bowls.

References

{{Bangladeshi dishes Bangladeshi snack foods Indian rice dishes

See also

References