Chirey Bhaja/Bengali Sytle Roasted Beaten Rice with Nuts

Shubho Bijoya from our home to yours. Today is Dashomi day and the grand celebration of Durgapoooja come to an end. As Ma Durga leaves for her adobe everyone gathers around and wishes Happy Dashomi greetings to each other with traditional Bengali  snacks like Chinir Narkolnaru, Gurernarkolnaru, NarkelrTokti,Mishti Nimki, KuchoNimki, Mohan Bhog, and other sweets. Chirey Bhaja is another popular salty snack we make for Bijoya celebration or anytime of of the year.

Ingredients~
2 cups thick beaten rice
1/3 cup roasted chanadal
1/2 cup peanuts
1/2 cup cashews
1/2 cup roasted coconut chips(optional)
1/2 cup raisins or currants(optional)
1 1/2 cup oil
1/4 tsp black mustard seeds
4 dry red chilies
2 tbsp raw sugar(grounded) or use powdered sugar
1/8 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp salt or pas per taste
1/4 tsp roasted and grounded cumin seeds
3/4 tsp mango powder
1/8 tsp asafoetida powder
1/8 tsp hot chili powder or as per taste
One fist full of curry leaves

Method~
Grind raw sugar if using. Mix together ground sugar, salt, mango powder, roasted cumin powder chili powder and set aside. Heat oil in medium frying pan. Oil should not be smoking hot or else beaten rice will burn. To check the oil put few beaten rice in the oil. If they come up right away and look fluffy then oil is perfectly ready for frying. It takes just few seconds. Do not make it brown. It's better to use a strainer. Deep fry in batches and drain on a paper towel. In the same oil fry separately peanuts and cashews till light brown. Take a different pan and temper mustard seeds, red chilies, curry leaves using 1 tbsp same hot oil on low flame. Saute till crunchy and sprinkle asfoetida powder at the end. In a big bowl, combine fried beaten rice, nuts, toasted coconut chips, roasted chanadal, raisins and tempering spices. Sprinkle ground spice mixture to it and toss gently. Let mixture to cool completely before storing in an air tight container. 
  

Happy cooking!!