Recipe: Parle Cheesling Bhel
Are you wondering what Parle Cheesling Bhel is? Well, first of all let me tell you that this easy to make mixture is bursting with flavours and textures – sweet, spicy, salty, crunchy, cheesy, tangy, soft. Actually it is so difficult to describe the flavours of a bhel or a chaat. It generally has a balance of salty, spicy, sweet and tart flavours.
What Is Parle?
The word Parle here has nothing to do with the French word Parle though it is pronounced in the somewhat in a similar way – “paa-r- le. ” Except that the the r is stressed. There is a famous area in Mumbai called Vile Parle ( pronounced as veeley paarley). And no it does not mean ‘town speak’. Around 1897, some rich businessmen came down to the western suburbs and bought real estate on a large scale in the villages of Idlai Padlai. Vile Parle was the name given to these cluster of villages near Juhu. Some believe that the name of that area comes from two small but old temples Virleshwar and Parleshwar.
Parle Products
In 1929 the Chauhan family residing in Vile Parle area started a confectionery factory. In 1939 they began manufacturing biscuits and the most popular brand to date is Parle-G, glucose biscuits. Our family friends live near the factory and every time we would visit them, we would be hit with the aroma of cookies. Unfortunately, that is no more as the factory in Vile Parle closed down in 2016. However, they have several branches all over India and in some countries abroad. Among the many brands of cookies they manufacture, Cheesling Crackers is one of them. And I cannot stop eating these tiny puffed up cushion like crackers. Sinful but super delicious. And they are known as Parle Cheeslings.
What Are Cheeslings?
Cheeslings are mini baked biscuit type snack made from wheat flour, yeast, cheese, flavours, spices, fat,etc.
What Is Bhel?
Also known as a type of chaat, bhel is traditionally a mixture of roasted or fried puffed rice, chopped onion, tomatoes, green chillis, fresh coriander and served with green and tamarind chutneys. When it comes to the recipe I am about to share, I have replaced the puffed rice with Cheeslings and added other ingredients too.
Some Chaat Recipes You May Like To Check Out
Sharing Parle Cheesling Bhel Recipe With Sunday Funday Group
I have been travelling and have tried to cook and click photos of recipes for the most upcoming themes. However, I did not manage to bake any crackers. I almost did not participate in the Crackers theme suggested by Karen who blogs at Karen’s Kitchen Stories. Then I read that she suggested cracker recipes or recipes with crackers. That is when I remembered the Cheesling Crackers Bhel recipe. No cooking required so I whipped the dish up in my daughter’s kitchen and voilà am sharing it today.
Check Out Cracker Recipes Shared By Sunday Funday Members
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- Keto Cheese and Chive Crackers from Cook with Renu
- Easy Inside Out Chicken Cordon Bleu from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Homemade Everything Seasoned Crackers from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
- Homemade Goldfish Crackers from Culinary Cam
- Parle Cheesling Bhel from Mayuri’s Jikoni
- Whole Wheat Crackers from Sneha’s Recipe
- Za’atar Chickpea Crackers from Food Lust People Love
When To Serve Parle Cheesling Bhel
- Enjoy it as a quick snack option as it is so easy to put together.
- Serve it as a starter dish in small cups or bowls. Keep the tomatoes, onion, coriander ready by chopping them ahead. Prepare the chutneys a few days ahead. Mix everything just before serving.
- A chatpata or flavourful picnic dish. Mix the cheeslings, sev and peanuts. Mix the chopped onion, tomatoes, pomegranate, coriander, mint in another container. Add lemon juice. Mix when required.
- During summer when you don’t want to slog over a hot stove, make Parle Cheesling Bhel a wholesome meal. Replace spicy peanuts with boiled or roasted peanuts, add chopped cucumber, beetroot and carrot too. Make it a more healthier meal.
Ingredients Required For Parle Cheesling Bhel
Parle Cheeslings
Fortunately, it is possible to get these tiny crackers in most countries. Or should I say where ever there is an Indian population you will find Parle products.
Tomatoes
Generally, normal plum or globe tomatoes are chopped finely and added to the Parle Cheesling Bhel. I have used cherry tomatoes simply because I had bought a big batch and wanted to use them up. So basically, add any kind of tomatoes of your choice.
Onion
Generally for chaats and bhel red onion is preferred. However, feel free to use white or yellow ones. Peel and finely chop the onion.
Green Chillis
Slice them. Add according to your taste. The ones I had were very hot so I used only one. If you are making the bhel for kids it is best to avoid green chillis.
Fresh Coriander
Washed, dried and finely chopped. Add the tender stems too as they have a lot of flavour.
Fresh Mint
Add it for flavour. Wash the leaves and tear them with your fingers.
Chaat Masala
I have used ready made chaat masala. If you have home made one then go ahead and use that. Chaat masala is easily available in most Indian stores and online.
Pomegranate
Cut and peel the pomegranate. Add some of the pomegranate arils for a sweetish taste. If you don’t get pomegranate then use some grapes or apple. Can also add some semi ripe mango, finely chopped.
Masala Peanuts
These are readily available in all Indian Stores. I opted to use the Haldiram Nut Crackers. They are peanuts coated in chickpea flour and fried. You can opt to use plain roasted peanuts or flavoured roasted peanuts.
Sev
Sev is another Indian snack that is made from chickpea flour. Again, it is easily available in all Indian Stores or online. You can opt for the super fine one if available or the normal one.
Red Chilli Powder
Optional. I didn’t add any as the peanuts and sev were a bit hot.
Salt
Taste the mixture and add accordingly. Most of the ready made peanuts and sev have salt.
Lemon Juice
To add a bit of a tangy flavour, add according to your taste.
Chutneys
Optional. While my daughter and I preferred it without the chutneys, hubby added a bit of the green and tamarind chutneys.
PARLE CHEESLING BHEL
Ingredients
FOR THE BHEL MIXTURE
- 1-1½ cup Parle Cheesling Crackers
- ½ cup tomatoes finely chopped
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- ¼ cup masala peanuts
- ¼ cup thin sev
- 2 tbsp red onion finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander finely chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1-2 green chillis sliced
- 10-12 mint leaves torn
- 1 tsp chaat masala
- ½ tsp red chilli powder optional
- ¼ tsp salt
TO SERVE
- ¼ cup tamarind chutney optional
- ¼ cup green chutney optional
Instructions
PREPARATION OF CHEESLING BHEL MIXTURE
- Chop the tomatoes and onion finely.
- Wash, dry and chop coriander. Chop the tender stems too as they are full of flavour.
- Tear the mint leaves if they are large.
- Take a mixing bowl. Add the cheeslings, sev, peanuts, pomegranate, chopped tomatoes, onion, coriander,green chillis, mint, chaat masala, lemon juice, salt and red chilli powder if using any.
- Mix everything together. Taste and adjust flavours according to your taste.
- Spoon the mixture into serving bowls.
- Serve with the tamarind and green chutneys on the side. Keep some extra lemon wedges too in case anyone needs to add more lemon juice.
- Links for green and tamarind chutneys given above.
Notes
- Add peanuts of your choice. There are so many varieties available, salt ones, spicy ones, etc. I have used nut crackers or the besan coated ones.
- Add the thin or fine sev. If you don't get either, opt for the bhujia ones.
- Replace pomegranate with finely chopped apple, grapes or semi ripe mango.
- Can add chopped cucumber, carrot, beetroot to make it more healthier. Adjust the cheeslings accordingly.
- Can serve with chutneys of your choice. Tastes good with garlic chutney too.
- Once you mix everything, serve immediately. If kept for too long, the cheeslings become too soft.
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