If you are craving something spicy and crunchy as an evening snack, you can prepare the famous Bhaphra from Bihar. This tasty snack is made from black lentils, gram flour (besan), and various spices.
This appetizing snack, which is perfect with evening tea, is made using black lentils, besan, onion, rice flour, and simple spices. It turns out crispy on the outside and soft inside, making it very pleasant to eat. A feature of this dish is that it is easy to prepare at home.
Chana Bhaphra can be served for breakfast, during evening tea time, or as a treat for guests. Its flavor becomes even richer if served with green or tomato paste. If you want to diversify your daily diet, making this Bhaphra will be a great option.
To begin cooking, you need to thoroughly wash the black lentils, and then soak them in water for 6-7 hours or overnight. After that, drain the water from the lentils.
The soaked lentils are transferred to a large bowl, and finely chopped onion, green pepper, and fresh coriander are added. Next, they are mixed with coriander powder, turmeric, red chili powder, and salt to taste. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
Besan and rice flour are added to this mixture. Gradually, adding a little water, all components are mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained. It is important to achieve a consistency where the batter is neither too liquid nor too thick, but can be easily scooped into hot oil.
Oil is heated in a pan. When the oil is sufficiently hot, small portions of the batter are placed into the hot oil. Fry over medium heat until golden and crispy. After one side is cooked, flip it and fry on the other side until completely done.
When the Chana Bhaphra is browned on both sides, it is removed from the oil and placed on a plate. The remaining portions of the batter are prepared similarly. Hot Bhaphra is served with green paste, tomato sauce, or any other favorite paste.