Spicy Puffed Rice Snack (Maramaralu)

Is it just me or do most people's list of must have three meals of the day consist of breakfast, lunch and dinner? The man i cook for, however, doesn't fall in this category. His list instead has lunch, evening snack and dinner in it. Just the way i can barely live without breakfast - and must have it within the first hour of waking up, he definitely needs his evening snack. 

While chicken/shrimp snacks are preferred, there are no strict rules in what is acceptable. When i am feeling really lazy, raw mango slices with a side of salt and red chili powder mix is graciously accepted. Ain't i lucky to have this man :-)

So when i am feeling generous, i make him (t)his favourite puffed rice snack. Don't tell him how easy this is to make. At least, not yet. Of course, when i am feeling really generous, or when he absolutely demands it, i make the little more time consuming chicken wings too.

When you are hungry and want something tasty to eat this very instant, look no further than this light and healthy snack. And next time don't forget to get a big bag of puffed rice into that grocery list.

Ingredients

• 2 cups puffed rice
• 1/2 medium onion - finely chopped
• 1/2 medium tomato - finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander/cilantro
• juice of 1/2 small lime
• salt to taste - about 1/8 teaspoon
• red chili powder to taste - about 1/4 teaspoon
• 1/2 teaspoon chat masala (optional but recommended)

Method

Take a bowl large enough to hold 2 cups of puffed rice comfortably for mixing. First mix together all the ingredients listed above except puffed rice. 

If you are the adventurous type, i 'd suggest you replace the red chili powder with finely chopped green chilies, de-seeded recommended. Some chilies are hotter than others, its not easy to tell the difference and biting on a piece of extra hot chili can have you running for water and will have already ruined your appetite. Yes, yes, happened to us. And i have not used green chilies in this ever since. So i probably should not suggest this.

Heat the puffed rice in a pan for 2 minutes, just to crisp them a little. Add the warm puffed rice to the rest of the ingredients, mix with a spoon and serve immediately.

You can garnish this with toasted peanuts too if you like some crunch.