Heart-Healthy Chiwada (Spicy Rice Flakes Snack)

Dive into the irresistible crunch of Heart-Healthy Chiwada, a light and flavorful spicy rice flakes snack that's perfect for guilt-free indulgence. This Indian-inspired recipe swaps traditional oil for heart-friendly olive oil while retaining the bold, aromatic flavors of cumin, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and turmeric. Enhanced with the crunch of roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, and coconut flakes, this snack delivers a satisfying bite with just the right amount of spice. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a quick and wholesome treat, whether you’re looking for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up or a healthy addition to your party spread. Best of all, it’s vegan, gluten-free, and stores beautifully, making it your go-to option for an all-natural, savory munch.

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 200 grams Thin rice flakes (poha)
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• 0.5 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 10 leaves Curry leaves
• 50 grams Raw peanuts
• 2 tablespoons Chickpea flour (besan)
• 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons Unsweetened coconut flakes
• 0.5 teaspoon Chili powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Sugar
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Begin by gently washing the rice flakes under running water in a colander. Quickly transfer them to a large bowl and allow them to air-dry, ensuring they remain separate and airy.

Step 2

In a large, non-stick pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds and allow them to sputter for about 30 seconds to release their aroma.

Step 3

Add the curry leaves and raw peanuts to the pan. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes until the peanuts are slightly golden and aromatic.

Step 4

Mix in the chickpea flour to the pan and stir until it turns slightly golden brown, about 2 minutes. Keep stirring to prevent the flour from sticking.

Step 5

Add the turmeric powder, sesame seeds, and coconut flakes, stirring well to combine all the ingredients for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Step 6

Lower the heat and add the chili powder, salt, sugar, and black pepper to the pan, mixing thoroughly.

Step 7

Carefully fold in the dried rice flakes, ensuring they are evenly coated with the spice mixture without breaking them up.

Step 8

Continue to stir gently over low heat for 5 minutes until the rice flakes become crisp and begin taking on the color of the spices.

Step 9

Allow the chiwada to cool completely in the pan. This cooling time will help them become even crisper.

Step 10

Transfer the chiwada to an airtight container for storage, or serve immediately as a heart-healthy snack.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(336.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1498.7

Total Fat 72.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 17.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1248.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 183.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 13.5g	0%
Total Sugars 7.7g
Protein 34.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 149.8mg	0%
Iron 13.1mg	0%
Potassium 1074.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 42.6%

Protein: 9.2%

Carbs: 48.2%