Mini Puri with Chana Masala and Blueberries

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Puri and Chana Masala or Chole is the best combination ever. My kids love this combo in their lunchboxes as well. I make the puri in this cute mini rounds and they stay puffed up till lunch time. Paired this super cute lunchbox with some antioxidant-rich Blueberries…. Delicious!

Puri in small circle shapes with Kale Chana Masala and blueberries in a lunchbox, kale and tomatoes in the background.

What is Puri?

Puri is a crispy, puffy and golden deep fried bread made with Whole wheat flour. It is from India and different regions of India serve Puri with various side dishes. It is served with sweet or savory sides and goes perfect with either choices. Puri can be eaten at any meal of the day but is usually served as breakfast paired with Puri bhaji made with potatoes. Puri is also served during festivals and paired with the sweet called Halwa.

How to make Puri:

Puri is made with whole wheat flour or atta and deep fried in oil or ghee. I like to use a flavorless oil like Avocado oil or sunflower oil. I use ghee for some very special occasions like festivals. Sometimes a teaspoon of Semolina or Sooji is added to give the puri a crisp texture.

Take wheat flour or atta and little Semolina in a large mixing bowl. Add a big pinch of salt and mix it all together.
Add little water at a time and start mixing the flour, make into a tight dough. The dough should be firm and not too soft like chapati dough. It shouldn’t be too hard either, it should be easy to roll into flat disks.
Add a teaspoon of oil to coat the dough and let it rest for 5-10 minutes while you preheat your oil. Do not rest the puri dough for too long.
Use a deep wok or pot to heat up the oil. Add oil enough for deep frying. I use my Cast Iron Lodge mini Wok for deep frying everything.
Knead the dough with your palm and fingers till its soft. Divide the dough into small portions and roll the portions of dough into small balls.
Take a dough ball, dust it lightly with flour and start rolling into a flat circle using a rolling pin.
Take a small round (or any shape you like) cookie cutter and cut the puri into cute shapes.
When the oil is hot, turn the heat to medium. Drop a piece of flattened puri into the hot oil, you know your oil is ready when the puri rises up instantly and starts puffing.
Gently drop the puris into oil and press them with a slotted heat-proof spoon. Once they puff up, flip them and fry them on the other side for a few seconds.
Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Small mini puri making: making dough, rolling the dough, cutting shapes with cookie cutter and deep frying in oil.

Recipe for Chana Masala:

I love pairing our puris with Chana masala as its super spicy and delicious. My kids love spice in all forms. I also add Kale to my Chana masala making it super rich in protein and healthy. I have my Chana masala recipe here, Click on the picture below for the recipe: Instant pot Chole / Chana Masala with Kale(Kale and Chickpeas Curry) – Blissful Bites by Tay

chole in a black bowl garnished with onions and cilantro and served with puri.

Frequently asked questions about the lunchbox:

Which lunchbox is the best for Kids ?

I used a large lunchbots box here and I love it! Its stainless steel, so you know its good for you, dishwasher-safe and completely unbreakable. I recommend this Lunchbots Large Trio Stainle ss Steel lunchbox and that will last for years.

Is the lunchbots lunchbox leakproof?

Nope! Lunchbots is not leakproof. I add the things which don’t leak in the main section and use this Lunchbots Leakproof Dip containers for dips and curries, these little dip containers are certainly leakproof.

What other lunchboxes work best for kids?

You can also go with planetbox. I should also mention this new Bentgo Leak-resistant Stainless steel lunchbox, which is new in the market. I haven’t tested it yet, so I cannot vouch for it. We do love our plastic Bentgo kids box, its truly leakproof.

How to pack Indian curries in the lunchbox?

For dips or curries, which leak, I recommend getting this Lunchbots Leakproof Dip containers that fit perfectly well in Lunchbots Large lunchbox.

Mini Puri Lunchbox

A cute version of puri chole lunchbox for kids.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour / Atta
1 teaspoon Semolina / Sooji (Optional)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 cup Water
1 tablespoon Oil
Oil for Deep Frying ( About 2 cups)

Instructions

Take wheat flour and Semolina in a large mixing bowl. Add salt and mix it all together.
Add little water at a time and start mixing the flour, make into a tight and firm dough.
Add a teaspoon of oil to coat the dough and let it rest for 5-10 minutes while you preheat your oil.
Use a deep wok or pot to heat up the oil. Add oil enough for deep frying.
Knead the dough with your palm and fingers till its soft. Divide the dough into small portions and roll the portions of dough into small balls.
Take a dough ball, dust it lightly with flour and start rolling into a flat circle using a rolling pin.
Take a small round (or any shape you like) cookie cutter and cut the puri into cute shapes.
When the oil is hot, turn the heat to medium.
Gently drop the puris into oil and press them with a slotted heat-proof spoon. Once they puff up, flip them and fry them on the other side for a few seconds.
Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Notes

The right temperature of oil is very important to make sure your puris are puffed up. It should be almost smoking hot but not too hot.
Drop a piece of flattened puri into the hot oil, you know your oil is ready when the puri rises up instantly and starts puffing.
Do not rest the puri dough for too long.
You can use any flavorless oil you like for deep frying. Avocado oil or Sunflower oil are my choices. Canola oil works great too!