Chivda. When it's time for some "timepass," there's just no other Indian snack mix that comes close to this one. It's simplicity itself: crispy puffed rice or rice crispies tossed with nuts and a few spices. And yet it packs a heavy punch. It's delicious and addictive and -- although the Indian cooks who invented it way back when probably never meant it to be that -- it is quite possibly the best thing to snack on with a cold glass of beer. All of which makes it perfect Gameday eats.
My version of Chivda is a crowd-pleaser for sure. It's crispy and nutty and spicy and tangy, all at the same time. It is also quite healthy, or at least far healthier than most Gameday food tends to be.
Now for the recipe for this Indian snack mix, Chivda. This one's a winner.
Looking for more vegan snack recipes?
- Vegetable Pakora
- Chana Jor Garam
- Masala Smashed Potatoes
- Vegetable Cutlet
- Bread Pakora
- Punjabi Samosa
Chivda Recipe
Chivda, Indian Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 3 cups rice crispies (also available in Indian store as "puffed" rice. You can use brown rice crispies)
- ½ cup cashew nuts
- ½ cup peanuts
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 sprig curry leaves (cut into thin ribbons. An easy way to do this is to stack the leaves on top of each other and then cut them into ribbons., about 12 leaves)
- ½ teaspoon cayenne (or paprika)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Place the rice crispies in a large dish and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir the rice crispies and microwave 30 more seconds. Don't let them go any longer because they will burn. This technique makes the rice crispies really crisp and you don't have to fry them in a ton of oil, as was traditionally done.
- Heat the oil in a wok. Add mustard seeds and when they sputter, add curry leaves.
- Let the curry leaves fry 1-2 minutes until they crisp up. Add the cashews and peanuts and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes until the cashews turn lightly golden.
- Add the cayenne or paprika and turmeric. Toss together, then add the rice crispies and the chaat masala. Stir well to mix.
- Turn off the heat and add salt if needed.
- This tastes great hot but it is usually served at room temperature.
Nutrition
Svaith
What happened to the crispy chipotle tofu? It's listed in the description, but it's not in the recipe.
Vaishali
Hi, I updated the recipe to a more traditional version. The crispy tofu was basically just the chipotle tofu from NaSoya, and you can add it. Chop it into small bits and add with the spices. Cheers.
Kelsea Nixon
Miso:)
siegalpaula
I would love the eat this in a burrito!!
Yvonne
This tofu would go very well in a chili dish or served cubed and fried with some guacamole and tacos or in a burrito, etc., etc.!
smallftprints
The first time that I shopped in an Indian market, I found an entire isle of snacks. I bought some and was hooked. I've tried to find recipes but most seemed to use a LOT of oil. Yours looks perfect and I can't wait to try it ... my mouth is watering already! I think the chipotle tofu would make a fabulous sandwich ... or even a great topping for a pizza ... or maybe alongside some hashbrowns for a unique breakfast ... oh the possibilities are endless. 🙂
Alex
That's easy: I'd like to try the chivda!
Scott
There are so many healthy snacks in other cultures. Ours are all super unhealty
Jordan D.
This would be amazing in a stir fry or a mexican-inspired quinoa salad with black beans, chipotle tofu baked, salsa, avocado, and peppers.
N Shah
Looks good and it has a spicy protein component too! A good addition to sandwiches too.Two points of clarification please. At what point do you mix the tofu and rice crispies? Since the tofu is crispy on the outside, I am sure it would remain a bit soft on the inside. Would it not soften the rice crispies too, if everything is mixed and stored?
Ambica
Vaishali, The chi said looks yum., those containers you are serving in look awesome. Do you mind sharing where you got them?
Looking fwd to game day and a snackathon
Ambica
amarthya
TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!
Pavani
Wow what an addictive gameday snack you got there Vaishali. Love the addition of baked chipotle tofu to it -- must have made it so yummy!!
I would add top my Mexican rice & Bean bowl with the baked chipotle, avocado and cilantro for a filling meal.
Denise P.
I'd keep the chipote tofu simple by adding it to a salad or a sandwich with vegan mayo and maybe some BBQ sauce ..mmm!
Melissa
This recipe looks really unique and tasty. I'd love to try that tofu, I'm sure it'd be good on top of salads and rice bowls.
Ashley Kolpak
I would make some tofu tacos!
(cricketlady29@hotmail.com)
Kitty
I would make some vegetable fajitas with Chipotle TofuBaked!
Jacky
I'd make burrito bowls with this!
shannon
Nasoya chipotle would be fantastic in my mason jar taco salads!
Priti
I would use the chipotle tofu to make fajitas and tacos. Yum!
Catherine Hess
Maria, I've got celiac too, and I used to love those Haldiram snacks -- this recipe made me think of them. Can't wait to try this. I couldn't care less about the Superbowl, but I may make up a big bunch of snacks this weekend for my own football-free celebration of the joys of feeding my face. 😀
Niru
Looks delicious! My first thought was to just give the tofu as is (after crisping) to my toddler, she didn't eat the the tofu I made last time!
A Kitchen Fable
The tofu would go in my slow cooker stew!
Marissa justiniano
I will probably add the roasted chickpeas along with this mixture, then put some tahini sauce and some hummus on the side. What a great crowd pleaser. No more bagged chips at the table! Thanks Vaishali!
Maria
Oh yum! This snack mix is perfect- I've been missing snack mixes since I was diagnosed with celiac disease! As for the tofu, I think it would go perfectly in tacos!
Juliann Goldman
Sounds like chili would be great with a chipotle flavored tofu, either in the chili or as a garnish.
Catherine Hess
Vaishali, you temptress! First those yummy roasted chickpeas and now this deliciousness! I'm going wild for everything you posted on this page, including those sweet potato skins and the masala smashed potatoes (be still my heart). I would totally love to try Nasoya's Chipotle TofuBaked in any context, because it is the first commercial marinated tofu I've seen that is gluten-free -- a big deal for me. You can be sure that I'll look for it at the store and will try this recipe for nutty munchies if I find it, and probably buy more Nasoya tofu than required so I can use it in other ways. Your posts are music to this glutton's ears. Eyes, really. And stomach. Oh, just all over. 🙂 Okay, I'll simmer down now.