How many calories are there in Bhel Puri & does it have any health benefits?
Bhel Puri is a popular Indian street food which is made from puffed rice, mashed boiled potatoes, sev, tomatoes and onions, tangy tamarind sauce and spicy coriander sauce. Homemade Bhel Puri is delicious and a healthy snack but if you’re worried about your waistline then avoid adding Sev and Puri which are mere addition of calories and fried food to your platter. Add very little of this or instead, add more onions. You can also opt for baked Puri, boiled or sprouted Moong and Dalia.
Puffed rice (Bhel) is healthy, as it is gluten-free and it contains vitamin B and other vitamins as well. Sourness of raw mango adds a zing to Bhel. It also contains vitamin A and vitamin C. Spicy Green sauce is a healthy mixture of coriander leaves, mint leaves and green chillies. Mint has a cooling property while coriander consists of essential vitamins, iron, calcium while chillies help to enhance immunity. Sweet sauce is prepared of Tamarind and Jaggery. Tamarind is a great source of vitamin C and Jaggery contains iron. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant which helps keep your hair and skin healthy. Cumin is the main component of Bhel Masala or spices. In addition, rock salt is a better substitute for table salt in Bhel as it contains more minerals and is less refined.
Onions contain sulphur which contributes to healthy skin, healthy hair, good digestion, and normal blood pressure. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and Lycopene. Tomatoes have high fibre content and hence it improves digestion. Lycopene is a very powerful antioxidant which is beneficial for curbing cancer. Potatoes balance out the spice levels in the Bhel and also contain potassium which helps in lowering the blood pressure.
| Food | Calories
(130 gm) |
Fat
gm |
Protein
gm |
Fiber
gm |
Carbs
gm |
| Bhel Puri | 351 | 13.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 32.9 |
