What is Sev ? Uses, recipes of sev

Sev (pronounced "sehv") is a quintessential Indian snack, consisting of small, crispy, noodle-like strands deep-fried to a golden perfection. Made primarily from chickpea flour (also known as gram flour or besan), it forms a foundational element in countless Indian savory preparations. The dough, typically seasoned with common Indian spices like turmeric, red chili powder, carom seeds (ajwain), and salt, is pressed through a specialized extruder or "sev maker" directly into hot oil, forming its characteristic thread-like appearance. The thickness of sev can vary significantly, from ultra-fine, delicate strands known as barik sev or nylon sev to thicker, more robust varieties like mota sev.

The versatility of sev makes it an indispensable component in Indian cuisine, enjoyed both as a standalone snack and as a crucial topping. Its irresistible crunch and savory flavor elevate the texture and taste of various dishes. While readily available in packaged forms in stores across India and internationally, many households also prefer to prepare fresh sev at home, allowing for customization of spices and thickness. This homemade touch ensures the freshest crunch and aroma, making it a staple in pantries for spontaneous snacking or garnishing.

Across different regions of India, sev plays distinct and beloved roles. In North India, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, sev is a vital component of various chaat preparations. Dishes like Bhel Puri, a savory mix of puffed rice, vegetables, chutneys, and spices, are incomplete without a generous sprinkling of sev for its characteristic crunch. Similarly, Sev Puri, featuring crispy flat puris topped with potatoes, chutneys, and onions, relies heavily on sev as its namesake topping. It also garnishes dishes like Dahi Bhalla (lentil dumplings in yogurt) and various potato-based snacks.

Moving to Central India, especially in Madhya Pradesh, sev takes on an even more prominent identity. Cities like Ratlam and Indore are famous for their unique varieties, such as Ratlami Sev, which is renowned for its bold, spicy, and often clove-infused flavor. This region incorporates sev into almost every chaat and savory snack. A popular local dish is Sev Usal, a hearty pea curry heavily garnished with sev, providing a textural contrast similar to adding croutons to soup. In Madhya Pradesh, sev isn't just a garnish; it's often a main textural element.

In Western India, particularly Gujarat, sev is used extensively in farsan (savory snacks) and breakfast items. It's often sprinkled over Poha (flattened rice stir-fry) for added crunch. The dish Sev Tameta nu Shaak (a savory tomato and onion curry) uniquely uses sev as a key ingredient, where the noodles partially soften in the gravy while still retaining some bite. In South India, while the core concept remains, sev might be known by different names like Oma Podi (in Tamil Nadu) or Om Pudi (in Karnataka), often thicker and sometimes incorporating rice flour for extra crispiness, making it a common component in savory snack mixes known as "Mixture."

How to select Sev

Sev is available in the Indian grocery stores in different shapes, sizes and under various brands. The most common varieties are thick sev, thin sev and nylon sev.check the expiry date before buying as they tend to lose its crispiness with time.

Culinary uses of Sev

" Masala sev with chopped onion, tomatoes and green chillies are a popular chaat recipe across Indian subcontinent.

" Sev can be added as a garnish over bhel puri or sevpuri.

" Sev can be spiced with garlic, red chillies, mint leaves, rice flakes and potato wafers to prepare a delectable snack called namkeen or farsan.

How to store Sev

Keep sev in an air tight container for 2 weeks.

Health benefits of Sev

" The presence of gram flour makes sev a high protein snack but since it is deep fried, it tends to be higher in calories and fat content. It is best to use this as per recipe requirement and only in moderation. We suggest you try our recipe of baked sev which is very healthy.

nylon sev

It is the thinnest version of sev. It is crispy noodles made from gram flour paste which is seasoned with turmeric and other spices. The Nylon sev has a fine, thin texture. It is made using very fine molds for preparation of the strands. Used mostly as garnish in chaat preparations to get crunchy texture!