bhel poori

noun

bhel poo·​ri ˈbel-ˈpu̇r-ē 

variants or bhel puri

ˈbel-ˈpu̇r-ē

: a mixture of puffed rice, crispy chickpea noodles, vegetables (such as onion and potato), and savory sauces that is eaten especially as a snack in India

In the end, though, this is a vegetarian city, and the … crunchy bhel pooris you'll find at countless snack shops around town are among the most satisfying things you'll eat.

—Jay Cheshes, Gourmet, September 2004

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Hindi bhelpūrī, from bhel "mixture" + pūrī poori

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!