Corn Flakes Chevdo

Name: Corn Flakes Chevdo
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2½ cups corn flakes; ¼ cup roasted dalia; ¼ cup raw peanuts; ¼ cup cashews ((optional)); 1¼ tsp turmeric powder; 1 tsp Red Chili Powder; 8-10 curry leaves; 2-3 dried red chili; 1 tsp aamchur; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp sugar; 3 tbsp oil

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A savory mix of cereal, nuts and spices; Corn Flakes Chevdo is a delicious and addictive snack that comes together in 10 minutes.

Plus, it makes a healthier version of the classic corn flakes chivda using cereal corn flakes. Make it as a Diwali faral or to take along on picnics.

Corn Flakes Chevdo in a bowl, topped with peanuts, curry leaves and dalia with chai on the side.

Savory snacks always make a great addition to tea time. Whether enjoyed as a crunchy side for breakfast or as a delicious 4 p.m. snack, it works well.

These snacks double up as a must-have Diwali faral recipe. Made as a complement for Diwali sweets; these are crunchy, often spicy and full of flavor. Chakli, chivda, crunchy puri, sev and sakarpara are the most popular faral recipes.

While these are all traditional recipes, there are so many fusion recipes that make their way into our snacks and Diwali treats. Once such recipe is this Corn flakes Chevdo or Cereal Chivda.

Jump to:

What is Chevdo
This Corn Flakes Chevdo
Why this recipe works
Video Recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
How to make this recipe
Expert Tips and Notes
Recipe FAQs
More Diwali Recipes
Corn Flakes Chevdo

What is Chevdo

Chevdo is a collection of crunchy and savory Indian snacks made with different fried or roasted elements. It can be made with all kinds of ingredients; as long as it has three simple category of ingredients: a base like poha, corn flakes, cereals etc; add-ins like nuts and seeds and spices like turmeric, red chili, salt, sugar and aamchur.

The chevdo is classified based on the base it uses. Corn flakes chevdo has corn flakes, poha chivda has thick or thin poha (flattened rice flakes) and so on.

Chevdo is an amazing side for 4 p.m. masala chai and snacks. It is a great add on with poha or upma for breakfast and also a great snack to take along for trips and picnics.

This Corn Flakes Chevdo

Corn flakes chevdo is a savory mix of fried corn flakes with spices and crunchy elements. It is a must-have Diwali recipe and always super delicious with masala chai or even with drinks like beer.

Traditionally it is made with fried corn flakes and fried add-ins. However, I like to use the cereal i.e. Kelloggs Corn Flakes for the recipe. Plus, I simply shallow fry the add-ins instead of deep frying them.

So what is actually an oil dense recipe coverts to a light, less oil version. While the taste is slightly different; it is still an amazing crunchy mix. Well, the recipe is almost like a savory mix of breakfast cereal essentials.

Why this recipe works

It is a healthier version of a classic corn flakes chevdo recipe.
This recipe makes a great snack for breakfast or 4 p.m. tea time.
The chivda is full of sweet, salty, sour and spicy flavors.
We can make this ahead of time. It is great for up to a month.
The recipe comes together in under 15 minutes of time.
This one doubles as a Diwali faral recipe.
It is a naturally Vegan recipe.
This recipe works well to take along for picnics and trips.

Video Recipe

Ingredients and Substitutions

Corn flakes chevdo ingredients in small bowls on a black background.

Corn Flakes: We start the recipe with Kelloggs Corn Flakes. Though I use just one cereal, a mix of cereals like rice flakes, Cheerios, wheat flakes etc also work. Make sure the cereal is fresh and not stale to avoid it from being soggy.
Peanuts: Peanuts are great in any namkeen. When fried in oil they become crunchy and make the chivda crunchy. Along with this, adding some cashews and raisins is an option too.
Roasted Dalia: Another favorite ingredient in chivda; roasted dalia adds a rustic nutty taste with crunch to the recipe. However, skip if you cannot find it or do not enjoy it.
Spices: A mix of basic spices; turmeric, red chili, aamchur, salt and sugar make the chivda sweet, spicy and salty all at once. These are almost must-haves and cannot be skipped. Only aamchur can be replaced with some citric acid if you like.
Curry Leaves and Chili: I like to use fresh curry leaves and dried chili in the tempering. Together they give the chivda a great taste. However, skip if you cannot find these.
Oil: The tempering is perfect in neutral oil. Ghee can be used but it does leave a nutty aroma that is not traditional to the recipe.

See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

How to make this recipe

1- In a large pan heat oil. Once it is hot, add peanuts. Fry till the peanuts are crunchy.

2- Then add the roasted dalia.

Collage steps to make corn flakes chevdo; heat oil and add peanuts and dalia; sauté them well.

3- Fry them on medium flame till crisp but not burnt.

4- Then add dried chili and fresh curry leaves. Let them crisp up.

Collage steps to make corn flakes chevdo; adding curry leaves and chili to sautéed peanuts in a large pan.

5- Then turn down the flame to minimum and add all the spices.

6- Mix well and then add the corn flakes.

Collage steps to make corn flakes chevdo; adding spices and corn flakes in a pan.

7- Toss them till they are coated with the spices. Then turn the flame down.

8- Once cool, transfer to air tight container or enjoy straight in a bowl.

Collage steps to make corn flakes chevdo; mixing everything well and serving in a bowl.

Expert Tips and Notes

Keep all the ingredients at hand before starting the recipe. The steps are in quick succession and it is best to have them all lined up close to you.
The ingredients can burn quickly. So keep the flame at medium high throughout except when adding the spices. The spices need to be added at the lowest flame.
Add nuts and seeds like pumpkin seeds, dried coconut, raisins, cashews, almonds, cranberries etc to the chivda for great texture and taste.
Pick a cereal of your choice. Honey bunches, Cheerios, rice flakes, corn flakes, or a mix of these.
Adjust the seasoning based on how you like it. Sugar is optional, but highly recommended to balance the spice, salt and sour flavors.
Ensure that the chivda cools completely before transferring to air tight container. That way the mix does not turn soggy.

A rectangle tray with corn flakes chevdo; topped with curry leaves and cashews.

Recipe FAQs

What cereals work best for corn flakes chevdo?

Cereals like corn flakes, rice flakes, honey bunches of oats or Cheerios are great for the recipe. Use them individually or in a combination.

Do we need to fry corn flakes to make chivda?

If using traditional corn flakes (makai poha) that are meant for chivda; we definitely need to fry or bake them. However, if using cereal corn flakes like me; simply sauté them with the spices. These cannot be fried.

What is chivda made of?

Chivda is a savory mix of ingredients that makes a delicious snack. We need three main ingredients to make it; a base like cereal, poha etc, crunchy elements like nuts and seeds and seasonings to make it salty, sweet, sour and spicy.

How long can we store corn flakes chevdo?

Corn flakes chevdo keeps well at room temperature in an air tight container for up to a month. If it becomes less crunchy, simply dry roast or bake in the oven to bring back the crunch in the recipe.

A rectangle tray with corn flakes chivda topped with curry leaves.

More Diwali Recipes

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