Five-minute snacks: a quick guide to namkeen

Namkeen is the catch-all word for South Asia's savoury snack mixes — crunchy, salty, often spiced, and dangerously easy to finish in one sitting.

Sev is thin, crispy chickpea-flour noodles, usually the base of a mix. Bhujia is a spicier, thinner cousin. Mixture (sometimes called Bombay mix) throws in peanuts, lentils, and puffed rice for texture.

Our favourite way to serve any of them: straight from the bag with tea, or scattered over a plate of sliced onion, tomato and a squeeze of lime for an instant chaat.