Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Chakli

I have been away for a little more than a fortnight - totally unplanned ! My apologies for the disappearing act. The first week I was fighting some terrible allergies and a crabby mood, which I promise came with the allergies. The second week just flew by as one of my very close friends was visiting. We had a great time but I missed blogging!! Am glad to be back, I missed being here- hope you guys missed me too ;)


Chakli has always been a people pleaser. I think I have yet to meet someone who does not like this crunchy savory snack. For my friends who are wondering what I am talking about: chakli is a traditional south Indian fried savory snack. It is crunchy, salty, and once you start eating them you cannot stop.  You can try it at any Indian grocery store, but I assure you they are not as delectable as home made. At the store they are usually bite sized and hard. I must confess I have been guilty of getting the store bought ones - only during chakli emergencies!!

Traditionally chakli is made by soaking the rice for a few hours, drying it on a cheese cloth and roasting the rice on low flame in small batches. Urad daal is washed not soaked to remove any white powder and then wiped and roasted on low flame in small batches. Allowed to cool and then ground into a chakli flour. The result is chakli that melts in your mouth. My other half's grandma was famous for her mouthwatering melt in your mouth chakli - the likes of which I have never seen since. To pass her quality standards was not a joke!! It is a pity that traditional foods are being replaced by packet goods... Money can buy those but what it cannot buy is the love that grandma put in her food. I Would love to hear about the traditional foods in your homes!!

Great for snacks with chai or with a cocktail. It goes very well with Indian beer, which has a malty taste. It also pairs well with Porter, this is again a malty flavoured beer more like roasted malt or strong coffee. You could serve chakli with some pepper jack and Port Wine after a flavourful Indian meal or even with the meal. It is a very versatile snack so get creative.



4 cups rice flour
1 cup urad dal flour
4tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp cumin seed
1/4 tsp asafoetida
salt to taste

oil for deep frying
water for mixing

Roast the rice flour and urad dal flour seperately on a low flame in small batches. Keep aside to cool
Roast the sesame. Mix all the dry ingredients, add 1/4 cup of hot oil to the dry ingredients and mix it with a dry fork, add water and make a soft dough but not sticky.

Heat oil in a pan.


Fill the appropriate amount of the dough into the chakli maker - with the right cutter. mould out round shapes on the back of a plate. If the dough is too hard and chakli making is turning out to be a upper body workout, add more water with hot oil. If the chalki is crumbling again more water and oil.

Drop the chakli in hot oil one at a time. Remove after they are a light shade of brown. Enjoy !!

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33 comments:

  1. How nice!thank you for sharing. I will have to go get a chakli maker first!

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  2. Good work girl... looks perfect

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  3. Delicious and crunchy looking chaklis.
    Deepa

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  4. Great post. This is one of my favorite snacks: it is called "Mullu Thenkuzhal" or "Mullu Murukku" in Tamil and is a regular feature during Divali,Pongal or Sri Krishna Jayanthi.

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  5. I have made murukus. But my chakli was a flop. They broke as I passed them through the press. I was told by friends that I probably used too much butter. This one looks perfect.

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  6. Hope you are feeling better. Chakli looks perfect and crisp.

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  7. Yummy super crispy beauties tempts me a lot.

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  8. We did miss you and are glad you're back!

    These look and sound delicious! Do you think it would be possible to pipe them with a pastry bag and small star tip? I don't know where I would find chakli maker.

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  9. Tugs girl : you know I was thinking about the same thing this morning - the Chakli batter is almost a soft dough consistency - it might be hard to pipe !! Let me try with a pastry bag and get back to you on this !! It is not as smooth as icing even with the Chakli maker it is a bit of an arm workout !! I wish we were in the same city - I would have lent you mine !

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  10. I think it will work with a pastry bag. ITs the same idea I think. The chakli's look picture perfect.

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  11. Srimathi - I think u r right it shld work, anyway I want to try it and c will keep you posted !!

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  12. Hope you are feeling better now.
    You have made the Chaklis so perfectly, feel like to grab some. I ove that chackli maker as well ;)
    Tempting clicks. Janmastami wishes to you and family

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  13. Looks perfect n yum ...difficult to resist ....nice pics

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  14. Chakli looks so crisp and crunchy..thanks for sharing grandma's recipe!

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  15. hi dear, glad to know you. we call this snack :muruku". very popular too. i like its spicy version

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  16. Looks crispy !! Thanks for your comments in my blog.. Happy to follow you :)

    Cheers,
    Sharanya
    Sharans Samayalarai
    http://vigsha.blogspot.com

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  17. ah, who does not love yum home made chakli! Yours look great! and the chakli maker looks so vintage and cute! :)

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  18. Chakli has been my favorite Faral dish. Its goes great with tea. My Mom has similar chakli equipment as urs :)

    http://shwetainthekitchen.blogspot.com/

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  19. Hi Simi,

    I have an award waiting for you at my blog please feel free to collect it…

    Cheers,
    Sharanya
    Sharans Samayalarai
    www.vigsha.blogspot.com

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  20. hi simi first time here, you are having such a lovely space, happy to follow you.. when u get free time plz visit mine too....
    murukku looks so inviting...
    VIRUNTHU UNNA VAANGA

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  21. This looks great,the beauties ate tempting me,crispy and yummy

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  22. just came across your blog.. its fantastic with amazing recipes and pics... Glad to follow you :)

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  23. Welcome back and it's good that you are out of the allergies...this is my fav snack. Once I start I cannot stop. Send some over??

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  24. I followed your comment on my blog, nice space you have here. Chaklis look perfectly crunchy.

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  25. thank you simi for stopping by. my bhabi used to make these chaklis very nice. cant recall about rice and urad being roasted but they looked just like this and i love the glass you have put in.

    Keep visiting my space

    random ramblings

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  27. This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here keep up the good work

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  29. Really great post nice work i love your work. Thanks. Keep sharing.
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    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to browse. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. Hope you enjoy your stay :))

hugs!
simi

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