Whatever the weather is, we all need a cup of our hot beverage, tea or coffee or milk. In childhood days, it was almost customary to have freshly baked goods once in a few weeks. We used to all wait for such days, freshly baked benne biscuit, fruity dil pasand, soft oozy honey cakes, hot & spicy aloo buns and nippattu! Of course Iyengar bakery khara biscuit was a regularly featured baked item from the bakery!
As I write this I can imagine those rainy days and taking in the fresh smells just after coming home from school. Oh, what joy! Iyengar bakery khara biscuit is a purely South Indian affair. Iyengar bakery khara biscuit (or simply khara biskuttu) is a mildly spicy biscuit with super tasty flavours from curry leaves & green chilli.
I have used whole wheat flour along with maida in this recipe. It does make a very big batch of Iyengar bakery khara biscuit. Share them as soon as they are fresh and hot from the oven. Or relish them by storing them in a air tight container in a cool dark place. That way they stay nice and crisp! Try more bakery style recipes from FOI. Try more snack recipes as well from FOI!
- 1 Cup whole wheat flour/atta
- 1 Cup maida
- 8-10 chopped curry leaves
- 1 finely chopped green chilli
- ¼ Cup chopped coriander leaves chopped
- ⅛ Tsp baking soda
- ¼ Tsp baking powder
- A pinch of black pepper powder
- Salt to taste
- ½ Tsp jeera
- ⅓ Cup melted butter
- ¼ Cup yogurt or as needed
- In a bowl take whole wheat flour and maida
- To this add baking powder, soda
- Sprinkle black pepper powder and salt, sugar to taste
- Mix all dry ingredients well with a wired whisk or spoon
- In a small pan, melt the butter (only melt, do not make it into ghee)
- Finely chop curry leaves, coriander leaves and green chilli
- Add some jeera for taste and extra flavour
- Tip in the chopped leaves and chilli, mix well
- Now pour melted ghee in the centre of the bowl and mix well
- Crumble the mixture in your palm and mix well
- The mixture should hold together when pressed
- Now add yogurt little by little and start kneading the dough
- Once the dough comes together, apply melted butter and cover and let it rest for half an hour
- To make khara biscuit, use a small cookie or biscuit cutter
- Flour your working surface with maida or atta
- Slowly roll out the dough into a slightly thick round
- Cut rounds/biscuits from the thick rolled out sheet, cut as many as you can
- Line baking tray with parchment paper and pre-heat oven to 180 Deg C
- Place the biscuits on baking sheet on a wired mat or just like that
- Bake at 180 Deg C for 12-15 minutes or till they turn crisp and golden, you might have to keep for 2-3 minutes extra or less depending on your oven
- Let them cool
- Cover and store in an air tight container and enjoy with coffee/tea!
Do not over work the dough, the biscuits will become hard and chewy
Do not add less melted butter, the biscuits turn out flaky only because of butter
Adjust spice as per your taste
Iyengar Bakery Khara Biscuit Stepwise:
In a bowl take whole wheat flour and maida
To this add baking powder, soda
Sprinkle black pepper powder and salt, sugar to taste
Mix all dry ingredients well with a wired whisk or spoon
In a small pan, melt the butter (only melt, do not make it into ghee)
Finely chop curry leaves, coriander leaves and green chilli
Add some jeera for taste and extra flavour
Tip in the chopped leaves and chilli, mix well
Now pour melted ghee in the centre of the bowl and mix well
Crumble the mixture in your palm and mix well
The mixture should hold together when pressed
Now add yogurt little by little and start kneading the dough
Once the dough comes together, apply melted butter and cover and let it rest for half an hour
To make khara biscuit, use a small cookie or biscuit cutter
Flour your working surface with maida or atta
Slowly roll out the dough into a slightly thick round
Cut rounds/biscuits from the thick rolled out sheet, cut as many as you can
Line baking tray with parchment paper and pre-heat oven to 180 Deg C. Prick the biscuits with a fork to prevent puffing up
Place the biscuits on baking sheet on a wired mat or just like that
Bake at 180 Deg C for 12-15 minutes or till they turn crisp and golden, you might have to keep for 2-3 minutes extra or less depending on your oven
Let them cool
Cover and store in an air tight container and enjoy with coffee/tea!
