Crispy Baked Mathri
Mathri, a beloved savoury biscuit, typically undergoes deep-frying. This recipe offers a baked alternative, retaining its signature crunch and flavour
while significantly reducing oil content. You'll need whole wheat flour, semolina for texture, carom and cumin seeds for aroma, salt, and a small amount of ghee or oil for the dough. The preparation involves mixing dry ingredients, kneading a stiff dough, resting it, rolling it thinly, pricking with a fork to prevent puffing, and then baking until golden and crisp. Lightly brushing with oil or ghee before baking ensures a pleasant finish. This method makes it a wholesome choice for festive snacking, allowing you to enjoy its traditional taste with a healthier preparation.
Savory Baked Namak Pare
Namak pare, a delightful savoury snack, is often fried, but a baked version offers a lighter treat for Holi festivities. The recipe utilizes either all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour, combined with melted ghee or oil, carom seeds for its distinctive flavour, and salt. After combining these ingredients to a breadcrumb-like consistency, water is added to form a stiff dough, which then rests. The dough is rolled out very thinly, cut into diamond or strip shapes, and then baked. Brushing with a bit of oil or ghee before baking helps achieve a golden hue and satisfying crispness. This baked rendition ensures you get the same enjoyable texture and taste without the heaviness of deep-frying.
Healthy Baked Chakli
Chakli, recognizable by its spiral form and satisfying crunch, is usually fried. This recipe presents a baked alternative, making it a healthier choice for Holi celebrations. The core ingredients include rice flour, gram flour, and roasted gram flour for texture, along with spices like red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, and asafoetida (hing) for flavour. A tablespoon of oil or ghee is incorporated into the dry mix before water is added to form a smooth, pliable dough. The dough is then passed through a chakli maker to create the characteristic spirals, which are arranged on a baking tray. Lightly brushed with oil or ghee, these spirals are then baked until they are perfectly crisp and golden brown. This approach maintains the beloved texture and taste of chakli while significantly reducing its oil content.
Delightful Baked Murukku
Murukku, a popular South Indian snack akin to chakli, can also be enjoyed in a healthier, baked form. The recipe calls for rice flour, urad dal flour for a subtle nutty flavour, cumin seeds for aroma, and salt. A tablespoon of hot oil or ghee is added to the dry mix, creating a texture similar to breadcrumbs, followed by the gradual addition of water to form a firm dough. This dough should be stiff enough to be pressed through a murukku maker. Once shaped into spirals on a parchment-lined baking tray and lightly brushed with oil or ghee, they are baked until they achieve a crisp, golden finish. This method ensures that the festive appeal of murukku is preserved without the need for deep-frying, making it a lighter option for your celebrations.
Protein-Rich Roasted Chana
Roasted chana offers a naturally low-oil, high-fibre snack that is ideal for keeping energy levels stable during the vibrant Holi festivities. This simple preparation involves dry roasting pre-cooked or raw chickpeas on a low flame until they develop a satisfying crunch. Once roasted and cooled, they are tossed with a light seasoning of red chilli powder, chaat masala, and salt to enhance their flavour without adding significant oil. This method not only preserves the inherent health benefits of chana but also makes them incredibly easy to digest, allowing for continuous snacking throughout the day's celebrations. Their protein content ensures sustained energy, making them a perfect, wholesome addition to any festive platter.
