Chakkuli / Chakli:( Traditional Way)

Chakli is a default and very important savory in Ganesh Chaturthi offerings. This chakli is the one, I have learnt from my close family friend which she prepares during the Krishnashtami / Janmashtami festival which is very important in their Iyengari community.

She usually prepares Chakkuli flour little ahead of the festival. This can be stored in room temperature for up to 6 months. If ready chakli flour is in hand, you can make these super soft butter chaklis in no time and can relish whenever you want.

First, I would explain how to prepare the powder and then we will move towards chakli making.

For Chakli Flour:

Use One glass for measurement.

Ingredients :

Sona masuri or Dosa rice – 4 cups

Urad dal – 1 cup

Method:

-Wash Rice and Urad dal separately, couple of times.

-Drain water, keep this in a strainer for some time.

-Then spread this on a clean towel and dry this for couple of hours by keeping it indoors.

-When it is dry, if you feel little cold while touching, it is ok.

– Keep one kadai, when it is hot, pour rice little by little and heat a little in batches. You should fry only for 2 minutes.

-Spread this on a towel or paper and cool.

-Next Dry roast washed and dried Urad dal until it is light brown and emits nice fragrance.

-Cool these two ingredients and give it to nearby flour mill and make powder.

-After powdering, mix everything nicely or sieve couple of times and keep it in a cool dry place. It is your Basic Chakli flour.

For Chakli:

Ingredients:

Chakli flour – 1 cup

Butter – 2 table spoons (small lemon sized ball)

Salt

Hing – ½ tea spoon

White sesame seeds – 1 tea spoon

Water – to bind the dough

Oil – For frying

Method:

-Take one wide bowl, put flour, salt, hing, sesame, butter and rub everything nicely.

-Pour water little by little and bind to make a dough. It should be soft and non-sticky.

-Set aside this dough for 5 to 10 minutes or until oil heats.

-Take oil in a kadai, when it is hot, start making chakli on a piece of paper or butter paper, by using chakli press.

-Drop these chaklis in hot oil and fry in a low flame.

-When it is done, remove and drain the excess oil and cool.

-Store these chaklis in an air tight container.

NOTE:

-When you drop the chaklis, initially you will hear bubbly noise and gradually noise becomes less and stops. That is the time, you should remove the ready, fried chaklis.