Introduction
About this Recipe
By: Complete Food Company
Nankhatai is a Persian term where Naan that means “bread” in English. Khatai, on the other hand, refers to light, flaky biscuits.
It is a simple term that refers to light, buttery biscuits or Indian shortbread cookies without eggs or leavening agents (baking soda and baking powder).
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour (maida)
- 1/2 cup powered sugar
- 2 tbsp desiccated coconut
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/2 cup ghee (clarified butter) at room temperature (in semi-solid form)
- 6-8 almonds sliced
Freshly baked golden-brown cookies are my favorite thing to eat with a cup of chai. This nankhatai cookie recipe is a great choice for your next tea party.
This recipe will also take you back to your childhood.
My grandma used to bake Nankahtais in her small Bajaj oven when I was a child. She would use shudh ghee and other ingredients. We would wait patiently for Nankhatais to bake, as the wonderful smell of them fills our home.
The most enjoyable time was the festive season. She would make large batches of nankhatais and then box them up to share with her family, friends, neighbors, and other people during the holiday .
These nankhatais, however, are a sweet treat that can be enjoyed at any time of the year.
How to Make Perfect Nankhatai
Ghee(clarified butter) is the secret to these soft and crumbly nankhatais. A good mix of fat and low moisture content is key to nankhatai’s crunchiness. Baked nankhatais will be acceptable stiff and crumbly because of the loss of moisture in the ghee.
Let’s not delay, and let’s recapture the joys of childhood with this delicious nankhatai recipe.
- It takes only a few minutes to do.
- It is soft, moist and delicate just like traditional bakery-bought Nankatais
- Rich, flavorful with a hint of cardamom, desiccated Coconut and
- Incredibly delicious.
Storage Instructions
Baked nankhatai can be kept fresh for up to three weeks in an airtight container
You can make the dough a day ahead and store it in a refrigerator. Bake the dough at baking time.
Servings
4
Ready In:
40min
Good For:
Dessert
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoon desiccated coconut, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon cardamom powder in a large bowl. Mix all dry ingredients together.
Step 2
Gradually, add the 1/2 cup semi-solid ghee to the dry ingredients. Use your fingers to incorporate the ghee in the flour mixture. Mix in the ghee until it forms a dough-like consistency.
The dough should be smooth and not sticky. It should also crumble when pressed. Allow the dough to rest for about 10-15 minutes.
Step 3
Use your hands to take a tablespoon of the dough and roll it into small balls about golf-size. Flatten the dough and smoothen it with your fingers. Place the cookies a few inches apart on the baking tray. In the middle, add sliced almonds.
Step 4
Bake in the oven for 13-15 mins or until lightly golden around the edges.
Step 5
Allow the cookies to cool in the tray for about 4-5 minutes. They can break or fall apart if you touch them. They will become firmer after cooling.
Step 6
Let the nankhatai cool completely before serving.
Tips
- Fat content: Do not reduce the amount ghee. To achieve a flaky texture, the fat vs flour ratio must be just right.
- Fat consistency: Ghee must be room-temperature in semi-solid form
- Nankhatai fell apart: You touched them too soon. Allow them to cool completely before you touch or lift them by hand. They will still be soft and fragile when they come out of the oven. Allow it to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes. During this cooling period, they will become firmer. Use a spatula to transfer the nankhtai to the cooling rack. Let them cool completely.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
These nanhatais can be a little too indulgent. You will want to eat more once you have started munching them. They can disappear from your tray in no time. They are my family’s favorite snack for a few reasons.
- They are loved by both children and adults.
- These nankhatais will make you eat every calorie. They are truly delicious, I can assure you!
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!! If you give this recipe a try, we did love to hear from you, Please let us know your feedback in the comments below.
Thank you!
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