Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Savoury South Indian Shortbread - Khara Biscuits

If you are a resident of Karnataka especially, South Bangalore area, you would have seen and visited an Iyengar Bakery.Or you must have atleast heard of them. These are famous old style bakeries specialising in eggless bakes. If that doesn't ring a bell, then I suggest you visit an Iyengar bakery at evening time. There is such a rush between 3 to 4 for hot fresh masala sandwich, buns, cookies and cakes. I usually prefer the savoury items and unless you are dot on time, you will never get them. So I was very happy to see the savoury shortbread cookies from these bakeries in Priya's Blog with whom I am paired this edition of Blog Hop Wednesdays, an event by Radhika. It was also a long time since I baked cookies and longer since anything savoury. And these were simple to make as well. 

Ingredients:
All Purpose Flour: 2 cups
Butter/Shortening: 1/3 cup soft
Sugar: 4 tsp
Salt: 1 tsp
Yogurt: 2 + tbsp

Grind to a coarse paste OR Chop Finely
Green Chillies: 6 or as per taste (I used my green Chile paste)
Coriander Leaves: 2-3 tbsp
Cumin seeds: 1/4 tsp + as per taste
Curry Leaves: few (optional)

Preparation:
Cream together sugar and butter for a few minutes till creamy. Add 2 tbsp yogurt and continue to beat. Add in the dry mix of flour+salt and continue to beat to incorporate it. 

You might have to get down and knead the mix with your hands to get a non sticky crumbly dough. Fold in the ground/chopped herbs and continue kneading adding 1 tbsp of yogurt at a time. 

Roll out the dough on a flat surface -you might not dust the surface as the dough will not stick. Using cookie cutters or appropriate shapes, cut into required shapes or rounds.

Place the cookies in a lined & greased baking sheet and bake until the the edges start browning for about 15-20 minutes. Make sure you check after 10-12 minutes as the time varies from oven to oven. The recipe said 18-20 minutes but mine was done by the 15th minute.. So keep an eye so that they are not burned.


You taste these once, you can understand the rush at the Iyengar Bakeries.Savoury cookies that are different from the regular sweet ones and easy to make as well.



7 Comments:

Santosh Bangar said...

crispy khara biscuit is perfect snake with cup of tea

divyagcp said...

Love this savory cookies.. Neat presentation..

Divya's Culinary Journey

Swathi said...

delicious Khara biscuits, Sweatha.

Anonymous said...

Very quick and easy recipe. Good pick

Indian Khana said...

Yum...perfect with a cup of tea

AJ said...

They look yummy!

Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen said...

Looks Perfect!!! Thanks for trying it out!!!!

Thanks for visiting my Blog

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