NANKATAI / NANKHATAI / CARDAMOM FLAVOURED COOKIES

Nankhatais are basically shortbread biscuits flavoured with cardamom originating from the Indian subcontinent and very popular in India and Pakistan.
Nankhatais are very popular in Sindhi homes too. We usually make them during Sataen / Satam festival in the month of Shravan along with many other goodies.

Ingredients:
Maida ............. 1 cup
Icing sugar ..... 1/2 cup (if you like it too sweet add 1 tbsp more)
Desi ghee ....... 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder ... 1/4 tsp
Baking soda ...... 1 pinch
Salt .............. 1 pinch (optional - it actually balances the taste of all the sweet dishes)
Pistachios ..... 1 tbsp (sliced)

Method:

Collect all the ingredients and bring to room temperature.

In a bowl mix together Desi ghee and icing sugar.

Keep whisking until they are well blended.

Now tip in the cardamom powder, salt and baking soda.

Spoon in the maida little by little and keep whisking until all the maida is used up.

Knead the mixture lightly with your hands.

Take a small portion and make a round ball. Flatten it. Put the sliced pistachios on it and press lightly. Make all the nankhatais and place them on a greased baking tray.

Bake them in a pre-heated oven at 200 C for 18 to 20 minutes.

Remove the tray from the oven and allow the nankhatais to cool well. Store them in an air tight container.

BESANI / BESANA JI KOKI / SINDHI FLATBREAD WITH GRAM FLOUR

Besani or Besana ji Koki is a traditional flat bread from the Sindhi Cuisine. Koki is made only from wheat flour while in Besani we add besan (gram flour) . You can take the ratio of half and half of both the flours. Finely chopped onions, green chillies and carom seeds are also added for flavour. This can be served for breakfast with curd , pickle or for brunch with any sabzi too if you like. It is quite filling.

Ingredients:
Besan / gram flour ... 1 cup
Wheat flour ............. 1 cup
Onion ..................... 1/2 cup (finely chopped)
Green chillies ........ 2-3 (finely chopped)
Coriander leaves ... handful
Carom seeds / ajwain ... 1/2 tsp or cumin seeds
Turmeric powder ......... 1/4 tsp
Salt ............................ to taste
Ghee or oil ................ 2 tbsps (to add while kneading)
Ghee or oil .............. as needed (to brush while roasting)

Method:

Mix all the ingredients and knead adding water little by little.

Make a stiff dough.

Take a small portion and roll it out into a flat bread slightly thicker than the normal roti.

Heat a griddle and transfer the roti. Prick it with the spatula or a knife.

Roast the flat breads brushing a little ghee to make them crisp.

Repeat the same process and make all the rotis. Serve hot with pickle, curd or sabzi.