Namkeen Mathri

Festive season is around the corner and my kitchen is all set to prepare sweet delicacies and savory snacks for Diwali. Namkeen mathri, Gur pare, Kaju katli, gulab jamun were the common ones prepared in my mom’s place and the tradition still continues. Today I am preparing this crispy and flaky salted crackers also referred to as mathiya or mathri for Karwa chouth – a must have for the fast. Other than that, I relish mathris with a cup of hot tea and achar….yum!!

RECIPE DETAIL – My mom used to make the most khasta and kurkuri mathri at this time of the year. Her secret to khasta mathri was the moen/ moyen (oil) in the dough and that what decides how flaky mathri will turn out to be. The trick – pour warm oil/ghee in the center, gradually work on the flour till mixture is crumbly. Use fingertips to rub oil evenly into flour. Now, take some mixture in your fist, squeeze it tight. If it binds well and forms a shape then the dough is ready to work on. But if the dough crumbles and falls off your fingers than it needs more oil. Add enough water to form a dough.

Knead a soft pliable dough. Shape it like small puris and poke holes in each mathri before frying. This way it will not puff up and will turn out crispy. Deep fry the mathris. Maintain the oil temperature and make sure the oil is medium hot and not smoky. Mathris should float and cook in oil until crisp and golden brown in color. This way they will end up crispy and khasta. If fried in smoky hot oil, mathris will not be thoroughly cooked and may end up soft like puris. 

Remove from oil and set it on a paper napkin to drain off excess oil. Allow it to cool down and store it in airtight container.

 DUE TO LOW LIGHTING CONDITIONS, PLEASE EXCUSE THE STEP BY STEP PHOTOGRAPHY.

FOLLOW LINK FOR KARWA CHOUTH THALI AND FOLLOW LINK FOR KARWA CHAUTH KATHA IN HINDI

HOW TO PREPARE KARWA CHOUTH DIYA?

Namkeen Mathri

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Crispy and flaky Indian salted crackers made during festive months and relished with a cup of hot tea.

Servings	Prep Time
18 MATHRIS	30 MINUTES

Cook Time

20 MINUTES

Servings Prep Time 18 MATHRIS 30 MINUTES

Cook Time 20 MINUTES

Namkeen Mathri Votes: 4 Rating: 4.5 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe Crispy and flaky Indian salted crackers made during festive months and relished with a cup of hot tea. Servings Prep Time 18 MATHRIS 30 MINUTES Cook Time 20 MINUTES Servings Prep Time 18 MATHRIS 30 MINUTES Cook Time 20 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups Maida (All purpose flour)
• 1/2 cup Warm Oil/Ghee
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Ajwain/ Carrom seeds
• 1/3 cup Warm water or 6-7 tablespoon of water
• Oil for Frying

CHANGE SERVING SIZE: MATHRIS

CHANGE UNITS:MetricUS Imperial

METHOD

1. Assemble all the ingredients.

   
2. Sift flour in a big bowl/plate. Add carrom seeds.

   
3. Mix in salt.

   
4. Pour warm oil in the center, gradually work on the flour till mixture is crumbly.

   
5. Use fingertips to rub oil evenly into flour.

   
6. To check if the dough has sufficient oil, take some mixture in your fist, squeeze it tight. If it binds well and forms a shape then the dough is ready to work on. But if the dough crumbles and falls off your fingers than it needs more oil.

   
7. Spoon by spoon add enough water to form a soft and pliable dough.

   
8. Mathri dough is ready. Cover and let it sit for 20 minutes.

   
9. Heat oil in a kadai. Make a small ball out of the dough and..

   
10. Flatten it. You can even use a rolling pin to form a small disc shaped mathri. Poke mathri with a fork - this way it will not puff up during frying and will turn out crispy.

    
11. Add mathri to the hot oil. Maintain the oil temperature and make sure the oil is medium hot and not smoky.

    
12. Mathris should float and cook in oil until crisp and golden brown in color.

    
13. Remove from oil and set it on a paper napkin to drain off excess oil.

    
14. Fried mathris are ready.

    
15. Allow them to cool down completely.

    
16. Store them in airtight container and good for 2-3 weeks.

    
17. Enjoy them with hot tea or homemade achar.