Sunday 11 November 2012

Baked Methi Puris (Baked Whole Wheat Mini Flatbreads)

This week, Indians will celebrate Diwali, our biggest festival of the year.  It is a special day devoted to the worship of Goddess Lakshmi - the Goddess of Wealth. And for all those who think of wealth only in terms of 'benjamins', this festival celebrates the Goddess as a provider of wealth in many forms : Knowledge, intelligence, strength, valor, beauty, victory, fame, ambition, morality, wealth, food, bliss, happiness, health and progeny.

 
Diwali is a time for tradition and celebration, a time for prayer and hope, a time to go back home, a time for family and friends, a time for lamps and fireworks and of course, a time for good food!! And Indians love their food. Food is about sharing, love, abundance, tradition and definitely not for the weight-watchers. And for all the sweet that is made for such times, there is the savoury too. Because, thats what Indian food is all about.. balance!!

 
And yet amidst all the bonhomie and madness, balance is the last thing on your mind. And everyone knows how tough it is to shed holiday weight gain. So, lately a number of Indians have tried to make healthier versions of their favourite sweets and snacks without compromising on taste.
 
The oven does not find a place in traditional, Indian cuisine. Yet increasingly, as a lot of us have become more health-conscious, we use the oven as a way to achieve the same results with a lot less oil. So, today I attempted to make a baked version of these puris, a popular savoury snack, that would otherwise be deep-fried.


The recipe is courtesy, one of India's best-selling, most popular cookbook authors, Tarla Dalal. Before the Internet and the food blogs, her books, largely focussed on Indian cuisine and catered to India's vast vegetarian population. And at a time when the world was not such a small place as it is now, she introduced Indians to global cuisine, even if it was a vegetarian, Indianised version!!


These puris are made from whole wheat and flavoured with a few powdered spices and methi (fenugreek) leaves. And the best part, there is only a teaspoon of oil. To serve, I paired it with some coriander chutney.
 
The results were as I hoped they would be. The puris were crispy, spicy and just the thing needed to counter the avalanche of sweets during this time. And no, you do not miss that they are not deep-fried. And it hardly takes any time to make them, making them a perfect tea-time snack, all-year round.


Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Diwali. May this festival of lights brighten up every part of your life with joy and happiness!!!

** Over the next two weeks, I will have sporadic Internet access and will respond to your mails with a lag or when I get back home!!
 
Baked Methi Puris (Baked Whole Wheat Mini Flatbreads)

Recipe courtesy : Tarla Dalal

Makes 20 (3'-inch diameter) puris.

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup whole-wheat flour (atta)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fenugreek leaves (methi)
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
  • 1/2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp oil
  • salt, to taste ( I used approx. 3/4 tsp salt)
  • 5 tablespoons water
  • oil, for greasing the baking tray
 
Cooking Directions:
  • Pre-heat the oven to 180 deg C.
  • Combine all the ingredients and knead into a firm dough using as much water as required. To make puris crisp, the dough should be really firm.
  • Roll out the dough and then, with something like a cookie cutter, shape and form 3-inch circles. You should get approximately 20.
  • Place on a greased baking tray and prick all over using a fork.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the puris are golden brown, turning them around once 
  • Store in an airtight container

38 comments:

  1. i love how beautiful and healthy these puris are!

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    1. I know Richa... healthy is usually the last thing on our minds during these times.. so anything that can help is good!! Thanks for dropping by!! :)

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  2. Hi! I want to do some preparations for these puris in advance. Do you think I can prepare the dough on Modnay and bake on Tuesday? Or would it be better to prepare the dough and bake on Monday?

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    1. The whole process took me an hour from start to finish, Aditi. And i think either way would be fine.. although if you decide to simply make the dough on monday.. then wrap it tightly in clingfilm or else it will really harden and will tough to roll out!! If you do make them.. do tell me how they turned put and what you think of them!! :) happy diwali!!

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  3. Simple superb recipe.. My mom has made the deep fried version of this and we were just talking about it yesterday!! Now I can make these and 'show off' my healthier version.. thanks for sharing.
    Wish you and your family a Very Happy Diwali and lovely presentation!

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    1. Happy Diwali to you too Gauri! :) Please do make these and let me know how you liked them!!!

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  4. Wow. Great color on these flatbread!

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  5. oooo how lovely, used to be my favorite growing up in apnu amdavad...:D

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    1. hahhaa.. look who dropped by on diwali!!! Happy diwali nandya.. to you and everyone at home!!!

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  6. I am totally going with your version of baked puris. They look yummy !
    Wish you a very happy Diwali!

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    1. Wishing you and your family a Happy Diwali too, Balvinder!!!

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  7. Happy (belated) Diwali, Sarvani!!! These puris look just amazing! Beautifully baked and photographed. I wish that Goddess Lakshmi gives you all forms of wealth to you and your loved ones!!!

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    1. Dear Maria, Thank you so much!! Wishing you and your family a very Happy Diwali too!! :)

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    2. Thank you sweetie! I just wanted to let you know that I have given you The Beautiful Blogger award :) :)

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    3. Thank you soo much Maria!!! Everytime someone thinks of my blog.. and mentions it.. I get excited like a little schoolgirl.. I can't get over how a non-cook like me has gotten to writing a food blog and that people actually enjoy it... wonders never cease.. do they?!?!

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  8. Beautiful and very informative post. I have been curious about what the festival was so thanks for educating me. Your flatbreads look delicious! I love adding turmeric to mine too. What would be a good substitute for the fenugreek leaves? Thanks and happy Diwali:)

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    1. Hi!! Happy Diwali to you too!!! You can substitute the fenugreek leaves with some baby spinach leaves.. that will work just fine!! Thanks for dropping by!! :))

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  9. Happy Diwali Sarvani :)I loved the explanation about the meaning of Diwali..wealth indeed comes in many forms and many are much more precious than money
    I am in love with treats that are similar to crackers...crisp and full of flavor and these look perfect to say the least

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    1. Thank you so much Sawsan!! Happy diwali to you too!! :))

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  10. The color of these flatbreads is magical! Spicy and baked, that´s a good thing! A great bread to celebrate a time of abundance.

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    1. Thanks Paula!! This makes a great tea-time snack.

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  11. Replies
    1. Thanks Alina.. Coming from someone whose photographs I personally am in awe of..I can't stop smiling..Thank you!!

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  12. Wow...baked puris....thats awesome...never knew that you could make it other than frying it....impressive!!!

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    1. Thanks Shibi!! Like you I assumed frying was the only way.. and for someone like me who always struggles with her weight.. any healthy option is welcome!! :)

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    2. Check out some of the low fat and easy healthy recipes at FlavzCorner

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    3. Will defnitely check it out Shibi.. cos I definitely need a lot more healthy recipes!!

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  13. Puris...they are new to me. Must be very flavourful and delicious.

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    1. They make a lovely snack.. espcially around tea-time.. give them a shot some time!!

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  14. Hi! I love this recipe and I love your pictures!! Ciao, Francesca from Italy

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    1. Thank you so much Francesca!! Appreciate the kind words!!

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  15. I was hoping to come here and see pictures of a glorious apple pie with melting ice cream on top....Alas I will have to take my hankering to a diner here

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    1. haha..And instead you got baked puris!!! hahahhaa..... point made and taken!! have been out of action for more than 2 weeks.. its time for a new post.. have everything.. just have to sit down and write it.. am not promising an apple pie.. although thats on the list... but it will be something good!! :) still can't get over the "puris-instead of-pie" fiasco!!

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  16. It would be lovely to munch these with some tea. I love methi and I would love to give this a try!

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    1. They are great with tea..the methi give them that little something extra.. there are almost like savoury crackers!!

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  17. wow! i love the idea of baked methi puris. healthy and delicious! Would make for an incredible evening snack!

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    1. with all the baking and considering I dont have a great metabolism.. i need to get my hands on all the healthy baking recipes that I can!! :)) but these were good.. really enjoyed them!!

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