Spicy Diamond Cuts | Spicy Shankarpali Recipe | Khara Maida Biscuits | Easy Diwali Snacks

Spicy(Savory) Diamond Cuts and Sweet Diamond Cuts are prepared together as they complement each other while eating.While the Sweet Diamond cuts are favorite for kiddos,the adults like the Savory Diamond cuts. This is the most easiest recipe that even a beginner can try and hardly go wrong with it. It is as simple as making a poori with few pointers to keep in mind. So if you have not planned anything for this year Diwali and would want to prepare something extremely simple, then this recipe is for you.

Spicy Diamond cuts is a closer cousin to Nimki, which is also a similar recipe mostly prepared in other parts of the county, I would post that version some time later.One can flavor these biscuits as they wish.I am posting a basic version of Savory Diamond cuts but one can alter the flavors according to their taste buds.I have used carom seeds as I love the flavor of it but you can use either minced garlic or ginger to flavor it too.Now on to the recipe.

Check out other Diwali savouries in my blog here:

• Avarekalu Mixture | Hyacinth Bean Snack - Bangalore special 
• Butter Murukku | Benne Murukku
• Chakli | Murukku -easy version
• Chekkalu/Thattai/Savory Rice Crackers
• Garlic Karasev | Lahsun Sev
• Karam Gavvalu - Andhra Special
• Kodubale | Kodbale
• Mullu Murukku | Manugupoolu | Magizhampoo Murukku
• Nippattu | Nippat Recipe
• Oma Podi | Plain Sev | Senagapindi Karapusa
• Poha Chiwda
• Plain Ribbon Pakoda | Easy Ribbon Murukku
• Ribbon Pakoda | Ribbon Murukku | Nada Karasu 
• Sago Murukku | Saggubiyyam Murukkulu
• Spicy Diamond Cuts
• Spicy Sev | Kara Sev
• Thenkuzhal | Thengolu | Thenkolalu Murukku 

Also check out the wide collection of Diwali Sweets Recipes and Payasam/Kheer Varieties.

Spicy Diamond Cuts Recipe |  Khara Maida Biscuits:

Shelf life: 2 weeks | Author: Prathibha

Prep time: 10 mins | Cooking time: 30 mins | Total time: 40 mins

Cuisine: South Indian | Category: Snacks

Ingredients

1 cup Maida/All Purpose flour

1 tsp Red Chili powder

1 tsp Cumin seeds,optional

1/2 tsp Ajwain/Carom seeds

a fat pinch of Asafoetida

1 tbsp hot Oil

Salt to taste

Oil, for deep frying

Method:

• In a bowl add maida,red chili powder,cumin seeds,carom seeds(ajwain), asafoetida, salt and a tablespoon of hot bubbling oil to it .Leave the mixture for a minute for you to handle the oil with the dough.Mix  everything nicely with your finger tips.

• Now add water little by little and make it into a smooth and tight dough but soft to touch.Leave it aside for half an hour.
• Knead the dough again and divide into 3 to 4 portions.
• Roll each ball into a thin chapathi by dusting it with flour generously in between.Roll it as thin as possible,this helps in making them crispier while frying.

• Now using a pizza cutter or knife or shankarpali cutter, cut the chapathi into thin strips horizontally as well as vertically to create small diamonds as shown in picture.Separate them carefully.
• Meanwhile heat oil and once the oil is hot enough add diamond cuts and fry them on low- medium flame until they turn golden color and become crisp.Keep turning them in between to avoid them sticking to each other.Always fry in small batches.

• Remove them using a slotted spoon and drain them in a colander or tissue.Let them cool completely.

Store them in an airtight container.

Notes:

1. Ajwain adds a nice flavor to these diamond cuts. You can even flavor them by adding 1 tbsp minced garlic or 2 tsp freshly ground Ginger-Garlic paste. 
2. These diamond cuts puffs up nicely in the oil, if you want flat ones like nimki you can poke the rolled chapathi with a fork so that they don't puff up and give flat biscuits.
3. You can mix 50:50 ratio of flour and atta in the recipe.
4. Always fry in small batches over medium flame and do not over crowd the pan.
5. Make sure that you use enough flour to dust while rolling chapathi otherwise the diamond cuts get stuck to the board and it will be difficult to remove them.If it sticks to the board, use a metal spatula and lift them and drop them in the oil directly.

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