Wheat Khakhra

EVENT: MEGA BLOGGING MARATHON#92

THEME: A-Z  FLATBREADS AND MORE – INDIAN FLATBREADS

RECIPE: WHEAT KHAKHRA

Wheat Khakhra is a Gujarati savoury, thin, crispy flatbread that is usually enjoyed as a snack with some tea or khakhra masala. As little oil or ghee is used to make them, khakhras are very healthy and make a good diet snack item.

There are so many different varieties of khakhras. Different spices, flavours, herbs, etc are used. Most common ones are masala ones and fenugreek or methi ones.

 

What is Mega Blogging Marathon?

Well, its a group of bloggers who get together to post a dish for 26 days according to the chosen theme. For this marathon we had a choice of 3 themes:

1. A-Z Indian Flatbreads that are not made using batter e.g. like dosa.

2. A-Z Indian Flatbreads using batters e.g. dosa

3. A-Z International Flatbreads.

I opted for option number 1. India has a huge variety of flatbreads to offer that are made on the stove top, in the tandoor, in the oven, under the grill or fried. Khakhra is prepared in a tawa or skillet.

Flatbread For Letter W

Day 22 is taking you to Gujarat, yes once again! The letter is W and finding a paratha or roti with W has been not too easy. There’s Warqi roti but seriously enough of oil and ghee! It requires a lot of ghee to get those perfect layers. We’ve also become so tired of eating flatbreads everyday that our tummies are screaming for some rice or rather khichdi.

Letter W doesn’t give you too many options besides using the word wheat or any other food beginning with W… umm watermelon paratha, not too sure. Anyway wanted something traditional and not modern. So Wheat Khakra it is!

You may retaliate and tell me but they all are made of wheat… I know, I know… but did you know now there are farali, jowar, bajra, mathiya,multi grained khakhras, etc. There are so many varieties that one can get lost in trying to choose which ones to try. Have you heard of pav bhaji, schezwan, idli flavored ones? Yup India sells them all. Checkout the famous Induben Khakhrawala in Ahmedabad.

Khakhra And Kenya

It is only recently that we now get ready made khakhras easily in Kenya. Before, it was like a whole lot would come from India and disappear in a jiffy. Then we’d have to wait till a ship brings in another load. Now khakhras are made in Kenya too. When we couldn’t buy khakhras as they were not available readily, my mother in law would make them from left over rotis (rotlis). Several times I also have made masala ones. However making khakhras at home is a tedious job, needs a lot of patience.

Having said that, whenever I have extra rotis, I make them into khakhras for tea time snack.

So Why Make Khakhra At Home?

Had to give it a try at least once. However, after I made them for this theme, have often made them at home in small batches. I find that some brands tend to be oily. Perhaps they use more oil to make them extra crispy.

How Come Ready Made Khakhras Are So Thin?

How come we get uniform extra thin khakhras in the market and home made ones are slightly thicker and never the same size? Well they are made in an automated machine. Check out this video how they are made.

Add Ingredients That You Like

While I have made simple ajwain khakhra for this post, the basic recipe is very versatile. Add cumin seeds, partially crushed pepper, chilli flakes. Can also add turmeric powder, chaat masala, garam masala, red chilli powder to the dough. Add other grain flours like millet, barley, oats,etc. Try fresh coriander, fenugreek finely chopped. Or add dried kasuri methi. Green chilli, ginger, garlic pastes taste good too. The possibles are endless.

You may want to check out what flatbreads I’ve made so far for this event:

A for Akki Roti

B for Bhakri

C for Chousela

D for Dalpuri

E for Ekadashi Thalipeeth

F for Fungawela Mag na Paratha/Sprouted Bean Parathas

G for Gulachi Poli

H for Hyderabadi Halwe ki puri

I for Indori Masala Roti

J for Juar Jo Dhodho

K for Kulcha

L for Luchi

M for Makki Roti

N for Nagori Puri

O for Onion and Carrot Ragi Roti

P for Padvari Rotli

Q for Qubani Naan

R for Rotla

S for Surati Paratha

T for Tikkar

U for Ubbu Roti

V for Vastad Roti

Memories

We had a wonderful family reunion and my mother in law can’t stop thanking all of us for giving her a big surprise on her 85th birthday. Our stay at the Planet Hollywood Resort, Goa was pleasant. The staff were absolutely wonderful. In fact the plan was to have the birthday dinner away from the rest of the guests. Remarkably,  the resort arranged it outside the dining area where that area was just for us. On top of that, the birthday cake was complimentary as the chef said that not many families bring their elderly to celebrate their birthday at the resort.

As I am redoing this post, 4 years down the line, my mother in law still talks about the surprise birthday party and the visit from all her kids and grandchildren.

Experience At Goa Airport

Yesterday, when I went to the ladies section for the security check at the Goa International Airport, the young ladies had no concept of a queue. A German woman and I were waiting for our turn to get the tray to put our bags and laptops when the younger lot, just pushed their way in. When the 3rd youngster came in front of me, she had the audacity to push me and tell me ‘excuse me” and by then I’m angry and asked her where needs to go. She tells me that she needs to catch a flight.

I asked her “And why do you think we’re waiting in the queue? Just time pass or what?” She just ignored and continued  to pull the tray that was meant for me. I got so angry and told her to join the queue… and she muttered “yeh bhudhe log ke pass tameez nahi!” (these old people have no manners) and continued pushing her way to the front of the queue. The security officer saw what was happening. She made that young lady wait on the side. Hopefully, she has learned a valuable lesson.

 

Ingredients Required For Wheat Khakhra

• Wheat Flour – Atta. Best to use wheat flour that is ideal for rotis and parathas. Do not use the wholewheat flour that is meant for breads. Also need extra for dusting when you roll the khakhras.
• Salt – add according to your taste.
• Ajwain – carom seeds, ajmo. If you don’t have any then replace the ajwain with cumin seeds, coarse pepper powder, caraway seeds or fennel seeds.
• Asafoetida – hing. This is an optional ingredient.
• Oil – use any oil of your choice. I have used sunflower oil.
• Water – need enough to make a soft dough.
• Extra Oil/ Ghee – for smearing on the khakhra. For vegan khakhra omit using ghee.

Ingredients Required For Khakhra Masala

Makes 1 cup

• Peanuts – roasted and shelled. Process the peanuts to a powder. Be careful not to process it too much as it clumps up as oil is released.
• Desiccated Coconut – roasted till you get the coconut aroma. Do not burn it.
• Sesame Seeds – roasted in a pan over low heat.
• Red Chilli Powder – add according to your taste.
• Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder – to give the masala a nice red colour.
• Coriander Powder
• Cumin Powder
• Turmeric Powder
• Asafoetida – hing. Optional
• Powdered Sugar – add according to your taste.
• Black Salt – kala namak or sanchar.
• Oil – odourless oil. I have used sunflower oil.
• Citric Acid – also known as limbu na phool. Optional. It adds a little tangy flavour to the khakhra masala.

 

 

Pin For Later:

 

 

A little request:

If you do try this recipe then please either

• add a comment below,
• send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
•  tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
• or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962

 

Check out what other Blogging Marathoners have made: