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Ragi Masala Namakpare

Ragi Masala Namakpare

All of us love snacks having All Purpose Flour(APF) or lets call it by the Indian term – Maida.There are a plethora of snacks which use this ingredient including the internationally famous Samosa and the chewy Bhatura.A snack famous with tea in North India is also made with APF which is the much loved and cherished Namakpare.But the doctors cry foul for everything with APF – causes toxins,is bad for health,is one factor for obesity…and the list continues.I wonder when these snacks were first invented approximately 2 centuries ago where were obesity,heart disease and cholesterol?Why did people live to be centenarians and now have a reduced longevity?

Well thanks to an abundant population and limited space we are deprived of exercise as well as the ability to walk long distances.The added claustrophobic and stressful work environment is to blame for the same.I see miniature and reduced portions of food dished out on various TV shows and health programs.They say “eat 6-7 small meals a day”.Now the question is – When a person goes for work he gets only 2 standard breaks – the lunch and tea breaks and he has to make the most of them.He is not able to afford any breaks apart from these two and so the concept of 6-7 “small meals” is incomprehensible!Who will prepare these meals at work and how does he have them?

I make healthy snacks to be had during the tea times at work.We do not have snacks sold at the work premises as they are laden with calories,fried in cheap oils with indigestion causing properties and not hygienic at all.So we take them to work and enjoy them with our normal cup of tea.This recipe is a twist to the normal maida Namakpare as it has a quantity of Ragi(Finger Millet) added to it.

This idea was bought into action by none other than Priya Suresh and Mayuri Patel’s group – Shhhhh Secretly Cooking Challenge.I was partnered with Nirmala Gurunathan who blogs at:

http://nimmuguru.blogspot.in

Nirmala gave me 2 ingredients – Ragi and Cumin.I gave her a seasonal fruit and honey and she proceeded to make a delicious cake with Guava.The cake is eggless and could be made by those people who don’t like/use eggs.Here is the link for the wonderful recipe:

http://nimmuguru.blogspot.in/2016/02/guava-eggless-cake.html

Both Ragi and Cumin are very beneficial for health and lovely to be used as a combination.I was thinking of how to use these ingredients as I had already posted a Ragi Dosa recipe earlier.I thought to use Ragi as a snack and flavour it with Cumin.

I love Namakpare and make it at least once a month to be enjoyed at tea times.I thought to experiment with Ragi and make Ragi Namakpare.I had a plan in mind and mixed the ingredients according to it.The results were supremely tasty Namakpare which did not lose any of their crispiness and thus I ensured that I was eating something healthy in the Namakpare.

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Here is the dynamic logo of the Challenge:

shhh

Lets check out the recipe:

Preparation Time : 45 minutes

Makes : Approximately 300 gms

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups plain flour(maida)

1/2 cup Ragi flour

2 tsp salt

2 tsp Cumin Powder(Jeera)

1 tsp Coriander Powder(Dhaniya)

2 tsp Carom Seeds(Ajwain)

2 1/2 tbsp Oil

Oil for frying the Namakpare

Water as required

METHOD

Sift Maida and Ragi flours in a bowl and add the Cumin and Coriander Powders,salt and Oil.Rub the flours with your hands till it resembles breadcrumbs.Now add water gradually,incorporating it into the flour all the time.Knead into a hard dough and leave to rest and “set” for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes knead the dough again and divide into 3-4 parts.Heat the Oil in a frying pan.Drop 3-4 tsps of warm oil on the surface on which you are rolling out the Namakpare.Roll each part into a ball and roll out into rounds like a flatbread/chapatti.Poke holes on both the sides of the round with a fork.With a pizza cutter or knife,divide the round into thin and long portions(see picture).

Deep fry over medium heat till brown and crisp.It would take 5-6 minutes for each batch.Cool to room temperature and store in airtight containers or serve with a cup of hot tea!

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Enjoyed with cups of hot tea!..

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2 thoughts on “Ragi Masala Namakpare”

    • Yes we can use wheat.As we are using oil as an ingredient to crisp up the Namakpare we should use minimal water so as to roughly bind the dough.It should not be too smooth like the dough for roti/poori nor should it be too dry.As we rest the dough after kneading,it will give time to he dough to properly “set” and be ready for easily rolling the Namakpare!

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