Ask any Bangalorean who is abroad what they miss most about Bangalore and I am sure they the answer would be Khara biscuit or the savory cookies from the Iyengar bakeries. We Bangaloreans have a strange obsession towards the Iyengar bakeries and the goodies they bake. We seem to take the flavours and the aromas of the bakery to any corner of the earth that we go. One such goody that is a specialty of Iyengar Bakery is the Khara biscuit or the savory cookies.
These cookies are spiced with chillies, ginger, coriander and sometimes mint and is a little flaky and crumbly in texture. Something like melting moments. Even though I had tried baking these cookies a couple of times, I always seemed to go wrong with the texture. I kept wondering about the secret ingredient that brought out the texture in the cookies. The idea of using corn starch hit me at 2Am 3 days back. I guess insomnia has it's own advantages. I just substituted 2tbsp of all purpose flour with corn starch and voila. I got the perfect texture. So go ahead and try the recipe. I am sure you will get as addicted to the cookies as I am.
Savory cookie recipe
Preparation time: 40min
Baking time: 2omin+ cooling time
Makes- 30 cookies
Ingredients:
All purpose flour or maida- 1cup+6tbsp
Corn starch or corn flour- 2tbsp
Baking powder- 1tsp
salt-3/4th tsp
Sugar- 1 tsp
Thick curds- 1-2tsp
Butter- 1/2cup, softened at room temperature
Ginger- 1/2" piece
Curry leaves- 1sprig
Coriander leaves- 1tsp, chopped
Green chillies- 1-2, chopped
Asafotida- A pinch
Method:
- Make a paste of the ginger, coriander leaves, curry leaves and the green chillies and keep aside
- Sift the flour, corn flour and the baking powder and mix the asafotida, salt and sugar
- Add the butter and the ground paste and mix again
- Add 1tsp of curds at a time mix to form a stiff dough.
- Allow the dough to rest for 30 min
- Divide the dough into 2-3 equal portions and roll out one portion into a disc of 1/4" thickness.
- Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into desired shape and arrange them on a greased baking sheet.
- Repeat the procedure till all the dough is used up
- Prick the top of the dough with a fork and bake in a preheated oven at 200C for 15-20 min or until the under sides are brown.
- Cool completely and store in air tight container.
P.S. Please note that the combination of ginger, green chillies, coriander and curry leaves should amount to 1tbsp.
Cannot agree more about missing the khara biscuit and benne biscuits from Bangalore.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried adding cornstarch before. I assumed that the crumbly texture is ontained by adding dalda/shortening instead of butter or oil.
I love your pictures and your blog. Will be visiting soon.
Wow,what a beautiful clicks.No words,simply book marked this recipe.
ReplyDeleteFlavor filled cookies... Understand why u miss them... :)
ReplyDeleteI just posted khara biscuits and here u r with ur version, sounds interesting with adding cornflour...
ReplyDeleteCant stop munching these beauties if i make at home,very addictive and my fav biscuits..
ReplyDeleteLovely khara biscuits...beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteI love khara biscuits!!! And this version looks too yummy!!
ReplyDeletePrathima Rao
Prats Corner
If I had a chance to taste them, I am sure I would be nostalgic of these savory cookies, because they look delicious! Very tempted to try tonight only!!
ReplyDeleteu have no idea what a big favor you have done by sharing this cookie recipe. I have been looking for savory cookie for weeks now and i even tried once at home and it was a flop! I stayed in bangalore for many years and I too became a fan of khara biscuits. Got to make these soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Kankana. It's my pleasure :)
ReplyDeleteI am bookmarking this recipe! Beautiful and looking delish :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. This came out perfect. I did tweak the measurements a little but the post is a very good guide. Can you please post kobbari biscuit recipe?
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. I was checking continuously this
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Thank you and best of luck.