Delicious Indian shortbread cookies Nankhatai with touch of cardamom and nuts
After going back and forth the idea for few months I took a bold decision to change my blog platform and moved from Blogger to Word Press. The move was smooth as Laura my designer at pixelmedesigns helped me a lot. Still it requires some improvement. I am learning to use word press also. I am happy that I can add some personal touch to my blog now. I made this Nankhatai, Indian style shortbread cookies.
Coming to this recipe it is famous shortbread cookies available in Indian bakeries. My mom liked this one a lot; and she would always buy it for us when we made our trips to local bakeries. I still remember those images like a flash back of movies. I wanted to make these cookies for long time, but when I think about the amount of ghee /clarified butter that goes to make them, it scared the hell out of me. Finally last week I decide to try it.
As usual I was able to find zillion versions of Nankhatai recipe, some use all purpose flour, butter and sugar and some add semolina, all purpose flour, besan/chickpea flour, ghee and powdered sugar. I thought that second version to be closer to traditional as it has ghee, besan /chickpea flour and semolina. While searching for Nankhatai, I found this interesting article about its history. Some people think history is not important when it comes to food, but I love to learn the history of food. Did you know Nankhatai means a cake made of six ingredients? It originated in the city of Surat in Gujarat which was the main port of entry for Dutch during 16th century. They love to eat bread, so they created a bakery to make the bread. When they decide to leave, they gave the bakery to an employee. He started making bread, but in India nobody wants to eat bread, so he converted it into dry and crispy version which poor people liked to eat by dunking it in chai/Tea. He also converted Dutch short bread cookies to Nankhatai which similar to European short bread cookies. As both have no leaving agent, however in the modern day Nankhatai there is a pinch of baking powder.
If you ask me how this cookies tastes, I will tell you it has crispy crunch from semolina, nutty besan/chickpea and flour and aroma of ghee makes delicate, crumbly melt in mouth cookies. To make it special I added saffron, cardamom and nutmeg. It has freshness of homemade ghee. Normally crushed pistachios is topped with cookies, however I don’t have pistachio in my hand, so used some blanched almond. It is best tea or coffee time cookies. If you are interest in egg less butter cookies, then give it try.
With little cookie dough I made few Halloween special cookies that I will post later. I used regular granulated sugar powdered, rather than store bought powdered sugar as it contain cornstarch and will alter the structure of cookies. I have seen using butter in the recipe, but if you want traditional touch go for ghee that is more flavorful.
Other cookies made with nuts check here
Rose Cardamom Pistachio Shortbread
Nankahatai: Eggless Shortbread Cookies: Indian style
Ingredients
- 1 cup/140g all purpose flour/maida
- ¾ cup/83g besan/chickpea flour
- ¼ cup /47g fine semolina/rava/sooji pulse 2-3 times in blender
- ¾ cup ghee softened but not melted (substitute with unsalted butter)
- 1 cup/200g granulated sugar or castor sugar, do not use confectioner’s sugar
- ¼ teaspoon saffron threads
- ½ teaspoon cardamom powder 3-4 pods of cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- Sliced almonds pistachio or any nuts of your choice ( I used blanched almonds)
Instructions
- In a blender pulse semolina/rava /sooji into fine powder and set aside.
- In the same blender add sugar, nutmeg and cardamom and pulse it into fine powder and set aside.
- Heat the milk in a microwave and add saffron and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream ghee and powdered sugar to this mix in the saffron in milk and cardamom powder. Set aside.
- In another bowl sift, flour, besan/chickpea flour, fine semolina and salt. Add the sifted flours to the ghee-sugar mix in parts stirring continuously till you get soft dough. The dough will be sticky and loose. Wrap up the dough in a cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
- Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Take out the refrigerated dough. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and make it into a small ball. Line the balls on the cookie sheet with at least 2 " space between them. Lightly press some sliced almonds on top of each ball.
- Preheat oven to 300F.
- Bake on the middle rack for 25 minutes watching closely. The cookies should not change color. When you see that the bottoms begin to brown lightly, remove from the oven and let cool on the sheet itself for 5 minutes. Transfer to a rack later and let cool completely.
- Store it in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks if it last.
Notes
Nutrition
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This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Reeni says
So soft and buttery Swathi! These are irresistible! I am happy for you and your move! Your site looks great! I like the layout too.
Suja Manoj says
Love these cookies,flavorful and so tempting.
April @ The 21st Century Housewife says
I love the new look of your blog, Swathi! Congratulations!!
These cookies look wonderful and sound so tasty too. You've used some lovely spices and I like the different flours you have used.
Swathi says
Yes April it is traditional recipe from India
Bindu says
Yumm n perfect cookies! droool
Sangeetha says
The new look is awesome n perfectly made cookies Swathi...
veenashankar says
looks so delicious.. Very tasty
mjskit says
These are great looking shortbreads! I can't believe they are eggless. Great recipe!
maha says
well explained n neat cliks...nveer tried these swati..feeling to bake sum r8 nw.sure vl bake sum..
anu says
yummy cookies....perfectly shaped....
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radha says
The new look is great. The content of course always was.
Archana says
Super my dear 🙂 Loved it and amazing clicks 🙂 Superb site 🙂 Loved it.
Divya Prakash says
Perfectly baked cookies.. These are my favorite.. Been a long time since I baked them.. you have tempted me to bake them soon. 🙂
Jeya says
love this perfectly made cookies
Smitha Kalluraya says
wow Swathi thats perfectly done. I justt luv them 🙂
rosita says
Ricas y perfectas galletas ....está preciosa tu nueva cocina ,abrazos.
sona says
Looks yummy and delicious.
Priya Anadakumar says
wow Swathi delicious cookies, love ur writeup...
Divya Shivaraman says
wow..they are the goodies i love to store in my cookie tin all the time...so yum and melting
Priya says
I guess everyone moves from blogger to wordpress after a while. I am too lazy to even think about it. Love the new look of the site Swathi. And the Nan khatais look so yum.
Ash-foodfashionparty says
First of all congratulations on moving to wordpress, I've heard great things.
Secondly, the cookies looks seriously good and perfect. I am a big sucker for these and I also make them with chickpea flour, which I think tastes pretty damn delicious.
thanks for a quick lesson on it's origin.
Arthy shama says
Hi swathi, luv ur new look!! 🙂 cookies look too adorable, kids would luv to grab them 🙂
Divya Jany says
YUMMY COOKIES.... CAME OUT WELL.....
Poornima says
Nan khatai looks really yummy!.
Arthy Suman says
wow i saw nan khatai in so many blogs...yet to taste it....can i have a piece?
Hema says
Hi Swathi, your new space looks nice dear and these cookies look delicious..
Prathibha Sreejith says
Delicious Cookies, perfectly baked !!!
YesCook says
I love naankhatai. It is a traditional recipe prepared for generations in my family.
We make it with just all purpose flour, ghee and powdered sugar.
This recipe is very different and I doubt if it is authentic naankhatai.
Nevertheless you have made some wonderful version of naankhatai and I love it.
Thanks for sharing.
Swathi says
Thanks for let me know your traditional family recipe. I appreciate that.
Sapana says
Hey Swathi ! Your new platform looks great , I too like wordpress over blogger .
Nan kahtai looks crunchy outside and soft inside...you have made them wonderfully.
Swathi says
Yes Sapana it is delicious and crunchy and melt in mouth, Glad you like the site.
Rafeeda says
the nankattais look so tempting... 🙂
Amudha hariharan says
Making me to drool swathi
http://Www.cookndine.blogspot.in
Babitha costa says
yummy cookies
shama says
perfectly made dear...yummy
MahiArun says
Nice cookies..I could notice the change once the page opened! 🙂 Happy blogging! Explore the new platform n enjoy!
Nisa Homey says
Hi Swathi, thanks a ton for inviting me over!! love your new site...and the shortbread looks yum and perfect 🙂
Rekha says
Looks yummy Swathi.. 🙂 Should give this a try soon too
Subha says
Lovely cookies.Perfectly made.
x❤x❤
http://indianveggiesbhojan.blogspot.in/
Meena Kumar says
Looks like everyone is making nan kattai and making me drool:(
This looks yum.
I am still weighing on the decision to move or not.Ur decision was really brave.
Swathi says
I decide to give it try finally Meena.