Naan Khataai

 

“I just figured if I was going to make the world a better place, I’d do it with cookies.”

                                                                                                               Stranger Than Fiction

 

 

I love home baked cookies, eating something that is still warm from the oven is my idea of indulgence. Unfortunately, my oven had developed a mind of its own and had started acting little strange, heating up too fast at times and just refusing to fire up on endless occasions. Finally, managed to get my poor Mr. O, serviced and after what seems like decades we are back together, like good old times. 

 

 

What better way to celebrate than bake a batch of cookies and keeping up with the festive season, it only seemed right to bake Naan Khataai.  The recipe below is so simple and yields such amazing results that even a child can bake these.

 

 

 

 

Ghee, cardamom, pistachios, flour & sugar. Really, what can go wrong here? It’s all truly amazing stuff put in a bowl, kneaded together, baked to perfection and then, polished off.
 





Depending on your personal taste and flavour, you could substitute almonds with pistachios. I baked a batch with pistachios, as, that is what I found in the kitchen cabinet.

Right before popping the cookies in the oven



Naan Khatai

 

Maida or All purpose flour - 1 cup

Ground sugar - 10 tbsp ground sugar

Baking soda -  3/4 tsp

 

Cardamom powder - ½ tsp

Ghee - 6-8 tbsp.

Almonds or pistachios, chopped - ¼ Cup

Ready to be baked

 

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C

 

2. Sieve the AP flour and the baking soda.

 

3. Add all the other ingredients, except ghee and mix well.

 

4. Gradually add the ghee and knead the dough till it all comes together. Don't overwork the dough.

 

5. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions.

 

6. Roll each portion into a smooth ball and flatten slightly between the palms. Place on a lined baking tray. Garnish the tops with a few chopped pistachios.

 

7. Bake in preheated oven for 15 mins.

 

8. Remove from the oven, cool them completely and store in an airtight container.