Chitti Budagalu (savory Indian Crackers)

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup urad dal (skinned whole black gram dal)
• 2 cups rice flour (biyyam pindi)
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ajwain (vaamu or carom seeds -optional)
• salt
• oil (for deep frying)

Recipe

• soak whole black gram dal in water for 2 hours.
• strain the water and grind the dal to a paste sprinkling very little water. remove from the grinder.
• to the ground urad dal, add rice flour, salt and chili powder, mix well. add little water to make a smooth dough.
• heat oil for deep frying in a heavy bottomed vessel and heat till piping hot. reduce flame to medium.
• make very small balls from the dough. grease two sheets or 2 small banana leaves. place a small ball in between two greased sheets (place a small ball on the greased sheet and place the greased side down of the other sheet over the ball). lightly flatten the ball using a flat spatula or tumbler. remove the flattened dough and place on a plate. prepare with rest of the dough and keep aside.
• slowly drop the flattened rounds into the hot oil and cook them on medium flame. they will puff up on touching the hot oil. fry the chitti budagalu on both sides to a golden brown color. deep fry 8-10 budagalu per batch depending on the size of the vessel.
• remove the chitti budagalu onto a serving plate. bring to room temperature and store in an air tight container. stays fresh upto 3-4 days.