Mathri

Perfectly crisp and delightfully spiced, Mathri is a traditional Indian snack that's ideal for teatime or festive celebrations. This flaky, savory biscuit is crafted using a blend of all-purpose flour and semolina for an irresistible crunch, while carom seeds, cumin, and coarsely ground black pepper add aromatic layers of flavor. A generous measure of warm ghee ensures every bite is luxuriously rich, and pricking the dough discs with a fork before frying guarantees a signature texture that stays crunchy for days. Deep-fried to golden perfection, these homemade crackers pair beautifully with a steaming cup of masala chai or as a satisfying accompaniment to pickles. Simple to make and irresistibly tasty, Mathri is perfect for sharing or as a pantry essential for snack cravings.

Nutriscore Rating: 44/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 250 grams All-purpose flour
• 50 grams Semolina
• 1 teaspoon Carom seeds (ajwain)
• 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon Black peppercorns, coarsely ground
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 60 milliliters Ghee or oil
• 120 milliliters Water
• 500 milliliters Oil for deep frying

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, semolina, carom seeds, cumin seeds, coarsely ground black peppercorns, and salt. Mix well to evenly distribute the spices.

Step 2

Heat the ghee or oil in a small pan until slightly warm. Add this warm ghee or oil to the flour mixture and mix well using your fingers until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Step 3

Gradually add water to the mixture and knead into a firm dough. Be careful not to add too much water. The dough should be stiff.

Step 4

Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rest for about 15 minutes.

Step 5

After resting, knead the dough again for a minute and divide it into equal-sized small balls.

Step 6

Roll each ball into a 3-4 inch diameter disc. Use a fork to prick holes all over each rolled disc to prevent them from puffing up during frying.

Step 7

Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. To check if the oil is ready, drop a small piece of dough into the oil; it should sizzle and come up to the surface slowly.

Step 8

Fry the mathris in batches on medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and ensure they are cooked evenly from both sides until they turn a golden brown. This should take about 6 to 8 minutes per batch.

Step 9

Remove the fried mathris using a slotted spoon and drain over kitchen paper to remove excess oil.

Step 10

Allow them to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Your mathris are now ready to enjoy with a hot cup of tea.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	995.1 grams (995.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	6075

Total Fat 564.30g	723%
Saturated Fat 106.60g	533%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 180mg	60%
Sodium 2375mg	103%
Total Carbohydrate 231.20g	84%
Dietary Fiber 10.80g	39%
Total Sugars 0.70g
Protein 33.30g	67%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 116mg	9%
Iron 15mg	83%
Potassium 422mg	9%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 82.8%

Protein: 2.2%

Carbs: 15.1%