Thikli

Thikli

Thikli

Veg Vegan

Crispy spiced gram flour discs — besan (chickpea flour) mixed with red chilli powder, turmeric, cumin, ajwain, sesame seeds, asafoetida, salt, and a small amount of oil into a firm, pliable dough, rolled thin and cut into small rounds or diamond shapes, and deep-fried in oil until uniformly golden and completely crisp throughout. The thikli (also called thekua in Bihar) is the Vidarbha dry snack: made in bulk during Diwali, stored in tins, and eaten over the following weeks with chai. The ajwain provides a distinctive anise-like sharpness; the sesame adds nuttiness; the besan's chickpea character makes them more substantive than plain fried flour crackers. A homemade Diwali faraal (festival snack assortment) item made alongside chakuli, rava ladoo, and karanji; the complete Diwali faraal is considered a measure of the household's culinary skill.

Cuisines

Malvani Vidarbha Kolhapuri Maharashtrian

Best for

Snacks

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 25 min Total: 40 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

1 cup rice flour
1/2 cup jaggery
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ghee
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
2 tablespoons fresh grated coconut
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. 1 In a pan, add water and jaggery. Heat until the jaggery dissolves completely, then strain to remove impurities.
  2. 2 Return the jaggery syrup to the pan and bring it to a boil.
  3. 3 Add salt and ghee to the boiling syrup.
  4. 4 Lower the heat and gradually add rice flour, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
  5. 5 Cook the mixture on low heat until it thickens and leaves the sides of the pan.
  6. 6 Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
  7. 7 Once cool enough to handle, knead the mixture into a smooth dough.
  8. 8 Divide the dough into small portions and shape each into a flat disc.
  9. 9 Heat a griddle or non-stick pan over medium heat.
  10. 10 Place the discs on the griddle and cook on both sides until golden brown.
  11. 11 Sprinkle cardamom powder, fresh grated coconut, and sesame seeds on top before serving.

Tips

For a more authentic taste, use freshly grated coconut and adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of jaggery.