When the evening rolls around after a long day, the craving for something hot, crunchy, and flavorful naturally arises. At such times, the search for the perfect tea-time snack begins in every household. While puffed rice is commonly used to make bhel or namkeen, it can also be transformed into a delightfully crispy and tasty snack. This alternative is not only wonderful in taste but also quite simple to prepare. Using a few common ingredients already present in your kitchen, you can whip up this fantastic dish that will surely be loved by everyone from adults to children.
Essential Ingredients and Initial Prep
To make this savory snack, the primary items needed include puffed rice, gram flour, rice flour, curd, and a few selected spices. First, wash the puffed rice thoroughly with water 2 to 3 times. Afterward, gently squeeze them with your hands to remove all excess water. Keep in mind that there should not be too much moisture left in the puffed rice, otherwise the mixture might become too wet and fail to hold its shape. Once the water is drained, transfer the puffed rice into a large bowl and add gram flour, rice flour, finely chopped onion, green chillies, ginger-garlic-green chilli paste, coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, and salt to taste. Along with these, incorporate some beaten curd, finely chopped fresh coriander leaves, roasted white sesame seeds, and a pinch of sugar.
Mixing the Dough and Shaping the Tikkis
After placing all the ingredients into the bowl, mix everything together thoroughly. Do not pour in too much curd all at once; instead, add it in small portions so the mixture binds easily and forms a proper dough. If you feel the mixture is too wet, you can adjust the consistency by adding a little more gram flour or rice flour. Now, grease your palms with a little oil so the mixture does not stick. Take a portion of the mixture, roll it between your palms into a ball, and then press it gently to give it the shape of a flat patty. Ensure that the tikkis are not made too thick so they can cook properly all the way through inside the pan. Prepare all the tikkis from the entire batch in this manner.
The Frying Process and Temperature Control
To cook the prepared tikkis, heat an adequate amount of oil in a pan over medium flame. Once the oil is properly heated, carefully drop the tikkis into it one by one. Fry them over medium heat so they become golden and crispy on the outside while cooking thoroughly on the inside as well. It is important to flip them occasionally during frying to ensure an even color on both sides. Once the tikkis turn nicely golden brown and crunchy, remove them from the pan and place them on a kitchen towel or tissue paper to drain away any excess oil. Your delicious snack is now completely ready to be served.
Serving Suggestions and Useful Tips
The true enjoyment of this hot snack comes when it is served alongside the right accompaniments. You can plate it up with green chutney, tamarind chutney, or tomato ketchup according to your preference. While making crispy tikkis, keeping a few small details in mind is very important. Always drain the excess water after washing the puffed rice, do not add too much curd at once so the mixture stays manageable, and fry the tikkis over medium heat rather than high heat so they do not brown too quickly on the outside before cooking internally. Enjoying this wonderful snack with a hot cup of tea will instantly wash away the fatigue of your entire day.
