Spicy, mildly sweet savory biscuits, a favorite since decades, with a slight healthier twist; popularly associated with Bangalore‘s ‘Iyengar Bakeries’ – Iyengar Bakery Style Khara Biscuits, ‘khara’ meaning spicy.
It’s Blog Hop time again! And Culinary Hoppers are bringing to you their ‘BAKES’! My contribution being Iyengar Bakery Style Khara Biscuits.
If you have heard of Bangalore Iyengar Bakeries or have ever been to one, you would be familiar with the array of delicious goodies they have to offer. From Khara buns (spicy rolls) to Khara puffs (puff pastry with savory filling), Masala Bread (toasted bread with spicy mixed vegetable topping), Palya bun ( rolls stuffed with spiced mashed potato) to ‘Benne‘ biscuits (butter biscuits) and honey cakes and many more.
One particular snack which has been a definite addition to our purchases was the ‘Khara’ Biscuits (spicy biscuits). Loved even to this day, if you ever taste the crumbly bite with green chilies with a hint of sweetness, I’m sure you will agree with me. As you bite into it you will feel the crispiness, followed by the crumbly/flaky texture. The experience is one to be enjoyed over and over again. One cannot stop at one! 🙂
I have tried it without adding any sugar too, it was equally well received 🙂
This Iyengar Bakery Style Recipe is one using whole wheat flour addition. It turns out crispy, tasty with the green chili bite now and again. I referred 4-5 recipes around and came up with this version with whole wheat flour addition and few other twists.
With any form of bake, its takes a bit of getting used to – to the handling, to the temperatures, to the timings that will yield an optimal result. Same is the case with these savory shortbread cookies. The dough should be handled as less as is possible. This ensures a flaky texture. If you bake them for a bit too long they end up harder and quite crispy. But that’s not the best end result though.You would need to take them out slightly before they become hard to touch. As they cool, they will harden more with the resulting crispiness just right. I am no expert, but I can definitely say this judgement will come with practice. But no matter what, they will taste good.
Method:
Sift the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt. Melt 1/3 cup of butter for 30-40 sec approximately in a microwave (using a microwave safe bowl) or directly on the hob, add this to the flour mixture. Add sugar. Finely slice 4 to 6 green chili , 2 tablespoons of curry leaves, 2 tablespoons of coriander leaves and add those in.
Mix everything well using your hand and tips of your fingers, resulting in a consistency similar to bread crumbs. Add 3 tablespoons of yogurt, mix. Then bring it together to form a dough. Add additional yogurt if needed. Add small quantities such as a couple of spoons at a time and make a dough, which should be firm/hard and not soft in consistency. Do not add too much yogurt. Do not handle the dough too much. If you do, the biscuits tend to become hard. Now allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes, covered.
Now pre-heat the oven to 170 deg C.
Divide the dough into 2 portions and roll out one portion to 1/2 cm thickness. Now, using a cookie cutter or circular lid of a jar, cut out cookie portions. Prick each cookie using a fork. Place them on a greased baking tray.
Bake for 15-20 minutes. Take them out when the top looks done (very slightly brown) not hard to touch and when the under-surface has browned. Don’t leave them in for too long. If you do so, the biscuits will become too crispy and harder. It takes a bit of getting used to, to judge the time to take the cookies out. But will become easy with practice.
Once baked, transfer them gently to a cooling rack. Allow to cool.
Bake the next batch in a similar way.
Once cooled, serve with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
These biscuits can be stored in an air tight container for 3-5 days.
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup plain flour/maida
- 1 pinch baking powder
- 1 pinch baking soda
- ⅓ cup melted butter
- 4 teaspoons sugar (you can use powdered sugar instead)
- 4 to 6 finely sliced green chili
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh coriander
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped curry leaves
- salt to taste
- 3 tablespoon plain yogurt/curds (use more if required but add in very small quantities)
- Sift the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt into a large mixing bowl.
- Melt ⅓ cup of butter using a microwave safe bowl for 30 to 40 seconds approximately in a microwave OR directly on the hob. (heat it just enough to melt it but do not allow it to smoke)
- Add this melted butter to the flour mixture. Add sugar.
- Finely slice 4 to 6 green chili , 2 tablespoons of curry leaves, 2 tablespoons of coriander leaves and add those in.
- Mix everything well using your hand and tips of your fingers, resulting in a consistency similar to bread crumbs.
- Add 3 tablespoons of yogurt, mix. Then bring it together to form a dough. Add additional yogurt if needed. Add small quantities such as a couple of spoons at a time and make a dough, which should be firm/hard and not soft in consistency. Do not add too much yogurt at once.
- Do not handle the dough too much. If you do, the biscuits tend to become hard.
- Now allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes, covered.
- Now pre-heat the oven to 170 deg C.
- After the resting period for the dough, divide the dough into 2 portions and roll out one portion to ½ cm thickness.
- Now, using a cookie cutter or circular lid of a jar, cut out cookie portions. Prick each cookie using a fork. Place them on a greased baking tray.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes. Take them out when the top looks done (very slightly brown) not hard to touch and when the under-surface has browned.
- Don't leave them in for too long. If you do so, the biscuits will become too crispy and harder. It takes a bit of getting used to, to judge the time to take the cookies out. But will become easier with practice.
- Once baked, transfer them gently to a cooling rack. Allow to cool.
- Bake the next batch in a similar way.
- Once cooled, serve with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
- These biscuits can be stored in an air tight container for 3-5 days.
If it becomes difficult to roll the dough, you can refrigerate it for half an hour and then roll.
The biscuits do not need to become too brown nor too hard. Once the top looks done and the under side is done, take them out. They will still be a bit soft (not too soft) to touch.The biscuits will harden as they cool.
Adjust spicing to taste.
Check out other awesome recipes, this blog hop, from the other culinary hoppers-
Piyali’s Vegan Lemon Muffins With Coconut Cranberry Cream
Shubha’s Garlicky Pull Apart Buns
Padma’s Zucchini Bread
Parvathy’s Star Bucks Style Pumpkin Bread Eggless
Vani’s Jam Filled Shortbread Cookie Rolls
Jayashree’s Orange Zest Cookies
Mmmmm, these savory-spicy biscuits look deeeeeelicious, Anu. Looks so flavorful and yummy! Love how easy it is. Would sure give it a try! 🙂
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen recently posted…Whole Black Gram Sprouts with Oven Toasted Garlic Baguette
thank you so much Anu. That was what struck me too. such a simple method and can be easily made often for tea-times. Do let me know how it turned out dear:)
Love cookies with a hint of chilli, awesome clicks
Thank you Nusrath 🙂
Anu, These biscuits look so yummy ..I can finish a plateful.. awesome recipe dear:)
Shubha recently posted…Garlicky Pull apart Bread
love you for your thoughtful comments Shubha. thanks a bunch dear 🙂
Savory biscuits looks super yum..pics r tempting
Traditionallymodernfood recently posted…Double Chocolate Chip Cookies | Brownie cookies
Thanks dear Vidya 🙂
They look super excotic and a perfect tea time snack…super awesome post
marudhuskitchen recently posted…jam filled shortbread cookies /biscuits
Thank You dear Vani 🙂
lovely delicious bakes Anu, perfect with a cup of tea…wonderful dear
jayashree recently posted…orange zest cookies
Thanks a bunch dear Jaya :))
These buiscuits look awesome… Iyengar definitely is one of the hotspot place… love their rava cake too… Your step by step description has made it easy for us to try this.
Gauri recently posted…Vaatli Daal : Ground Chana daal snack
yes, it sure is Gauri. rava cake – ah that’s something new to me. Thank you dear 🙂
They look so tasty, like dangerous tasty that you eat way too many! 🙂 Love it!
Madhu- Desimejwani recently posted…Thuvaram Paruppu Thogayal / Toor Dal Chutney
Thanks Madhu. I couldn’t resist it either 🙂
Delicious kara biscuits..tempting to the core never wanting to stop…lovely share dear..totally loving them, just want to grab a few right away!!
padma recently posted…Rustic Rosemary Garlic Zucchini Bread
thank you dear. come over :))
Khara biscuits look so awesome….I would love to finish the whole lot 🙂 YUM!!!
Sindhiya recently posted…Chilli Cheese Sandwich Recipe
thank you, Sindhiya. lovely to see you here 🙂
This looks super delish Anu , I love Khara biscuits they are perfect with a cup of tea. I have heard so much about Iyengar bakery in bangalore , thanks for explaining some of the famous bakes from there .
Bakery goods always seem to carry a special appeal … I’m sure it is so for many of us…thanks Parvathy. glad you liked them.
Nice recipe..I would love to have it with a cup of tea…awesome click..
Lovely recipe.I would like to have it with a cup of tea..awesome click
Moumita Malla recently posted…JANGA JAMUNA PABDA (PABDA OR CATFISH IN BOTH MUSTARD AND TAMARIND GRAVY )
thanks so much Moumita. glad you liked the picture 🙂
Truly sorry for the delay in commenting on this gorgeous post. Have been drooling over the khara biscuits from the time I have laid my eyes on them. I have been a huge fan of Iyengar bakery products, dilkush being my favourite. You have come up with a masterpiece once again dear. These biscuits look simply awesome. Visually they are irresistible so I can well imagine how decadent they must have been. Baked to perfection deftly by you these look the work of a master baker. I so wish I could savour a couple of these yumminess sprinkled with your signature touch. ❤️❤️
Piyali recently posted…KORAISHUTIR KOCHURI /GREEN PEAS STUFFED BENGALI STYLE KACHORI ~ SHUBHO BIJOYA
no need to be sorry dear. feels wonderful to receive such a comment. would have loved to share a bountiful of these cookies with you <3 <3
Can this be made in microwave oven? If yes, then what temperature and how much time? My microwave oven is 800° maximum temperature and it doesn’t have convection mode.
Hi Farheen, it cannot be made using microwave oven I’m afraid.