Rice Chakli (Chakali)

Chakali's or Chakli are a perfect spiral shaped (like preztel-ish shape) deep-fried savory snack with a spiked surface. Most of the Indians enjoy eating Chakli with their tea or coffee as a snack in the late afternoon. Or when you go visiting your friends or family, this snack is usually present by default on the coffee table :) along with the other snacks. It is a crunchy snack that makes a loud noise as you munch on it, giving a good exercise to your mouth (he he) as you get into the rhythm of munching and creating sound that goes karram kurram :) -( yeah I know it's the same sound for papad too :))

There are 10 different types of Chakali preparation with various permutation and combination of flours and spices. I make the most simple one with rice flour and chickpea flour (besan) which is how my mom makes. Comes out fine. Soon will try few other kind with Ragi (my fav. grain), Moong dal etc and will experiment with baking instead of frying :)

A special gadget is used to make these spirals. Not sure how you can make this if you don't have one :) This is a must do snack in many households during the festival of Diwali. Every Diwali I think to myself, I must make this snack more often and that somehow never happens :( Either the days are passing by too fast or I am getting lazy to do it before the next Diwali comes by :)

Never mind, let's see on the brighter side, I get into the mood of making it atleast every Diwali :) I like my Chaklis very spicy, that's how my mom makes it and everyone in my house loves it that way.
It is also known as murukku in the south of India or chakri in northern northern India. Whatever the name, it is loved by most of us.

Let us take a look at the Chakli recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice flour
• 1/2 cup chickpea flour (besan) 
• 2 tbsp split black gram flour (urad dal/kali dal)
• 1 1/2 tsp chilly powder, (more if you like spicy)
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) 
• 1/2 tsp carrom seeds (ajwain) 
• 2 tsp sesame seeds (til)
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder (dhania pwd)
• 2 tsp hot oil
• salt as per taste 
• 1 tsp hot ghee (you can use all 3 tsp ghee too)
• 3/4th cup approx. water (to knead the dough)
• oil to fry

Preparation:

• Mix all the above ingredients except water and mix everything with your fingers. Be careful with the hot oil. 
• Then slowly add water little by little and make a chapati/roti like dough. Keep aside for 20-30 min, covered.
  

• Take some portion of the chakli dough, knead it some more and place it in the chakli press, start making spirals on a newspaper sheet or wax paper.

• Heat oil in a kadai, once the oil is hot bring the flame to med.  Slowly slide the chaklis in the kadai using piece of wax paper or slide it on plain spatula and transfer slowly in the hot oil and fry nicely till it is brown on all sides. 

• Take it out and place on the paper towel to absorb the extra oil. Nice crispy spicy chaklis are ready.

• Let it cool down completely before you store it in an airtight container.

njoY!! happY fryinG!! :)

You may also like Microwave Doodh Pedha, Badushai, Mandige, Besan ladoo....

Notes:* Always fry chakli on low-medium flame. If you see that the spirals are breaking while making chakli, try to work with little dough at a time, knead it well,  add couple drops of water, knead well and place it in the chakli press. It works for me that way. If your dough is too soft, add little all purpose flour and knead well before you start making the spirals. If still it isn't working just directly add the spirals in the oil (carefully) and fry. Spirals or no spirals, snack is yummy anyways! :)