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Nan-Khatai

April 13th, 2008 by Heena

Nan-Khatai is an Indian version of cookies, which originated from a very popular city in India, Surat. Surat has a sizable Parsi population. The concept of bakeries came into existence when the Dutch came to Surat in 1800′s. However, when the Dutch left India, they left the bakeries behind, which were of no use since the Indian staple diet that consisted of whole wheat roti instead of bread. The enterprising Parsi community, instead of letting these bakeries close down, took them over and came up with these cookies: Nan-Khatai. The Nan-Khatai of Surat is very famous, to this day. A visit to Surat would mean coming back with a load of these cookies!

These days, they are available everywhere in India, and with a lot of variations: flavors, mixed dry fruits, chocolate coating, butterscotch etc. They can be made sweet, or salty by adding cumin seeds and salt to them.

While all these variations are fun to try out, nothing beats the simple original version. And that is the recipe I am going to share with you. Its simple, easy and delicious, with not too many complications. Enjoy!

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Baking time: 15 minutes

Total cookies: 7 cookies

Ingredients

2/3rd cup white flour (maida)
5 cloves of cardamom finely ground
1/4th teaspoon vanilla essence
6 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons clarified butter (ghee)
2 teaspoon sooji/rava
Few drops of milk to sprinkle

Directions:

Mix above ingredients in a bowl, sprinkle some milk and make them into a cookie shape.
Place an almond on each cookie and put all the cookies in the oven to cook for approximately 15 minutes at 375 degrees .
Enjoy once they are cooled down.

Note

I have portable small oven and so I bake these cookies at 375 degrees, so use the settings as per your oven requirements.
Make sure the ghee is in liquid form when you mix the ingredients in step 1.
Ghee is available at any local Indian grocery store.

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6 Responses

Chintan writes:
April 13th, 20083:55 amat

Hey, sounds good, but u know i m a lazy bum, when r u gonna send me these, or make it when u would be here……i and jiju would goof off till then
Kaushal writes:
April 13th, 20084:48 amat

Yay … This is an excellent post. I remmember nan-Khatai from my nana’s place from old town in Surat …Surat has a few other great street delicacies and I look forward to posts on these too .. Good memories.
Kaushal writes:
April 13th, 20085:17 amat

Yay – this is an excellent post. I remember nan-khatai from my Nana’s place from the old bazaar in Surat … Surat has a few other great street delicacies & I look forward to posts on these soon …

Good Memories.

K
Heena writes:
April 13th, 20086:58 amat

Thanks!

Chintan: Your demands are increasing by the day. I’m almost scared to come now! J/K. Will make them.

Kaushal: I can surely try. Which ones would you like?
shaila writes:
April 13th, 200811:09 amat

Sounds Like a grt idea to make fresh when friends come

can I use butter instead of ghee as it is easier?and crea
m of wheat for suji?can i reduce the qty of butter to
make it less calorie by substituting with Yoghurt?
Heena writes:
April 17th, 20083:26 pmat

You can use Unsalted butter instead of clarified butter. About cream of wheat you have to cook before using it -so not recommended and yogurt is surely not a substitute.