Bhatura

1Steve's Note:

Bhaturais a fried bread often served at Chaat shops, that is the term for Indian fast food shops. This recipe is from "A taste of Palace Life Royal Indian Cookery" by Manju Shivraj Singh

• Total Time: 5 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 5 hrs
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 10

Yield: 10.0 Bhatura

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• salt (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• ½ cup warm water (approx)
• 1 tablespoon melted ghee
• 1 cup oil (for frying)

Directions:

1. Sift the flour, salt and baking soda into a large bowl; beat the egg and add it to the flour with the sugar, yogurt and water.
2. Mix to a fairly soft dough, adding more water if necessary.
3. Add the ghee and knead the dough until it is smooth and pliable; put it back in the bowl, cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place for about 4 hours to rise.
4. Knead the dough again and divide into ten balls; roll out each one on a greased board to a circle about 4 inches in diameter.
5. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan or wok and fry the bhaturas, one at a time turning them so that they tur that they turn pale golden on both sides; drain on paper towels and keep warm while you fry the remainder.
6. Note: This cookbook has a picture included of the bhaturas frying in a large deep frying pan that seems to contradict the instruction to fry one at a time.
7. In the picture all ten are frying at once.
8. My guess is that the instruction is meerly to make sure you have enough room to be able to turn them over and brown the other side.
9. The 5 hours prep time includes the 4 hours rising, and the 30 minutes cooking time is an approximation that will depend on how many you try frying at a time and how quickly they brown.

Reviews

[Chef #1265317]

Great and easy. I added a teaspoon or two of cumin seeds to mine and it is just delicious.

[Chef #331270]

Did not try out this recipe as I had found earlier that when I use baking soda it tends to soak up too much oil. Instead I use the bread dough I make for baking dinner rolls. Sometimes I use the readymade pizza dough. Both come out fluffy. Also when I use the bread dough I leave out the eggs and also the yoghurt and it still comes out fluffy. Just thought I will share my thoughts. — Jul 25, 2006

[eatrealfood]

these made tasty, crispy and fluffy bhaturas. i didn't change anything at all in the recipe-only thing i wish is that the salt quantity was specified, as i think i added too less. these cook so fast anyway (less than 1min) that it doesn't really matter if you fry them singly or in batches...they are best eaten fresh and piping hot anyway. thanks for posting steve - will be making this again.