Deep-fried sweet puri made from maida, sugar and cardamom — the festival fried bread of Chhattisgarh served at Diwali, weddings and celebrations.

Ingredients

Method

  1. Mix maida, sugar, cardamom powder and salt.
  2. Add 2 tbsp ghee and rub into the flour until crumbly.
  3. Add warm water gradually. Knead into a smooth, slightly firm dough — slightly stiffer than chapati dough. Cover. Rest 15 minutes.
  4. Divide into 16 small balls. Roll each into a small round 8 to 9 cm wide.
  5. Heat oil for deep frying on medium. Test with a small piece of dough — it should rise to the surface immediately.
  6. Slide a puri carefully into the hot oil. Gently press the centre with a slotted spoon so it puffs.
  7. Fry on medium for 1 minute per side until pale golden — festival puris are lighter in colour than regular puris.
  8. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm. They puff beautifully and the cardamom and sugar create a mildly sweet, fragrant bread.