Bhatura
We all love fried food. Giving in to satisfying our senses from time to time is not a problem. It becomes a problem because most of us have lost the innate sense of when to stop indulging.
You might be aware that all commercial bhaturas are made with refined flour. You might also have heard about the dangers of reused frying oil. And then there is the hygiene issue…
All these can be avoided if you choose to fulfil your cravings by making ‘sinful’ food at home. It’s as simple as that. This has been the mantra my mother brought us up with and what I have adhered to very strictly, since my first child arrived in 2009. It has served us well.
When we see other families our age, it shows what just this one aspect of disciplined living can do.
To make bhaturas, use wholemeal flour and make the dough with plain yoghurt (better if it’s home-made, otherwise buy organic yoghurt with live cultures). Add some semolina. It makes the bhaturas crispy.
Add 1 generous tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp salt. You can use some warm water for kneading and add 1 generous tbsp ghee.
You’ll need:
- 1 1/2 cups wholemeal flour
- 1/2 cup semolina, sooji
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp yeast (optional)
- 1/2 - 1 tsp baking powder (optional)
- 1/2 - 1 tsp ajwain, carom seeds
- Some warm water
Mix it all with a spoon until it comes together. Let the dough rest for fifteen to twenty minutes. Knead well with your hands.
Let it rest in a warm place for at least three to four hours for the flavours to develop. Knead well once again.
Fry the bhaturas in sunflower or peanut oil. Don’t use the oil again. You can spread it in the garden or on a compost pile.
Yeast or baking powder are not necessary. I believe in using minimal ‘artificial’ ingredients. If you let the dough rest long enough, the tangy flavours will develop and the dough will also become spongy.
Rub ajwain (carom seeds) between your fingers as you mix them with dry flour. It helps in releasing their aroma. These seeds are always added in fatty foods - because they increase their digestibility. This is Ayurveda in action in everyday life!