Nimki/Namakpara|| crispy fried snack enjoyed as a tea time snack

Nimki or Namak para is a savoury snack,nimki is a term came from “namkeen” which means salty.

It is a ribbon likes strips of pastry delicately seasoned with ajwain (carrom seeds) or kalaunji (onion seeds or kalo jeere) fried in pure ghee or oil.

It is a crunch savoury snack eaten in Indian subcontinent. It is also referred to as ‘Mathri’ sometimes in some parts of Uttar Pradesh.
It is a simple and easy recipe and I have very fond memory of it from my childhood days. My mom used to make it and keep it in airtight jars,and sometimes in lazy afternoon I quietly used to take a stool stand up and take the jar and ate up. My used to know who ate,but she used to make fun by saying “I think a little monster came to my home while I was sleeping to eat the nimkis and I used to agree on what she said🤓.

It is also made during festivals like Durga puja and Diwali.

So,let’s start making easy nimkis or Namak para or savoury fried ribbon like doughs…in my style 👇👇👇

Type- Snack

Preparation time- 12-15 minutes

Cooking time- 25-30 secs each batch when optimum temperature reached

Ingredients:

1 cup of all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1.5 tsp sugar
1 tsp onion seeds/ kalo jeere/ kalaunji
1.5 tbs ghee/clarified butter or you can simply use 1.5 tbs oil
1/2 water at room temperature (approximately)
Oil to deep fry

Procedure:

In a bowl add 1 cup all purpose flour
In that add 1 tsp salt,1.5 tsp sugar and 1 tsp kalo jeere/kalaunji/onion seeds
Then add 1.5 tbs ghee and give it a quick mix
At this point gradually add water to make a hard dough, don’t add water at a time or you might end up soggy dough
Now give it rest of 30 minutes
Then divide it to 5 equal parts
Roll out the dough flat and thin like a roti,chapattis or tortillas
Then cut it and give the shape of your choice
We made a diamond shape,like we first cut it straight and then diagonally
Our Nimki/ Namakpara is ready to fry
Deep fry them on a medium flame until crisp golden brown
Drain the excess oil and it’s ready to munch on