Namak Pare is a popular savory crunchy snack from India. I made this snack for Diwali but didn’t get the time to edit the pictures and write the post. Anyway better late than never! These deep fried snacks are enjoyed with a cup of chai and you would find them in every household in India especially during the festive season. My mom always makes them at home for all the festivals and I would munch on them so much that at one point mom had to ask me to stop. Yes that’s how much I love homemade namak pare!
Namak pare as it is called in Hindi is lightly seasoned with spices like ajwain [carom seeds] and kasuri methi [dried fenugreek leaves]. There was this advertisement jingle that used to be popular when I was in school, it was for a potato chips brand and the tagline was “no one can eat just one”! Now why am I talking about this jingle? because it goes so well with these snacks, you cannot eat just one! Namark pare are highly addictive, at least for me. That’s why I did not make a big batch else I know I will finish the entire container alone in 2 days flat.
Other than this recipe of namak pare, I also have a very exciting news to share with my readers. I know packing lunchbox for kids can be quite challenging at times. I mean it is difficult to think of a new recipe everyday and kids are so picky that they refuse to eat if you pack the same stuff everyday. So in case you are looking around for some great recipes for your kids lunchbox, here is some good news! Indusladies, largest online community for Indian women has partnered with Indian food blogs to come up with 100 easy lunchbox recipes.
And you know the best part? The book is absolutely free to download!
Get you copy now by clicking here > 100 Kids Lunchbox Recipes
I’m also happy to share that this e-book has 2 recipes from Cook With Manali – 1) Grilled Apple Peanut Butter Sandwich 2) Grilled Paneer & Corn Sandwich
And now on to the recipe for namak pare.
Method
In a bowl sieve together all purpose flour, sooji (semolina), ajwain (carom seeds), sesame seeds and salt. Add to it crushed dried kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves). Mix everything together.
Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the flour mixture.
Mix the oil into the flour using your hands till it resembles bread crumbs.
Now add water as required to knead a smooth but firm dough. Cover the dough and keep it aside for around 20-30 minutes.
And now divide the dough into 2 equal parts.
Take 1 of the dough ball and roll it into a circle. It shouldn’t be too thick or too thin.
Using a knife, first cut the dough into long narrow strips.
Make a criss cross pattern cutting the dough diagonally.
Heat oil in a wok on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cut namak pare into it and fry till crisp and light golden-brown in color.
Store in an airtight container and enjoy crunchy namak pare with a cup of hot chai.
* The oil for frying the namak pare should not be too hot. If you fry them at very high heat, they will be soft and you don’t want that. These are supposed to be crispy!
* Namak pare stay good in an airtight container for weeks, that is if they last that long! They are over within days at my place.
Namak Pare
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups all purpose flour maida
- 1 tablespoon semolina sooji or rava
- ½ teaspoon sesame seeds till
- ½ teaspoon carom seeds ajwain
- 1 tablespoon kasuri methi crushed [dried fenugreek leaves]
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons oil
- oil for deep frying
- water as needed to knead the dough
Instructions
- In a bowl sieve together all purpose flour, sooji (semolina), ajwain (carom seeds), sesame seeds and salt.
- Add to it crushed dried kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves). Mix everything together.
- Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the flour mixture.
- Mix the oil into the flour using your hands till it resembles bread crumbs.
- Now add water as required to knead a smooth but firm dough. Cover the dough and keep it aside for around 20-30 minutes.
- Now divide the dough into 2 equal parts.
- Take 1 of the dough ball and roll it into a circle. It shouldn't be too thick or too thin.
- Using a knife, first cut the dough into long narrow strips and then make a criss cross pattern cutting the dough diagonally.
- Heat oil in a wok on medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add the cut namak pare into it and fry till crisp and light golden-brown in color.
- Let them cool down and then store in an airtight container.
I didn’t see oats in this recipe even tho the title says so. Did I miss it?
Hi Sheetal, I thing you are on the wrong recipe page. This is the recipe for traditional namak pare and there’s no oats in it.
Perhaps you are talking about these: https://www.cookwithmanali.com/baked-oats-namak-pare/
Hello Manali
I have become super fan of ur recipies.
They sound and look so effortless and wen is start working on it i just enjoy enjoy n enjoy.
My kids just love everything i make they call me cool mum.Thanks for wonderful food.U r teaching a lot of people the easy way to stay Happy❤❤
I am so glad to hear that 🙂
Hello Manali
There is a glitch in mentioning of oil added in flour on every increase in reciepe it just says add 2 tablespoons of oil please fix that otherwise receipe will not turn out the way it should be i was making it and realised this.
Thanks.Its d best receipe
you mean when using the 2x button in the recipe card? I am aware, it’s a recipe plugin issue and I will look into it
Looks amazing! You say roll it out not too thick and not too thin, are we talking like pie crust? biscuit dough? sugar cookies? a measurement would be more helpful. I’ve never had these before, so I don’t have a reference
pie crust will be fine
ove these savory namak pare ..Yumm…pinned too
Thanks for the pin Sathya!
Yum! These look perfectly stackable! I probably would have had to make 2 batches because I would need 1 batch to snack on while photographing!
Thanks Lindsey! I’m afraid I ate way too many!
I love finding new snack recipes! This looks delicious, Manali! Anything crunchy is definitely a winner in my book! 🙂
Thanks Gayle! Crunchy snacks are the best!
As usual, I can’t wait to dive in! I love learning about all of this Indian food 🙂 PS. I also nominated you for a Liebster Award: http://www.emmaslittlekitchen.com/liebster-award-lets-get-personal/. Yay!
Thanks Emma! Oh wow let me check that out! 🙂
this looks so delicious and flaky crunchy! and the perfect size for snacking! 😉 mmmm yum!
Thanks Michele! I love them!
These look like they would definitely be addictive! I love crunchy snacks, these look delicious!
Thanks Stacey, they are very addictive!
I’m in love with crunchy savory snacks! Must try this one! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mira! Crunchy snacks are my fav!