Crispy Chilli Cheese Namak Para are flavored with crushed chili flakes and cheddar cheese and make a delightful tea time snack. These are highly addictive!
½-¾teaspoonred chili flakesuse ½ teaspoon for a less spicy version
½teaspoonKashmiri red chili powderdon't replace with regular chili powder
1cupcheddar cheese60 grams, I used medium cheddar
3tablespoonsgheemelted
waterto knead, around ½ cup
oilto fry
Instructions
Add all purpose flour, sooji, salt and crushed red chili flakes to a large bowl. Also add the Kashmiri red chili powder. Then grate the cheddar cheese and add that to the flour mix and mix everything with your hands.
Then add melted ghee and incorporate the ghee into the flour rubbing the flour mix between your palms. Do this for 2 minutes so that the ghee mixes in well with the flour. This step is important for flaky namak para. Take some portion of the flour and press it between your palm, if it holds its shape then it means the ghee was enough and was well incorporated in the flour.
Then add water and knead to a smooth dough. I needed around 1/2 cup water to bring the dough together. Cover with a cloth and let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
Once the dough has rested, divide it into 2 parts. Then roll the dough to 1/6th inch on a thickness using a rolling pin. Keep the remaining unrolled dough covered else it will dry out.
Cut the rolled dough into diamond shape or whatever shape you want. Keep them covered with a cloth until you are ready to fry them. Roll and cut all the dough similarly.
To deep fry, heat around 2-inches of oil in a kadai on low heat. Once the oil is hot, drop the namak para into the kadai. Fry on low heat until they are golden brown in color and crisp. Do not fry on high heat else they will not turn out crispy.
Once fried, take them on a plate lined with a paper towel to soak any excess oil. Fry the remaining batches similarly. Cool completely and then store in an airtight container.
Air Fry Instructions
Preheat your air fryer according to the manufacturer's instructions. Arrange the namak para in a single layer and spray with an oil spray. Air fry at 370 F degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Keep an eye after 8 minutes as every air fryer is different. Air Fry in batches as they need to be arranged in a single layer. Cool and then store in an airtight container.
Notes
Fry on low heat else the namak para won't turn our crispy.
Grate your own cheese instead of buying shredded cheese for best results.
Don't replace the Kashmiri red chili powder with regular chili powder else these will turn out very spicy.