Diwali special : Karinji

Ingredients

For the dough:

• Maida/Refined flour (1 cup)
• Semolina( 1/3 cup)
• Ghee/unsalted butter(1 tbsp)
• Salt( a pinch)
• Milk (1/3 cup, warm)

For the filling:

• Dried shredded coconut(1 cup)
• Sugar(powdered, 1 cup)
• Cardamom powder (a pinch)
• Poppy seeds (roasted, 1 tbsp)
• Semolina/rava(roasted, 1 tbsp)
• Cashewnut (1 tbsp, chopped)
• Rasins (1 tbsp)

Oil to deep fry

Method

For the dough

1. Add Maida or refined flour in a large mixing bowl, to it add semolina or rava and mix well.
2.  Add  melted ghee or clarified butter and mix to incorporate it into the flour.
3. Add a pinch salt and add a little more than one third cup of warm milk to make a dough.
4. Knead the dough well and make sure you don’t add excess milk as the final dish will not be crispy.
5. Knead it till the dough leaves the side of the bowl without sticking and you will know that the dough is ready.
6. Wrap the dough in a cling foil an keep it for about half an hour. In the mean time we will go ahead and make the sweet filling for the Karanji.

For the filling

1. In another mixing bowl add dry shredded coconut and powdered sugar.
2. Add some cardamom powder and dried roasted poppy seed.
3. Add one table spoon of roasted rava or semolina and mix them well.
4. Add one tablespoon of chopped cashewnut and raisin and mix them well. So the filling for the Karanji is ready.

 Assembling

1. After the dough has rested for about half an hour remove the cling film, knead it once more and divide it into small balls.
2. Take a rolling pin and roll the ball into a flat disk.
3. Now take the filling that was made earlier and fill in the disk. Add a generous portion of filling so that when you fold it there is not air pockets inside.
4. Apply milk to the edges fold the 2 ends together and seal the stuffing inside. Press it nicely so that the filling does not come out.
5. Now to cut the edge using a cutter or knife
6. That will give it a nice half moon shape
7. Heat oil in a pan to deep fry and once the oil is hot add the karanji to it. Reduce the flame and deep fry till it turns nice golden colour
8. Remove it to a kitchen towel and allow to cool.

Karanji is ready to be served to your family and friend this Diwali. Enjoy!