What is Khari Biscuit?

Khari Biscuit is a baked 'Rough Puff Pastry' eaten as a snack in India specially during teatime.

Khari means Salty

Old Traditional method Puff pastry dough

The dough was made by kneading flour salt water and a little bit of Ghee, and allowed to rest

Now the dough was divided into three parts. Each part was rolled out like a thick bread. These breads were stacked with a thin layer of Ghee in between. Now the thick cookie was rolled out to a thin cookie. It was dusted with flour and folded to form a square. The square dough sheet was rolled out and cut to make individual pieces that were baked.

Western 'Rough Puff pastry' dough

It is made with butter, flour, water, and salt. The flour and salt are sifted. The butter is cut into flour. The dough is NOT kneaded. It is pressed and turned. The dough is rolled out in a rectangle where one side is three times longer than the other side. The long side is folded over in thirds. Then its turned and folded in half making it look like a square. The dough is rested in refrigerator. The rested dough is rolled out again in a rectangle and the process repeated.

This gives about 12 layers. The pastry dough can be used as needed.

My Khari Puff pastry dough

I follow Western Rough Pastry method. I use half Ghee and Half butter. I also limit to 6 layers.

This makes the process much easier.

Ratio of Ingredients for puff pastry dough

1. The amount of flour should equal the amount of fats (Total Butter and Ghee) by weight

2. Amount of cold water should be half the amount of flour by weght\

3. Use ½ teaspoon of salt per pound of flour

Example

Flour: 2½ cups = 12 oz

Butter and Ghee Total= 1½ cups = 12 ounce

Cold water: ¾ cup = 6 oz

Salt = ¾ teaspoon

Making Khari Biscuits

Roll out pastry dough to slightly thicker than ¼" to a maximum of ½". Cut 2"x 2" squares. Fold them over corner to corner to make triangles, or fold them side over side to make rectangles 2"x1". You may also roll out dough thicker and just cut just into squares or diamonds.

Baste the top with melted ghee or butter

For Namkeen Khari Biscuit (Salted Salty Puff Pastry), sprinkle spice of your choice: Ajwain Cumin seeds, cracked black pepper.

For Meetha Khari biscuit (Sweet Puff Pastry), sprinkle granulated sugar

Arrange biscuits on an un-greased cookie sheet leaving about ½" space in-between the biscuits

With a wooden-spoon slightly press the spices or the sugar granules.

Pre-heat oven to 400º F. Bake 15 minutes to let the pastry puff up. Then reduce the temperature to 350º F to finish baking for about 20 minutes till the pastry is lightly brown. Shut off oven. Remove the cookie sheet and let it cool to room temperature.

Khari Biscuit Recipe

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