Sesame (Til/Ellu/ Teelu) Nankhatai (Narayan Katar/ Eggless Cookies).

"Sesame (Til/Ellu/ Teelu) Nankhatai (Narayan Katar/ Eggless Cookies)" ... Decided to change the phrase to "Til Nankatai ghyaa goda goda bola" ... wanted to try out Narayan Katar in different combo, while kneading the dough thought why not add on teelu as it is loaded with health benefits and it's Sankranti period the season of Til ... added on the black ones to get good color combination ... Yummilicious or should I say Tillilicious, whatever, they are delicious ... 

** Almost every Indian knows about Nankhatai known as Narayn Katar in southern parts and it really needs no introduction. These are delicious, crisp eggless cookies/ shortbread biscuits that can be baked and prepared easily at home. Come Diwali and almost every home bakes these cookies and the aroma fills not only homes but comes out in streets too. The bakery is filled with enthusiastic people going there to get these cookies baked as they are done so in bulk which is not possible or economical at home. I have already posted whatever little I know about these a month or so back so will not repeat the same here, but will just add on the recipe which is actually the same with minute changes. It is winter season and come January and it’s Sankaranti festive time all round the country. Til/Ellu dishes are prepared during this festive season in different varieties, this is so coz. this is supposed to give out body heat and keep one warm during cold season. A thought of preparing Nankhatai with addition of Til crossed my mind at night and after that it was no looking back, I was waiting for sunrise to start on the same and here they are all crisp and yum with black til topped that adds on not only beauty but also healthy too. I am sharing the recipe below, do try out and enjoy with your friends and family and Stay Blessed~ Spread Happiness. 

** Given below is my own recipe for "Sesame (Til/Ellu/ Teelu) Nankhatai (Narayan Katar/ Eggless Cookies)" … My Style … 

** Ingredients : 

Ghee/Toop : 1 cup 

Sugar Powder/Sakhre Pitti/Pitti Shakhar : 1 heaped Cup 

Maida/APF (all purpose flour) : 1.5 cups 

Rice Flour/Tandla Pitti : 1 cup 

Chiroti Rava/Fine Rava : ½ cup 

Black Til/Sesame/Teelu : ¼ cup + 2 tblsp (for outside rolling) 

Baking Powder : ½ tsp 

Baking Soda : ½ tsp 

Salt/Namak/Meeta : a small pinch 

Cardamom/Ellaichi/Yellu Powder : ½ tsp 

Colour : pinch of any colour you desire (Optional)

** Sieve the maida, rice flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together through a fine sieve on a tray or paper. Add chiroti rava to it, mix well and keep it ready aside. 

** Add in the ¼ cup of black Til/Sesame into mixer grinder and grind it to a coarse texture powder. Remove and add this to the above ingredients in the bowl and mix well. 

** In a wide stainless steel bowl add in the melted warm ghee and add in the sugar powder and mix well with a fork/whisk until it turns creamy. This will take about 3-4 minutes, but a must step. 

** Now add in the colour if desired and cardamom powder to the above ghee mixture and mix well and then add in the prepared ingredients in the bowl and mix well till all are combined to a dough consistency. 

** Cover with a tight lid and keep this aside for resting for 1-2 hours. Once again loosely knead the dough well for a good 2 minutes. This helps the dough release the ghee from within and turn out softer making the cookies crisp on baking. 

** Preheat the oven when you start making the nankhatai. Take a tablespoon of the dough and roll into the shape of a ball, roll it on the Til/Seasame and then flatten it a little bit only and place it on greased tray. You can also place a parchment paper on the tray and place the same. 

** While placing the nankhatai’s on tray, see to it that you keep at least a gap of an inch between two nankhatai, this distance is necessary for even baking of the biscuits or else they will not be baked properly on sides. 

** Put the tray into the preheated oven and bake the cookies at 180 deg. C for 15-18 minutes or until done. The baking time differs from oven to oven depending upon the heat temperature etc. So, once it crosses 15 minutes, keep a watch on the cookies to avoid it getting burnt. 

** When done remove from the oven and keep them aside to get completely cooled down. The gently loosen them with a blunt knife and put them into another plate, when sure that it has cooled down from within too, store them in an airtight container. 

** Proceed with the remaining dough in the same manner and bake them till all are done, cooled and ready to be stored. These remain good for over 3-4 weeks easily if carefully handled and store in airtight containers. 

** "Sesame (Til/Ellu/ Teelu) Nankhatai (Narayan Katar/ Eggless Cookies)" is done and ready served. Do try out these delicious eggless cookies and serve them to young and old anytime they desire to have a snack during break times. They are really superb, you can even pack them as a gift to be given to your friends if you are invited for a meet up.

** Children are sure to love this melt in mouth crisp cookies, specially during holidays when get tired after playing or going about enjoying other activities always come home hungry to eat snack in between. Tastes great with a glass of hot/warm milk or even for a coffee break. 

** There are many more mix and match varieties of preparing these Nankhatai, which I will be posting as and when prepared. As sweets are not much prepared in my home I do not make them often, but in order to share them here, I have now decreased the quantity by ¼ so that I can prepare them often. That way I need not worry about finishing them as this one I prepared using small cup measure which gave me 24 cookies. 

** An Earnest Request : There are many more recipes of different types in the blog. For all my Recipes, use the search option or the label section in the Blog. If you are still not able to find it or have a query, please leave a message in comment section or mail me the same. I will try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Do try out various types of dishes included in the Blog and Enjoy them with your family and friends and do give me a feedback if possible. 

** I am happy to inform you that I have also started a food group for by the name "KONKANI DELICACIES" which is over and year old, with about 23 K strong members. It is a pleasure to inform that you will find in the group many more recipes posted by our expert members and you too can share some of your own. The link to the group is posted on the left side of the blog page. Do join us in our culinary journey. I strongly believe in Sharing and always endorse that "Sharing Is Caring" Thank You.