Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Nachani Nankhatai (Finger Millet Cookies)


"Nachani (Finger Millet/ Ragi) Nankhatai/ Narayan Katar/ Eggless Cookies" ... cookies have always been a childhood favorite and nankatai is one of them ... these cookies needs no intro as it is almost everybody's fav. .. tried out today by adding on nachani flour and it tastes awesome ... Happy Raksha Bandhan to all my friends ... May happiness reach every home on this auspicious occasion and bring about peace in life ......

** Today is Raksha Bandan day, a Hindu festival to mark the bonding between a brother and sister. It is celebrated all round India by tying Rakhi a sacred thread on wrist ensuring protection throughout life by a brother to his sister. I have no brothers of my own but in my journey through life I have had the occasion of coming across many bro’s who have been kind enough and shared a lovely bonding. Today it’s double occasion as on this day I complete a milestone of 55 yrs and move into 56 th year. God has been gracious and somehow stood by me through thick and thin throughout my journey. Life is a roller coaster having both ups and downs and no one can avoid them, but faith is the most important aspect that gives one the strength to move on come what may in life. 

** For some time now I had been wanting to try out nachani nankhatai ie eggless cookies with addition of finger millet flour, but somehow never got round to preparing the same. Today I thought of finally going ahead and giving it a try and they turned out scrumptious. I do need maybe to improvise a bit, the issue being my electric oven is 31 yrs old and as I do not bake much I do not feel like investing in one. But during the times I do I feel helpless as the settings do not give perfect baking and that is when I feel that I should go ahead and buy a new one. I guess I must go into baking more often and only then can I decide if I really need one, till then I will try out in the old one only all I need to do is keep the temperature on slightly lower level. Coming to the cookies these can be easily prepared, so do try them out. 

** Here is my own recipe for "Nachani (Finger Millet/ Ragi) Nankhatai/ Narayan Katar/ Eggless Cookies" … Nachani is high in Calcium and is very good for health, so please add it on as much as you can into your daily diet …. 

** Ingredients : 
Ghee/Toop : 1 cup 
Sugar Powder/ Sakhre Pitti/ Pitti Shakhar : 1 heaped cup 
Maida/APF (all purpose flour) : 1.5 cups 
Chiroti Rava/ Fine Rulav : ½ cup 
Nachani/ Ragi/ Finger Millet Flour : 1 cup 
Baking Powder : ½ tsp 
Baking Soda : ½ tsp 
Salt/Namak/Meeta : a small pinch 
Cardamom/Ellaichi/Yellu Powder : ½ tsp 


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

** 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 till it turns creamy. This will take about 3-4 minutes. 

** Add cardamom powder and mix well and then add in the sieved ingredients and mix well using kneading method/technique till it combines into a smooth dough. 

** Cover with a tight lid and keep this aside for resting for 1-2 hours. Once again knead the dough well for a good 10-15 minutes. This helps the dough release the ghee from within and turns 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 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, 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 12-15 minutes or until done. The baking time differs from oven to oven depending upon the heat temperature etc. So, once it crosses 10 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. 


** "Nachani (Finger Millet/ Ragi) 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. 

** 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. 

** Nachani/ Ragi/ Finger Millet has the highest source of calcium and is always recommended by nutritionist and Doctors alike to be added into our daily diet in some form. There are many dishes in my blog wherein I have given both about its importance and delicious dishes, use the search option and do give it a try, you will be giving a lifetime benefit to your bones.

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