Parmesan Cheese Flavored Nimkis ( Fried Indian Cheese Crackers)

Indians love their snacks. Be it a fritter, samosa, chaat, or even plain bun with butter, it is consumed throughout the day with a cup of hot milky chai. Anytime someone drops at your home a snack is hastily prepared and served along with chai. During festivals snacks are prepared in huge quantities and distributed to friends and family. Snacks can be savory or sweet, fried or steamed. That’s how important snacks are to Indians.

Nimkis also called  Diamond cuts, due to their shape, can be savory or sweet. They can be thin and crispy or thick and crispy but they should snap when broken. Traditionally, Nimkis are made with all-purpose flour, ghee, and either spices or sugar. They are always deep-fried. 

Here I have made my own version of cheese-flavored nimkis. Who doesn’t like cheese? A little bit of it goes a long way. I have used Parmesan cheese as I find the dryness of it keeps the dough from going soft. We need a stiff dough for crispy nimkis.

Mix in the spices and butter into the flour

Add enough water to make a stiff dough.

Roll the dough and make diamond shaped cuts.

Separate the shapes and keep them ready to fry.

Fry on medium heat.

Nimkis are ready to be served.

Ingredients:

·         All-purpose flour 1 cup

·         Parmesan cheese ¼ cup, shredded

·         Butter 1 tbsp

·         Chili powder to taste

·         Salt to taste

·         Chaat masala, a pinch(optional)

·         Cumin seeds ½ cup

·         Water

·         Oil to deep fry

Combine the flour, cheese, butter, salt, and spices well. Add just enough water to form a stiff dough. Let rest for five minutes and not more. If you are unable to make the Nimkis in five minutes let the dough sit in the refrigerator until you are ready.

Divide the dough into three pieces. Form them into balls. Flatten and roll each ball into a thin circle. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter cut out diamond shapes on the circle. You can do this by making straight cuts across the circle end to end. Then make diagonal cuts.Separate the pieces and keep them ready to fry.

In the meantime heat oil at medium heat. Drop the Nimkis one by one into the oil. Do not overcrowd the pan. Fry the nimkis until they are golden on either side. Remove them from the oil and serve.

You can serve this to kids with a cheese dip if preferred.

For a video version of this recipe go to:
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc7UKF8S8Xk