Gujarati cuisine is the source of the classic Indian snack or appetizer known as Soji no Nasto.
It involves creating crispy shapes from semolina (Suji) dough and frying them to a golden colour.
Two different masalas, one with a mint flavour and the other spicy, later get added to these forms to give the snack more complexity and flavour.
Prepare the Semolina Dough:
Grind the semolina (Suji) in a mixture jar.
In a bowl, add salt and clarified butter (Mon) to the grind semolina. Mix well.
Gradually add hot water to bind the flour. Ensure a loose consistency of dough.
Cover the dough and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
After resting, gently rub the dough and roll it out, kneading it into a round shape with consistency.
Use the star and triangle cookie cutters to cut shapes from the dough and place them separately.
Heat oil in a wok for frying.
Fry the shaped dough in hot oil over medium-high flame until golden.
Remove the fried shapes using a mesh skimmer to drain excess oil.
Sprinkle the mint-flavoured masala on one batch and the spicy-flavoured masala on another quickly after frying.
2) Prepare the Masalas:
1. Mint Flavour Masala:Grind dry mint leaves with chaat masala.
2. Spicy Flavour Masala:Combine Red chilli powder, black salt (Sanchar), and dry mango powder (Amchur powder). Mix thoroughly.
3) Serve: Place the flavoured, crispy Semolina shapes in separate bowls.
Tips:
1) Dough Consistency: Aim for a loose dough texture by gradually adding hot water.
2) Resting Time: Let the dough rest for 15–20 minutes for better binding.
3) Oil Temperature: Maintain medium-high heat while frying for a crisp finish.
4) Uniform Shapes: Use consistent-sized molds for even cooking.
5) Seasoning: Adjust masala quantities based on personal taste.
6) Drain Excess Oil: Use a mesh skimmer or paper towel after frying.
Ingredients:
Semolina (Suji) - ½ cup
Salt - 1 Teaspoon
Clarified Butter - 3 Tablespoons
Hot Water (as needed for binding the flour)
Oil (for heating in the wok)
Dry Mint Leaves
Chaat Masala - 1 Teaspoon
Red Chilli Powder - 2 Tablespoons
Black Salt (Sanchar) - 1 Teaspoon
Dry Mango Powder (Aamchur) - ½ Teaspoon