Murukulu - Tasty, Crunchy Rice Snacks

As I've mentioned before, Kishore likes crunchy snacks, and not just any kind of crunch there is a particular  phrase he uses "crunchy, crunchy." One of his favorite "crunchy, crunchy" snacks are made from a mixture of rice and bean flour, they are called Murukulu in Telugu. They are kind of fun to say too....Murk-ulu, Murk-oolu! Anyway, he introduced my family to them early on, and whenever he would come over for dinner or a party, he'd bring a bag of them. As a result they have become a regular snacking food in our house and amongst the family. When Amma came to visit she showed me how to make the handmade twisted version of this, it was labor intensive but oh so tasty! She said that she'd get me a press when I came to visit, and she did! But I didn't want to wait so I decide to give it a go with my cookie press's cheese straw disc and it worked exactly as I'd hoped...sometimes you just have to think outside the box!

These golden savory spirals, have the perfect amount of salt, heat, and 'crunchy, crunch' to quell your snack craving.

So here is my recipe for Crunchy, Crunchy Murukulu:



Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

2 Cups Rice Flour
2 Tblsp Besan Flour*
3 Tblsp Unsalted Butter, softened
2 Tblsp Sesame Seeds
2 tsp Cumin Seeds
2 tsp Red Chili Powder
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 Tblsp Pink Sea Salt
2 Cups Water
Oil for frying
*Chickpea Flour

Equipment: Murukulu Press or Cookie Press w/ Cheese Straw disc, large flat slotted spoon

Directions:

Prep: Heat the oil to medium, and Sift flours together.

1. Mix sifted flour, and add Cumin, Sesame Seeds, Chili Powder, and Sea Salt. When mixed add softened butter till mix resembles bread crumbs, then slowly add water and mix till you have a soft dough.

2. Use your press to make shapes, straws, spirals anything. *It's easier to make spirals on an oil coated slotted spoon, which you can then easily place in the hot oil.*

3. Place the spirals in the hot oil, flip once and cook till golden brown. Drain excess oil on paper towel coated plates.

Enjoy!