Baked Methi Matris / Karva Chauth Special Recipe / Indian Baked Savory Snack / Healthy Tea Time Snack Recipe / Diabetic Recipe

Karva Chauth is a one-day festival celebrated by Hindu women in North India in which married women fast from sunrise to moon rise for the safety and longevity of their husbands. The festival falls on the fourth day after the full moon , in the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Kartik.

I belong to a Maharashtrian family and fast on Sankashti Chaturthi of every month. (This is an auspicious day dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The day celebrated in every Hindu calendar month on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (dark lunar phase or the waning phase). Thus Karva Chauth and Sankashti Chaturthi happen to fall on same day. I have always been surrounded by North Indians since i got married and hence celebrate Karva Chauth with them and fast to get blessings from Lord Ganesha. I have seen my friends preparing various yummy delicacies for this occasion , Matris being one of them. I make Modak for lord Ganesha as bhog along with the Matris on Karva Chauth.

Matris are deep fried Punjabi savory snack recipe made from Maida , Salt and oil. To make this snack a guilt free affair i have baked this matris instead of deep frying. To make it more healthy have made the matris using whole Wheat flour instead of Maida. Though these matris are baked, they are very crispy and crunchy. Use of Kasuri methi gives nice aroma and distinctive flavour and the added crushed black Pepper gives spicy kick to the matris making them all the more tasty. These Matris serve great as guilt free tea time snacks . Can be had as it is or with Green Chili Pickle . I use these baked matris to make a chat dish - Dahi Papdi Chat. These baked Methi Matris serve a good Diabetic snack option too .

Ingredients:

• 2 Cup whole Wheat flour( 250 gm)
• 2-3 tbsp Ghee
• 1 tsp coarsely crushed black Pepper
• 2 tsp crushed Kasuri Methi ( dried Fenu Greek leaves)
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• Salt to taste.

Method:

1. Dry roast the Kasuri Methi (dried Fenu Greek leaves) on a skillet on low to medium heat until fragrant. Dry roasting the Kasuri Methi enhances its flavors.

   2.  Take whole Wheat flour in a bowl , to it add hot Ghee , roasted and crushed Kasuri Methi , Salt , Baking Soda, and coarsely crushed black Pepper . Mix everything nicely and rub the Ghee to the flour with fingers , to obtain a crumbled mass.

   3.  Knead the flour to a smooth and stiff dough using cold water. Add water gradually with tablespoon. Cover the dough in a plastic wrap and keep aside for 10-15 minutes.

  4. Divide the dough into 3 equal parts and roll out each portion to 1/4 " thickness using a rolling pin. No need to apply flour or oil while rolling the flour.

   5.  Next using a fork poke the rolled out dough evenly. Cut it into desired shapes using cookie cutter . I have cut them into round shape using lid .

 6.  Line the baking tray with a parchment paper and grease it. Now arrange these cut Matris on to it and bake it in a preheated oven at 160 degree Celsius for 20 minutes changing the side midway. I have baked the matris using a convection Microwave, so no preheating required. Keep an eye after 15 minutes of baking as the temperature may vary from oven to oven also if the Matri dough is not evenly rolled out, thinner Matris will bake soon. If you want you can brush the Matris with little oil. Repeat the same for rest of the dough.

   7.  Remove the baked Matris from oven and allow them to cool down . The matris become more crisp after cooling. Transfer them to air tight container.  Serve with tea or enjoy as it is.

Wishing a very happy Karva Chauth to all those who celebrate !!

For more healthy tea time snack recipes do check my posts on
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Baked Fingermillet Crackers
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Egg-less Oatmeal Cookies
Egg-less Butter less Choco Muffins
Egg-less moist carrot Cake
Broccoli Cutlets
Baked Veggie Florets
Pineapple Jam Tarts
Raw Banana Cutlets
Vegetable Momos
Sev
Bhakarwadi
Kanda Pohe