GUJARATI Gathia

**Author - Alee Venkatesh **



GATHIA  is  a deep-fried, crunchy Indian snack food from the State of Gujarat which is made out of chickpea (besan) flour & other spice ingredients.



Ingredients


·             1 cup Besan flour

·       Pepper & red chilli powders to taste

·       Salt to taste

·       Pinch of cooking soda, hing & turmeric powders

·       ¼ tsp. each of cumin & caraway seeds

·       Oil for deep frying

·       Water as needed to make smooth dough
 
Method


In a large bowl, add all ingredients (except oil for deep frying) and knead into smooth dough.  Add 1 tsp. of oil on top of prepared dough and set aside for 15-30 minutes.

Take a chakli making machine (available at Indian supermarkets if you are living overseas) and use a mould for making thick sev (gathia)

Heat oil in a large frying pan, place a small amount of kneaded dough in chakli making machine and press it into heating oil and fry gathia (on medium flame) until light brown in colour

Remove fried gathia from heat; place them on a kitchen paper towel to get rid of any excess oil.  Continue with the process for the remaining kneaded dough.

When gathia is cool, store them in an air-tight container (in a cool & dry place) which stays fresh for up to 4 weeks.