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Thattai Recipe

Thattai recipe

Thattai – Crispy South Indian snack prepared for festive occasions as well as for tea time. Perfectly savoury crispies made in a combination of rice flours and other dal flours. Learn how to make Thattai recipe with ease following the step by step method.

This Thattai is absolutely festive and so fun to make. Every last bit of this thatai is enjoyed by everyone. We can easily pick them from Indian stores abroad or from bakeries in India all year round but the taste and freshness of this munchies is a lot better when its home made.

The joy of making them at home is immense and seeing the family enjoy  this traditional snack is all the more delightful. The recipe for making Thattai is pretty straightforward but remember to follow the instructions to T.

I really wish that I had some more of these to snack on right one. A cup of chai and some snackies would make the perfect tea time combo. They are slightly spiced with a kick of chilli powder and asafoetida ( hing / peringayam ) but in a very subtle way to add all the flavor to the fried crispies.

It is one of my favourite most savoury snack along with Cornflakes Mixture.
How to make Thattai

THATTAI

Thattai is one of the popular savoury snack originating from South India, which is made on several festival celebrations like Krishna Jayanthi, Navrathri and Diwali.

This delicious snack is known by many names – Thattu Vadai, Nippattu, thattu vadai, thattai murukku, elladai, chekkalu and many more.  However we have always referred it as Thatai at home.

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Let me tell you, this recipe for Thattai is really special as I have learnt this recipe from my grandma 9 years ago. I am also updating this post from then, exactly 9 years after. Yes, It was first published on 9th November 2010. What a coincidence isn’t it!!

Before I actually make any traditional sweet and savoury,  I love to ask my mom and grandma how they would make it. Although I know how to make it, I still make an SOS call to check about it. Just so that I really don’t miss that essential step.

9 years ago, when I called my grandma to ask how to make Thattai, she said it is very simple and she was confident that I would get it right! I was so worried that I had asked her every little step and method to keep in mind before making it.

I documented this recipe in my book with all her tips to achieve the perfect south indian snack.

To my surprise, my maiden effort was perfect and I had documented the recipe then and there on my blog here.  As I have mentioned before, this recipe for Thattai was really straight forward. It was all about bringing the ingredients together, make a dough, roll out into flat crisp, prick a few times and fry.

Back home, my mom and grandma would make this Thattu vadai with homemade rice flour. However store bough rice flour work really well too.

Using my grandma recipe, I have made them so many times and I have made them again today and its just as delicious as always. Step by step images and detailed method was missing and I have a brand new post for you with all the tips!

Thattai recipe - How to make Thattai

 WHAT ARE Ingredients to make Thattai

 Rice flour -Homemade rice flour works best, but the process is slightly elaborate. So I prefer to use store bought rice flour to make thattai instantly.

Urad dal flour –  is easy to make at home. Simply dry roast urad dal or ullutham maavu in a pan until light brown. Set them aside to cool and grind them to a fine powder.  If you think the flour is not even, do sieve it.

Roasted gram flour is made just like urad dal flour. Simply dry roast roasted gram dal or Pottukadalai in a pan until light brown. Set them aside to cool and grind them to a fine powder.  If you think the flour is not even, do sieve it.

Bengal gram dal  is also known as chana dal or kadalai paruppu.  I love to add them to my thattai.

Asafoetida also known as Peringayam adds lots of flavor.

Chilli powder

Salt

Curry leaves

Butter or Coconut Oil is absolutely essential for this recipe. My grandma prefers to use hot coconut oil to her recipe. I love the flavour of butter and enjoy the way it melts right away while cooking.Having said that, I have made Thattai with both coconut oil and butter and they taste just as fabulous. To make VEGAN THATTAI, I would just use coconut oil.

Water – Adding them a little at a time is the key! Do not add them all at a go, as the dough can turn out really soft.

How to make Thattai step by step

Urad Dal Flour

To make Urad Dal flour, dry roast  2 Tbsp Urad dal in a pan until it slightly changes color.

Allow it cool down and blitz them to a fine powder. Sieve if necessary and the urad dal flour is ready to use. Simply measure out as needed and store the remaining for using later.

How to make Thattai step by step

Roasted Gram Flour 

To make Roasted Gram flour, dry roast  2 Tbsp roasted gram dal in a pan until it slightly changes color.

Allow it cool down and blitz them to a fine powder. Sieve if necessary and the roasted gram flour is ready to use. Simply measure out as needed and store the remaining for using later.

How to make Thattai step by step

 Thattai Dough

Place Bengal gram dal in 1/4 cup of hot water for 30 minutes.  Drain and set it aside.

Dry roast rice flour in low flame until aromatic. Remember the rice flour just needs to be hot and colour remains in tact.  Sift the flour in a large mixing bowl.

Add Urad Flour, Roasted gram flour, asafoetida, chilli powder, salt, curry leaves and Bengal gram dal to the mixing bowl.

Add the melted  softened butter.

How to make Thattai step by step

Mix the ingredients using your fingers. The mixture will resemble bread crumbs like.

Add a little water at a time and mix until the flours comes together into a smooth dough. The dough should neither be too hard nor too soft.

How to make Thattai step by step

Keep the dough covered with a damp cloth at all times, to avoid the dough getting dried out.

To make Thattai

Pinch the dough and divide it into equal small sized balls.

To make flat thattai , use 2 ziplock bags or parchment paper or butter paper. Grease the ziplock bags with a little oil.

Place the rolled thattai dough on the first ziplock bag.

How to make Thattai step by step

Place the second ziplock bag on the top.

Use a flat bowl or katori on top of the dough and gently press to form a thin disc.

How to make Thattai step by step

How to make Thattai step by step

Carefully remove the first ziplock bag from the top. Prick holes with a fork. Alternatively use the curry leaves stem to prick holes as my grandma says.

How to make Thattai step by step

Carefully pick the prepared thattai disc  from the ziplock bag and place it on a plate. Repeat the process with remaining dough.

Heat oil in a medium flame until hot.

Gently slide the thattai into the oil and fry in medium flame until they are done.

How to make Thattai step by step

Depending on the size of the pan, fry 2 or 3 thattai’s at a time.

Drain them on a kitchen paper. Store them in airtight container and enjoy the thattai.

HAVE YOU MAKE THIS THATTAI –  INDIAN SNACK?

Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating!  Post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #sandhyaskitchen.  I would love to see your take on this south indian snack.

THATTAI RECIPE

Thattai Recipe
Print
THATTAI RECIPE - HOW TO MAKE THATTAI
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Resting Time
30 mins
 

Crispy and flavorful southindian snack prepared on festive occasions like Krishna Jayanthi and Diwali. Serve as a regular snack along with tea too. This recipe can be made VEGAN too!

Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: southindian snack, tea time snack, thattai, thattai, thatai
Author: Sandhya Hariharan
Ingredients
  • 1 Cup Rice flour
  • 2 Tbsp Urad dal flour or ullutham maavu
  • 2 Tbsp Roasted gram flour or Pottukadalai powder
  • 1 Tbsp Bengal gram dal or kadalai paruppu
  • 1/2 Tsp Asafoetida or Peringayam
  • 1 Tsp Chilli powder
  • 1/2 Tsp Salt
  • 15  Curry leaves chopped
  • 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter ** melted
  • 1/2 - 3/4 Cup Water
  • Oil for frying
Instructions
Urad Dal Flour
  1. To make Urad Dal flour, dry roast  2 Tbsp Urad dal in a pan until it slightly changes color.
  2. Allow it cool down and blitz them to a fine powder. Sieve if necessary and the urad dal flour is ready to use. Simply measure out as needed and store the remaining for using later.
Roasted Gram Flour
  1. To make Roasted Gram flour, dry roast  2 Tbsp roasted gram dal in a pan until it slightly changes color.
  2. Allow it cool down and blitz them to a fine powder. Sieve if necessary and the roasted gram flour is ready to use. Simply measure out as needed and store the remaining for using later.
Thattai Dough
  1. Place Bengal gram dal in 1/4 cup of hot water for 30 minutes.  Drain and set it aside.
  2. Dry roast rice flour in low flame until aromatic. Remember the rice flour just needs to be hot and colour remains in tact.  Sift the flour in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add Urad Flour, Roasted gram flour, asafoetida, chilli powder, salt, curry leaves and Bengal gram dal to the mixing bowl.
  4. Add melted butter and mix the ingredients using your fingers. The mixture will resemble bread crumbs like.
  5. Add a little water at a time and mix until the flours comes together into a smooth dough. The dough should neither be too hard nor too soft.
  6. Keep the dough covered with a damp cloth at all times, to avoid the dough getting dried out.
To make Thattai
  1. Pinch the dough and divide it into equal small sized balls.
  2. To make flat thattai , use 2 ziplock bags or parchment paper or butter paper.
  3. Grease the ziplock bags with a little oil.
  4. Place the rolled thattai dough on the first ziplock bag. Place the second ziplock bag on the top.
  5. Use a flat bowl or katori on top of the dough and gently press to form a thin disc.
  6. Prick holes with a fork. Alternatively use the curry leaves stem to prick holes.
  7. Pick the prepared thattai disc and place it on a plate. Repeat the process with remaining dough.
  8. Heat oil in a medium flame until hot.
  9. Gently slide the thattai into the oil and fry in medium flame until they are done.
  10. Depending on the size of the pan, fry 2 or 3 thattai's at a time.
  11. Drain them on a kitchen paper. Store them in airtight container and enjoy the thattai.
Recipe Notes

To make VEGAN THATTAI, simply use HOT COCONUT OIL instead of Unsalted Butter. 

My grandma always made Thattai with coconut oil. I have made Thattai with both coconut oil and butter and they taste just as fabulous.

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Comments

  8. glad you had a great diwali, love ur first pic and Thatai looks fantastic Sandhya, can understand proud moment of your granny, how sweet. Parents and grand parents feel the best on earth for all the little we achieve in life, that's the beauty!

    Reply

  12. I first had this when my Blore friend brought it from one of her India trips..I loved it so much that her mom had to pack a separate one for me every time she visited her …

    Pics are simply great Sandy….

    Reply

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