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Khajur
خجور (khajur): Afghan fried dough cookies, crisp outside and soft inside, with a pressed pattern
Khajur take their name from dates, which their plump oval shape resembles, but there is no fruit in them: they are little cardamom-scented dough cookies, pressed onto a sieve or the back of a grater for a ridged pattern and fried until deep gold. Afghan families fry great batches before Eid and Nowruz and pack them into tins to offer guests with tea, and Kabul bakeries sell them by the kilo. They are crunchy on the outside with a soft, cakey middle and only gently sweet. Oil that is too hot is the classic error, browning them in a minute while the centres stay raw and doughy; keep it moderate and patient. Chef's tip: fry one test khajur first and break it open, then adjust the heat before frying the rest.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb plain flourplus extra if needed
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 3 ½ oz caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup sunflower oil
- ½ cup whole milk
- 4 ¼ cups sunflower oilfor deep-frying
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Method
0/8 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ⅛ lb plain flour, 1 ½ tsp baking powder and 1 tsp ground cardamom in a large bowl.
Step 2: Whisk 3 ½ oz caster sugar, 2 eggs, ¼ cup sunflower oil and ½ cup whole milk together until the sugar has mostly dissolved, then pour into the flour.
Step 3: Mix and knead briefly for 3–4 minutes into a firm, smooth dough that doesn't stick; add a little more flour if needed.
5 minStep 4: Cover and rest for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 6: Heat 4 ¼ cups sunflower oil in a deep pan or wok to 325°F, when a scrap of dough sinks then rises slowly with gentle bubbles.
Step 7: Fry the khajur in batches of 8–10 for 5–6 minutes, turning, until deep golden brown and a broken one is cooked through and cakey in the middle.
6 minStep 8: Lift out onto kitchen paper and cool completely. They keep crisp in an airtight tin for 2 weeks.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 320 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does khajur take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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