Masala Baby Chakli / Murukku

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour

1/2 cup gram flour / kadalapodi

1 tsp chilli powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp ajwain seeds

1- 1 1/2 tsp black sesame seeds

1/4 tsp asafoetida /kaayam

2 1/2 tbsp oil or softened butter

hot water as required

salt to taste

oil for frying

Preparation:

1. In a mixing bowl, take the rice flour and gram flour and mix well.
2. Add cumin seeds, ajwain seeds, sesame seeds, chilli powder, turmeric powder, asafoetida and salt and mix well.
3. Heat 2 1/2 tbsp oil or butter and add this to the flour mixture and mix well with your hand.
4. Boil water and add this little by little and mix it with a spatula/ spoon and knead to a smooth dough. Cover and keep it aside for 30 minutes.
5. Take a murukku press/ mould , use the star shaped disc. Grease the murukku press with little oil and fill it with the dough. 
6. Squeeze it to form spiral shape on a parchment paper or directly to the hot oil. Here I made small/ baby chakli's.
7. Heat oil in a pan and gently drop the chakli/ murukku to the hot oil.
8. Fry them on medium flame till they turn crisp and golden on both sides. Drain in paper towel and repeat the same for the remaining dough. 
9. Cool down to room temperature and then store in an air tight container....Enjoy as a tea time snack...