Description
Experience the aromatic charm of traditional Indian shortbread with these golden, cardamom-scented biscuits. Crafted from a blend of chickpea flour and semolina, these vegan treats offer a unique sandy texture and a melt-in-your-mouth quality that pairs perfectly with homemade masala chai.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chickpea flour (besan)
- 2 tablespoons semolina (sooji)
- 1/2 cup castor sugar
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon raw pistachios, slivered
- 1 teaspoon dried rose petals
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 2 tablespoons loose-leaf Assam tea
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F) fan-forced and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, chickpea flour, semolina, castor sugar, cardamom powder, and salt until well combined.
- Massage the coconut oil into the dry mixture using your hands until a soft, pliable dough forms.
- Roll the dough into small balls weighing approximately 15–20g each and place them on the prepared sheets.
- Press a gentle thumbprint into each ball and garnish with pistachio slivers or rose petals.
- Bake for 17 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through, until the edges are very lightly golden.
- While baking, simmer almond milk with ginger, sugar, cardamom pods, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan.
- Remove from heat, add loose-leaf tea, cover, and steep for 5 minutes before straining.
- Allow biscuits to cool on the tray before serving with the hot masala chai.
Notes
To ensure the perfect crumbly texture, monitor the consistency of your coconut oil; it should be soft but not completely liquid when mixing. If you prefer a more savory note, try replacing the sweet garnishes with caraway or sesame seeds and pressing the dough with a fork before baking. Always store these in an airtight container to maintain their signature sandy crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 17 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Indian