How to make delicious Son Papdi at home from chickpea flour, avoiding store-bought options

Homemade decorative items lend a special atmosphere and elegant look to the home interior. A beautiful tablecloth placed on a central or dining table in the living room can completely transform the appearance of the room. If you are tired of buying expensive tablecloths in stores and want to show your creativity, try making such an item yourself.

Creating a floral tablecloth using a crochet hook looks very beautiful, but the process is quite simple. This is especially relevant for those who are just starting to learn crochet, as the item can be prepared with great ease.

To make a crochet tablecloth, you need to follow several basic steps and use simple patterns. Among the necessary materials are high-quality cotton or wool yarn of your chosen colors, a crochet hook of the appropriate size, and scissors for cutting threads.

The first stage involves creating small floral motifs. The simplest way is to start with a magic ring or a chain stitch to form small, delicate flowers.

Once you have gathered enough flowers, the next step is to connect them using a hook or a needle, forming a large shape, whether it is a square or a circle. You can use flowers of one color or achieve a multi-colored effect by combining different shades.

The third step is dedicated to edging and final finishing. A beautiful and simple net or fringed border should be made around the tablecloth. This will give the tablecloth a finished and professional look.

The advantages of this handicraft include low production cost, as well as the ability to easily adapt the size of the item to the needs of your table.

Besides fruits, nuts, and fani, which are traditionally served during Sargi on Karva Chauth, sweet matthi is also often prepared. However, many women prefer the savory versions that they buy in stores. Products purchased from retail outlets may contain impurities and low-quality oils, which is unhealthy.

If you want to make crispy, tasty, and just as appetizing matthi at home as in the store, it is very simple. You can use wheat flour or semolina for preparation. Savory matthi is a favorite snack in Indian families, whether during evening tea time or when hosting guests. This matthi, made by adding semolina to flour, turns out not only very crispy but also keeps well for a long time.

The following ingredients are needed for preparation: 2 cups of wheat flour or semolina, 0.5 cup of semolina, 1 teaspoon of dill, 1 tablespoon of dried mint, 0.5 teaspoon of ground black pepper, salt to taste, 4-5 tablespoons of oil or ghee for kneading, and oil for frying.

The first secret to achieving a crispy and crumbly texture for matthi is the correct addition of fat (moin). You must thoroughly rub the oil or ghee with the flour and semolina using both hands for 2-3 minutes. When the dough starts to hold its shape, it means the moin has been added perfectly. The second important point is to use warm water for kneading the dough and to definitely knead it into a dense form, avoiding a soft dough.

In a bowl, mix the flour, semolina, dill, dried mint, ground black pepper, salt, and fat (oil/ghee). Then gradually add warm water to form a dense dough, and leave it covered for 15-20 minutes so that the semolina swells.

Divide the dough into small pieces, shape them into matthi, gently pressing or rolling them by hand. The third important trick: after rolling, make small holes in the matthi using a fork or knife. This will prevent the matthi from puffing up during frying and ensure even crispy cooking.

Heat the oil in a pan and fry the matthi over very low heat on both sides until golden and crispy.

Although you may have tried various types of cheela, have you tried methi and spinach cheela? If not, we will tell you a simple recipe that allows you to quickly prepare a tasty and healthy cheela for breakfast at home.

Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. Therefore, it is very pleasant when breakfast is both delicious and healthy. Methi and spinach cheela is exactly such a dish, made from chickpea flour (besan), green leafy vegetables, and spices. Methi and spinach not only improve the taste of the food but also enrich the diet with necessary nutrients.

Preparing this dish at home is simple, and it can be served for breakfast to everyone, from children to adults. Let's learn how to make methi and spinach cheela and what ingredients you will need for it.

To begin making methi and spinach cheela, thoroughly wash the methi and spinach leaves. After removing excess moisture, chop both greens finely. Then take a large bowl and add besan to it, mixing it with the chopped methi and spinach leaves.

Next, add turmeric, coriander powder, garam masala, red chili powder, and ajwain (ajika) to this mixture. You also need to add finely chopped onion, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, green chili, and fresh green onion. Add salt to taste and mix all components thoroughly.

Now gradually add a little water to make the batter. It is important to monitor the consistency: it should not be too thick or too thin. Mix well so that there are no lumps in the besan.

To cook the cheela, heat a pan and grease it with a little oil. Using a large spoon, pour the batter onto the pan and spread it into a round shape. Cook over medium heat. Add a little oil around the edges. When the cheela turns golden and is well cooked on the bottom, flip it. Fry it on the other side as well.

Repeat the process with the remaining batter. Serve the hot methi and spinach cheela with green chutney, yogurt, or tomato sauce.