I am hoping that my Indian friends can help me with making a puri

@oldchem1 (8132)
June 28, 2010 12:47pm CST
When I go out to eat in an Indian recipe I love a prawn puri as a starter. I would love to be able to make a puri at home I have found the ingredients - just Chappati flour, water and ghee for brushing - but do I need a special dish or oven or container to cook them? I'm looking forward to your advise
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4 responses
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
29 Jun 10
Hi Oldchem Puri is a dish that is deepfried in oil.So, first of all you must have a pan and some cooking oil.Make the chappati flour into a dough[like the one you make for biscuit/cookie --just some flour and water and few drops of oil.You can add a pinch of salt too.THen you must make this into round balls and with a rolling pin roll them into round flat thin biscuits /pancakes. YOu must heat the oil to boiling point and if you drop a piece of dough it should come puffing up.THis is to test the temperature of the oil.Only if the oil is properly heated the puris would puff up and be well cooked. Be careful not to burn your fingers or palm.Good luck.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
29 Jun 10
Puris can be had with mouthwatering Indian side dishes like Potato masala, chole[spicy dhal] etc..,I do not know about the prawn side dish.Fry the puris one by one and don't drop them two or three at a time in boiling oil.Be careful not to drop the puri with force.Do it gently.YOu can coat the rolled thin balls on chapati flour or ghee[as is comfortable to you.]Use a small pan and keep oil to just half or 3/4ts in the pan.Do not keep it brimming.Sorry if I have given you redundant precautions but I was worried that you must not burn your fingers.You may burn your finger if you are not used to frying things in oil.
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@oldchem1 (8132)
29 Jun 10
Thank you very much for such detailed instructions. The prawn mix was a spicy prawn mix in a little sauce served on top of the puri, I wiuld have thought there was quite a bit of ghee in it as it is always a little fatty
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@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
28 Jun 10
Puris are deep fried. You can use a modern electric deep fryer or a wok or a pan made for deep frying. A pan with a wire basket that fits inside it is useful. Chappati flour is normally a wheat flour and any batter mix (appropriately spiced) would work. You need a 'coating' consistency. I would prefer to use at least some gram flour (a flour made from ground beans or lentils), water and herbs/spices/seasoning. Gram flour tends to give a crisper, less heavy coating which is more effective as a starter.
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@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
28 Jun 10
I think that when things are fried in a batter made of gram flour, they are more properly called 'pakora' but there are different names and recipes depending on which part of India they come from.
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@oldchem1 (8132)
29 Jun 10
thank you, I had read a little about them and one article made it sound like there was a special vessel needed (rather like a tandoori oven for tandoori) so I was a little unsure as to if I could make them at home, I shall now give it a go!!
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@Annina (67)
• Czech Republic
29 Jun 10
Muj oblíbený recept na krevety. 500 g cooked medium shrimp,little fat,5 cloves garlic,1 Chilli pepper or hot pepper parsley,2 tablespoons lemon juice,salt,pepper. On a large frying pan warm up a bit fat, let them finely chopped garlic and chili pepper or hot pepper and fry, stirring for about two minutes. Then add shrimp and remaining ingredients, salt and pepper, mix, while warms up and serve. Bon appetite
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@oldchem1 (8132)
29 Jun 10
OOhh mouth is watering now - I'm off to the shops, thank you so much!!
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@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
28 Jun 10
I imagine anything you can deep fry in would work. It sounds a lot like Indian Fry Bread which the Navajos here in the states like to make to sell at fairs and rodeos. I'll have to try it. Sounds yummy. Now I AM getting hungry!
@oldchem1 (8132)
29 Jun 10
So many different cultures have these different types of breads that are all a little similar I expect! Thank you.
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29 Jun 10
These sound lovely, I think that I may get my hubby cooking ( he's better than me at it!!)
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