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Call them Nimki or Namakpare, or by any other local name for that matter, but every Indian loves indulging in these snacks for good reason. They are mildly spiced, easy to make with ingredients available at every home, can be stored for long periods of time, and are so crispy-crunchy and delicious that no matter how large a batch you make, Nimki is bound to get over soon. During the festival of Holi, Nimki is also served as a compulsory snack across India, making this a dish you must have in 2023.
But if you are tired of eating the same old deep-fried Nimkis made of refined flour, and want to add a dash of flavour as well as health to your festivities, then here’s something you should know. Nimki is a very versatile dish and can be prepared with healthy yet tasty ingredients. You don’t have to compromise on taste for the sake of your health when it comes to Nimkis for Holi 2023. And, with air fryers now available so easily in the market, you can definitely enjoy desi snacks without the guilt!
Speaking personally, I find the healthiest Nimki variety to be the one made with Moong Dal and atta or whole wheat flour. This Moong Dal Nimki is not only packed with protein and dietary fibre, but can also be flavoured with spices and dried herbs to make the taste more defined and festive. In fact, I always add Kasoori Methi or dried fenugreek leaves to the Moong Dal Nimki dough, along with cumin and carom seeds. The recipe itself is simple enough and doesn’t require more effort than any other Nimki version does. On the contrary, if you’re using an air fryer, the effort actually lessens further!
To make the Moong Dal Nimki even more special, I adopt the method of cutting them in the shape of Nachos. This makes the traditional Indian snack just as appealing to kids as it is to nostalgic adults. Here’s the easy air-fried Moong Dal Nimki recipe for you to try out this Holi 2023.
Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Ingredients:
½ cup moong dal, soaked for 30 minutes
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tbsp oil
¼ tsp cumin seeds
¼ tsp carom seeds
2 tsp Kasoori methi
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp sesame seeds
Salt, to taste
Water, as required
Method:
1. Transfer the soaked moong dal into a mixer and grind it to a fine paste.
2. Place the ground moong dal, whole wheat flour, cumin seeds, carom seeds, kasoori methi, turmeric powder, chilli powder, sesame seeds and salt in a large bowl.
3. Mix everything well, then add the oil. Mix the oil to get a breadcrumb-like texture.
4. Now add water gradually to make a tight dough. Apply some more oil at the end to make the dough slicker if you want. Let the dough rest for half an hour.
5. Divide the dough into two equal-sized balls. Take one ball and roll it out as thinly as possible.
6. Now, use a knife to cut the dough into triangle shapes of equal size. Follow the same with the other dough ball.
7. Place the triangle-shaped Moong Dal Nimki in the air fryer at 180 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
8. Once the Nimki turns crispy, transfer them to a wire rack and let them cool down.
9. When cooled completely, transfer the Moong Dal Nimki into an airtight container, or serve immediately.
