Karjikai (Karnataka Style Deep Fried Sweet Pastry Recipe)

Step 1: To prepare Karjikai (Karnataka Style Deep Fried Sweet Pastry Recipe), make the pastry dough

Step 2: To make the dough, In a small pan, heat ghee

Step 3: In a mixing bowl, add all-purpose flour, rava, and rice flour

Step 4: Combine them together

Step 5: Add the heated ghee to the flour mixture

Step 6: The ghee should be really hot, such that once added to the flour, the flour bubbles up

Step 7: Combine them together with hand

Step 8: The mixture resembles breadcrumbs

Step 9: The ghee should be added hot to the flour for the crispy flaky outer layer

Step 10: Add water and knead the dough

Step 11: Ensure the dough is not too soft

Step 12: Cover the kneaded dough with a damp cloth until they are fried

Step 13: This prevents the dough from losing its moisture and avoid cracks while frying

Step 14: Let’s prepare the filling now

Step 15: In a mixer, add roasted chana dal and coconut

Step 16: Grind them into a coarse powder in a mixer grinder

Step 17: Add grated jaggery to the mixture and combine them well

Step 18: To prepare karjikai, take a lemon sized dough and make a small ball out of it

Step 19: Roll them into a small circle of 2mm thickness

Step 20: Ensure to cover the remaining dough with a damp cloth

Step 21: Now, you can shape Karjikai with molds if you have

Step 22: Else, cut the rolled dough into circles using a cookie cutter or with a simple jar lid

Step 23: Place a spoon of stuffing on one side of the rolled dough

Step 24: Brush the edges of the circle with water

Step 25: Fold the pastry to form a semicircle

Step 26: Ensure the edges are sealed completely and there is no gap left

Step 27: Now, mark the edges with a fork to give them shapes and stick them together

Step 28: Else, you can just fold the edges a bit to seal them together

Step 29: Cover the filled pastries with a damp cloth

Step 30: Repeat the same procedure for all the balls

Step 31: Heat oil in a kadai

Step 32: Once the oil is hot, drop a small ball of flour into the oil

Step 33: If the flour raises up steadily, then the oil is perfect for frying

Step 34: Fry karjikai one by one on medium heat until they turn golden in color

Step 35: Flip the karjikai through the half way

Step 36: Serve the Karjikai warm or allow them to cool down completely to store them in an airtight container