Indian Balloon Breads (puri) Recipe
Indian Recipes

Puri and Sabzi are the way to start the Indian day. The potato-based vegetable curry is scooped up and eaten with the deep-fried bread. Puris are traditionally deep-fried in ghee, although for a healthier alternative these are cooked in peanut oil.

Ingredients:

2 cups
1/2 tbsp
2 tbsp
3/4 cup
2 tsp

strong, all-purpose whole-wheat flour
salt
ghee or butter
warm water
vegetable oil
peanut oil, for deep-frying

Method:

1. Sift the flour into a bowl with the salt. Rub the ghee or butter into the flour, then mix in the water and vegetable oil to make a dough.

2. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until it is soft and elastic. Cover with oiled plastic wrap and leaves to rest for 1 hour.

3. Lightly knead the dough once more, then divide it into 12 equal-sized balls. Roll each one out to a 5-inch round.

4. Heat the peanut oil in a deep-fryer or work until a cube of bread browns in 2 minutes. Add a round of dough to the hot oil. The dough should sink to the bottom of the oil and almost immediately rise to the top and start to puff up. When it has puffed, turn it over and cook for 1 minute more on the second side or until it is golden brown all over.

5. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels for 30 seconds. Serve the puris immediately, before they begin to deflate.

Makes 12