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Diram fitti

دیرم فِتی (diram fitti): Hunza sprouted-wheat bread torn and drenched in butter and apricot oil

High in the Hunza valley, diram is flour ground from wheat that has been soaked, sprouted and sun-dried, and it gives this thick, round bread a gentle natural sweetness and a faintly malty smell. Diram fitti is cooked slowly in a covered pan, then broken into rough pieces while still hot and drowned in melted butter and a little apricot-kernel oil, so it turns rich, soft and fragrant; in Karimabad and Altit it is made for guests, for festivals such as Ginani at harvest time and to feed someone through a hard winter. It is eaten with the hands, often with salty Hunza tea. Pale, raw centres are the common fault, so cook it slowly with the lid on. Chef's tip: sprouted wheat flour is sold in health-food shops; use only food-grade culinary apricot-kernel oil, or swap in walnut oil or more butter.
Total time
60 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

For the bread

To finish

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What you'll need

Fresh ingredients (1)

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Method

0/7 done
  1. Step 1: Mix 9 oz wholewheat flour (atta), 3 ½ oz sprouted-wheat flour (diram) and 1 /2 tsp salt and add 1 cup lukewarm water gradually, kneading for about 6 minutes to a soft, smooth dough. Cover and rest for 15 minutes.

    8 min
  2. Step 2: Divide into 2 and pat each piece into a round about 18 cm across and 1.5 cm thick.

    2 min
  3. Step 3: Heat a heavy frying pan with a lid over a low-medium heat and wipe it with 1 tsp vegetable oil.

    2 min
  4. Step 4: Cook one bread with the lid on for about 10–12 minutes until the underside is firm and browned in patches.

    12 min
  5. Step 5: Flip, cover again and cook for 8–10 minutes more until it sounds hollow when tapped and a skewer pushed into the middle comes out dry; repeat with the second bread.

    10 min
  6. Step 6: Melt 2 ⅛ oz butter with 2 tbsp culinary apricot-kernel oil or walnut oil in a small pan until foaming.

    2 min
  7. Step 7: Tear the hot breads into rough pieces in a warm bowl, pour over the hot butter and oil, toss and eat at once.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
470 kcal
Protein
11 g
Carbs
58 g
Fat
22 g
Fibre
9 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does diram fitti take?
About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
What can I use instead of butter?
The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).

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