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Gwaramari
ग्वारामरी (gwaramari): Newari breakfast puffs, crisp outside and soft within, eaten with milky tea
Early on a cold morning in the old lanes of Asan, Patan or Bhaktapur, small tea shops fry gwaramari in big iron pans, and office workers and schoolchildren stop for a paper twist of them with a glass of sweet milky chiya. They are round, golden puffs of wheat dough, about the size of a ping-pong ball, with a thin shattering crust and a soft, slightly chewy, airy centre lightly seasoned with turmeric, black pepper and a pinch of sugar. Newars also make them for bhoj feasts and to send to relatives after a festival. They fail most often when the dough is too stiff or not rested, which gives dense, oily lumps instead of light puffs. Chef's tip: the batter-like dough should be sticky enough to need wet fingers; pinch off pieces with oiled hands and drop them straight into oil that is hot but not smoking.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 9 oz plain flour
- 1 /2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 3 /4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 /2 tsp ground black pepper
- ¾ cup waterapproximately
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 9 oz plain flour, 1 /2 tsp bicarbonate of soda, 3 /4 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric and 1 /2 tsp ground black pepper in a bowl.
3 minStep 2: Add ¾ cup water a little at a time, mixing and slapping the dough against the bowl with your hand for 4–5 minutes, until it is soft, sticky and stretchy.
5 minStep 3: Cover and rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, until slightly puffy.
30 minStep 4: Heat 3 ¼ cups vegetable or mustard oil, for deep frying in a deep pan over a medium heat to about 350°F; a small piece of dough should rise slowly with steady bubbles.
5 minStep 5: With oiled fingers, pinch off walnut-sized pieces, roll them loosely into balls and drop 6–8 at a time into the oil. Fry for 5–6 minutes, turning, until they swell, crack slightly and turn deep golden.
12 minStep 6: Drain on kitchen paper and serve warm with milky tea.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 310 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does gwaramari take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 45 minutes to prepare and 15 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 vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of bicarbonate of soda?
- Baking powder, three times the amount (the bake may taste slightly different).
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