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Kulcha-e-namaki
کلچه نمکی (kulcha-e namaki): Kabul's crumbly salted butter biscuits with nigella seeds, for tea
Kabul bakeries pile glass cases with kulcha, and alongside the sweet ones there are always the salty kulcha-e-namaki, pale little rounds flecked with black nigella that disappear by the handful with green or black tea. They are short and crumbly like shortbread but savoury, with a buttery richness and the oniony bite of the seeds, and at Eid and Nowruz a plate of them sits beside the sweets for guests who prefer something less sugary. They should stay pale, so the big mistake is baking them until brown, which makes the butter taste burnt and the biscuits hard. Chef's tip: chill the shaped biscuits for 15 minutes before baking so they hold their crisp edges.
- Total time
- 38 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz unsalted buttersoftened
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 10 ½ oz plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp nigella seeds
- 1 tbsp milkfor brushing
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Beat 5 ½ oz unsalted butter and 2 tbsp sunflower oil together in a bowl for 2–3 minutes until pale and creamy, then beat in ¼ cup whole milk.
3 minStep 2: Mix 10 ½ oz plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp nigella seeds, add to the butter and bring together with your hand into a soft dough; do not knead.
Step 3: Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 7 mm thick and cut out 5 cm rounds, rerolling the trimmings once.
Step 4: Set on a lined baking tray, prick each one twice with a fork, brush with 1 tbsp milk and sprinkle with the rest of ½ tsp nigella seeds.
Step 5: Chill for 15 minutes while you heat the oven to 350°F (300°F fan).
15 minStep 6: Bake for 15–18 minutes until firm and just faintly gold on the bottom, still pale on top.
18 minStep 7: Cool on the tray for 5 minutes, as they are fragile when hot, then on a rack. Keep in an airtight tin for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 190 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kulcha-e-namaki take?
- About 38 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 18 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
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