Iyengar bakery is a popular bakery in Bangalore and so are these Iyengar bakery khara biscuits! Khara biscuits are spicy, flavorful shortbread cookies perfect for a snack.
Today I have another savory cookie/biscuit/cracker. This recipe is again from Champa’s blog and she say’s these cookies are the closet to the famous khara biscuits from Iyengar Bakery in Bangalore. Few years ago Valli had picked these cookies for ICC and I could not bake then. These have been on my to bake list for quite some time.
I followed Champa’s recipe and loved the cookies. It is a keeper recipe. Slightly burnt chilies and cilantro gave these cookies an amazing taste. These make a good teatime, afternoon snack and a party starters as well.
Green chilies can be substituted with chili flakes and the herbs of one’s preference can be used instead of chili and coriander/cilantro.
Iyengar Bakery Khara Biscuits ~ Savory Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Source: Champa
Copycat version of Iyengar khara biscuits are spicy, flavorful shortbread cookies. Green chilies and cilantro make these one irresistible savory biscuits.
- 128 grams or 1 cup All Purpose Flour
- 3 tbsp Butter, softened
- 2 tsp Sugar
- ½ tsp Salt
- 3 small Green Chilies chopped adjust to taste
- 1 – 1 ½ tbsp chopped Cilantro
- 1 – 1 ½ tbsp Yogurt (start with 1 tbsp and use more if required. I used 1 ½ tbsp)
Preheat the oven 325 F (160 C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or with aluminum foil. If using aluminum foil, lightly greased with vegetable oil or cooking spray.
In a bowl combine flour, salt and keep aside.
In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar with a beater till creamy, about 2 – 3 minutes.
Add yogurt and continue to beat until well mixed
Add flour and beat slowly until combined. You may not be able to combine all the flour with the beater and do not hesitate to use your hands. Do not apply too much pressure though.
Add chopped chilies, cilantro and more yogurt if necessary and combine to form dough. Dough will be crumbly and not wet at all.
Roll the dough into ¼” thickness and cut it into discs using a cookie cutter. I divided the dough into two balls and then rolled it out. It was easier for me to work with 2 smaller dough portions than one. Also, the edges of the rolled dough will be rough and that is ok.
Collect the scrapes and roll it out again and cut it using a cookie cutter.
Transfer cookies/discs on the prepared cookie/baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes. Turn the tray around halfway into baking. Mine were done in 18 minutes.
Cookies will not turn brown on the top but bottom will be golden brown when baked. Cookies might feel soft when removed from the oven but will continue to bake and firm up as they cool.
Cool on a cooling rack and store in an airtight container. Serve as a hors d’oeuvres at a party or as an evening snack.
- Champa says “You can use mint in the place of cilantro. Go easy on that though. You can add curry leaves. Some seeds could be added too like cumin or sesame (about 1 TBSP for this proportion). Not Indian and don’t keep green chilies on hand? No problems. Use about 1 TBSP of cracked pepper and use your favorite herb or leave it out. Choice is yours. “
This day in:
2011 – Bok Choy & Mushroom Soup and Tandoori Tofu Pizza
2014 – Khaman Dhokla from Gujarat
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 51
Yummy cookies. I tried them for ICC and love these savory ones.
I hve been wanting to try these – in fact, when I was planning on doing the marathon – this was on my list. Yours look so good
Try it sometime, Mir. I think you will like these
The flavors sound so good, also they look so attractive. Wish could munch on them Usha
No no, just drooled over Sowmya’s khara biscuits and now you are tempting me again.. Now i want some to munch..
Green chili peppers and cilantro in a cookie is a very interesting concept. Trying to imagine the flavor.
rather than the cookies, i am lookign at the background. i had the same blue painted background when I was in india. miss it a lot!
anyway the biscuits look great and i am sure it tasted great 🙂
Love these savory cookies.
The mention of Iyengar bakery bought some sweet memories back. The khara biscuits have come out really well.
This is one such flavorful,spicy cookies..perfect with tea
I love these Khara biscuits. They are so addictive. Perfectly baked!
So tempting cookies, must try this recipe.
I made these too some time back, but never got around to post them on the blog. Your cookies came out just perfect — crispy & delicious. Lovely clicks.
Oh the other chili garlic crackers seem similar, now checked it out..I love these!
Valli, when I tasted chili garlic crackers, even I came back to this recipe to check if the recipes are similar. I liked both the crackers but these are my favorite
I love the bakery khara biscuits! Grew up eating them and you bought back many memories. Love the shades of blue with the biscuits 🙂
I remember these crackers we did for ICC. They tasted so nice. Yours looks perfect…
Delectable cookies.. My favorite one, they are so addictive!!
awesome cookies. I will love to munch on these. The pics are as usual stunning