Ooty Varki/Varkey - Tamilnadu Special

Tamil Nadu, true home of Indian vegetarianism, is the land of the delicious Pongal, Idli, Dosa, Sambar and Rasam. Tamilian's staple diet is steamed rice and most of their food consists of grains, lentils and vegetables. 'Sadhams' aka rice dishes with different flavours are their specialty. Spices are added for most dishes to give a distinctive taste. Coconut, tamarind, asafeotida are a must for most vegetarian dishes. Desserts such as burfis and payasams are also popular. To get a sample of the tasty cuisine, one can participate in the celebrations of Pongal, a festival more popularly known as Makar Sankranti elsewhere, when Pongal (rice and lentils boiled together and seasoned with ghee, cashew nuts, pepper and cummin seed) is prepared as a custom.

A non-vegetarian lunch, includes curries or dishes cooked with mutton, chicken or fish. The pappad and the pickle finishes a complete Tamilian meal. Chettinad cuisine is a speciality in Tamil Nadu and will be a delight for those who like hot and spicy non-vegetarian food. This type of food has several variations of fish, mutton, and chicken dishes of which the Chettinad Pepper Chicken is a specialty. The Tamil style of Mughali food can be savoured in the biriyanis and paya. Tamil Nadu is also famous for its filter coffee, the making of  this coffee is almost a ritual. Today am taking you all to Ooty, the queen of hill stations for its street food called Varki/Varkey.

Varki or Varkey, this deep fried beauties are quite famous in Ooty, they were sold everywhere in Ooty, and its one of the famous and popular snack. Served along with a cup of Ooty tea, one can have this varki without any guilt. Whoever vists ooty never forget to get this melt in mouth varkey or varki along with chocolates and Ooty tea. I have been looking for making this varki at home, its been ages i had this crispy beauties and finally i landed to Prema's Varki recipe. I couldnt resist to make these beauties and fried them immediately, my god trust me these varkis came out ultimate and obviously very dangerously addictive. If you start munching them,you cant stop just with one. I have to say big thanks to Prema for sharing this incredible varki.Since am running this week's long marathon with Indian states as theme, these cute deep fried beauties are going to be part of this week's theme.

Recipe Souce: Prema's Culinary
1cup Wheat flour
2tbsp Rice flour
3tbsp Rava
1/4tsp Salt
4tbsp Sugar
2pinch Baking soda
2tsp Ghee
Oil for frying

In a mixing bowl add the wheat flour, rava, rice flour, salt and sugar, mix well, add the ghee and mix well.

Slowly add the  water and mix well to knead a smooth dough.

Keep dough for 15minutes aside.

Make medium sized balls from the dough, meanwhile heat the oil for deepfrying.

Once the oil is hot, drop the rolled balls one by one.

Fry in medium flame until they turns golden brown.

Drain the excess of oil with a paper towel.Repeat the same process with the remaining dough.

Serve with a cup of tea.

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