Fafda Recipe

On dussehra festival, you will see a long lines at farsan shop to buy garama garam fafda and jalebi. These are just crisp yet soft and melt in your mouth as your eat. They are not crispy like other snack (chakli, namak pare, sev, tikha gathiya). The store bought ones are really really long in size (around 1 foot to 1.5 feet). But since we are making it at home and we do not have practice, skill and that big kadai for frying, the size will be small (around 6 inch). But the taste will be exact same. The procedure looks little intimidating, but trust me it is very easy to make. While shaping and removing from the board, first couple may not get right. But third one will sure get right. Trust me and try it. There are many varieties of gathiya and this is one of them hence the name fafda gathiya. To enjoy the best taste, it should be eaten with papaya sambharo, fafda chutney and fried green chili. In Gujarati cuisine, besan is widely used. Check out more snacks made with besanKhandvi // Khaman // Methi muthia // Methi gota

Step By Step Photo Instructions:

1. Take besan in a bowl. Add salt, crushed peppercorns, ajwain, baking soda and hing in that. NOTE: Crush the peppercorns coarsely, not powdered. Crush the ajwain between your palm before adding to release its flavor more.
2. Mix well.
3. Now add little water at a time
4. and knead into a medium soft dough (Not too soft, not too tight). Because of the besan, this dough will be really sticky, so at this point wash your hands and proceed.
5. Now drizzle oil on the dough.
6. Also apply oil on you palm and start kneading the dough to make it smooth. Knead it for good 7-8 minutes and you will see the difference. Now cover and let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
7. After the resting time, divide the dough into 15-17 equal portions. Make them into smooth oval shaped balls.
8. Now Heat the oil in a pan for deep frying on medium heat. While that is getting hot, take one dough ball, put on the board. NOTE: You need to use the wooden board. Since my rolling board is wooden, I used that. You can use wooden chopping board.
9. Now press the back end slightly make it flat.
10. Using the end of your palm stretch the dough in forward direction. It should be around 6 inch long. Don’t give too much pressure otherwise it will stick your palm and becomes very thin. We are looking for medium thick strips.
11. Now using the sharp long knife we will remove it from the board. Start with the end that is near to you.
12. Go straight without stopping and do not damage the shape. You may need to hold the board with other end so it does not wobble.
13. Now you can lift it very easily. Similarly prepared 2-3 more.
14. Once the oil is hot, add them into the hot oil and fry. Meantime shape few more fafda.
15. As it gets crisp and cooked from one side, you need to flip them and fry other side. NOTE: not like other fried food, we are not looking for golden brown color. It has to just crisp. So keep an eye on them, do not let them get even a little golden brown color.
16. Once ready, remove it using slotted spatula and keep on paper towel lined plate. Repeat same process till done. For the best taste, it should be served warm. It should be eaten the day it is made. Though it won’t get spoiled the next day, but It tastes best the day it is made. Serving suggestion: This is popular dussehra snack that is paired with jalebi. Serve fafda with fried green chili, papaya sambharo and fafda chutney as a snack or breakfast. Other than these sides, it can be eaten with a cup of tea. Did you try this fafda recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comment section below.