A pinch of chopped pistachios sits on top of each of these little cardamom cookies. The ghee brings a rich, buttery flavor that pairs particularly well with a cup of masala chai.
How to tell when nankhatai are done
Nankhatai are Indian shortbread cookies enjoyed with tea and served for celebrations such as Diwali. A little fine semolina gives this version a gently sandy crumb. Start with soft, scoopable ghee so the dough holds its shape. Pull the cookies when the tops look dry and the very bottom edges are faintly golden. They firm up on the baking sheet.
At a glance
Cardamom Pistachio Nankhatai with a Tender, Crumbly Bite
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 19 min
- Total time
- 1 hr 19 min
- Yield
- 16 cookies
Total time includes 45 min of additional time. See the instructions for details.
Ingredients
| Amount | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 100 g | ghee (about 7 tbsp), soft and scoopable |
| 65 g | powdered sugar (about ½ cup) |
| 150 g | all-purpose flour (about 1¼ cups) |
| 20 g | fine wheat semolina (about 2 tbsp) |
| ½ tsp | ground green cardamom |
| ¼ tsp | baking powder |
| ⅛ tsp | fine salt |
| 20 g | unsalted shelled pistachios (about 2½ tbsp), finely chopped |
Instructions
- Beat the ghee and powdered sugar for 2–3 minutes until creamy. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, semolina, cardamom, baking powder and salt together.
- Briefly stir the dry ingredients into the ghee mixture, then press the dough together by hand. Divide it into 16 portions, roll into small balls and flatten slightly. Divide the pistachios over the tops and press them in gently.
- Place the cookies about 1½ inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Bake on the middle rack for 16–19 minutes. The tops should look dry and stay pale. Look for a thin line of gold along the bottom edge.
- Let the cookies firm up on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack and cool completely, about 15 minutes more.
Nutrition
Approximate per cookie: 120 kcal, 1 g protein, 13 g carbohydrates and 7 g fat. Values vary with ingredients and cookie size.
Once cool, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Contains milk, wheat and pistachios.
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