I love to have biscuits or cookies as an evening snack.Back in India we used to get pau (bread) from a guy who used to come selling it on his cycle.He used to get many things like kadak(hard) bread,pau,eggs,and various assorted nankhatais.We used to always buy bread and sometimes we used to stock up on the nankhatais.They were so delicious and simply melt-in-the-mouth. Ofcourse nowadays with the high-rises everywhere in Bombay,I dont see the cyclewala anymore.But we have some amazing bakeries everywhere and getting fresh nankhatais is not that difficult.Here in the US,we get it in packets in the Indian stores,but we dont normally buy it as we dont know how old the stuff is,as most of the times there is no expiration date mentioned on the packet. So when I started baking I searched for a good nankhatai recipe and I came up with my own variation as below.The familiar aroma of the nankhatai’s baking made my day!!!
Ingredients:
1/4 cup powdered almonds
1 and half stick butter
2 cups All purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp cardamom powder
1/4 tsp salt
Almond pieces for decoration
Method:
Beat the butter and the sugar together.Once its well mixed add the flour and mix well.
Then add the almond powder,cardamom powder and salt.
Mix well.It should all come together in a soft dough.You can add a few drops of water if the dough is very coarse.
Alternatively if its too sticky,you can keep it in the refridgerator covered in a plastic wrap for about 15 minutes.
Make flat circles and arrange them on a cookie sheet.
Decorate with almond slivers and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Turn off the oven and let the cookies sit inside till the tops are slightly brown and then remove from the oven.
Serve at room temperature.


March 8, 2008 at 2:38 am
Those almond cookies look really good.
March 8, 2008 at 3:05 am
nothing like home made cookies. Love almond in cookies. I have made similar cookies with slight differences.
March 9, 2008 at 6:42 am
oh yummy. i love naankatai! and i was right, i always said they’re just a version of butter cookies and the recipes certainly confirms that.
March 9, 2008 at 10:34 am
Pravs: Thanks.I’ll check you recipes for more ideas
Mona: Yup…..its just another version of butter cookies.But the fragrance of cardamom sets them apart.
March 10, 2008 at 8:44 am
these look good! but let me tell you , i have terrible luck with biscuits/cookies..something always goes wrong with them!
mandira
March 10, 2008 at 7:19 am
The almond cookies look fantastic. Love the presentation.
March 10, 2008 at 9:11 am
Uma: Thanks girl.Glad you liked it.
Mandira: Arey,even I used to suck at baking.But then I developed an interest and learnt that in baking you cant mess up with the measurements.I follow the directions to a T and they come out pretty well
March 10, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Looks yum!!
March 10, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Thanks Meera.
May 22, 2009 at 3:52 am
powdered almonds?dont think we get that in the market.. can i just take a handful of blanched badams withouth the skin and grind them in the mixies? wud that serve the purpose?
Arey yeah…I had a few slivered almonds. I just put them in the mixie and powdered them