Homemade Namak pare or nimki is one of the easiest snacks. These very simple tea time savory crackers come in different shapes, ribbon, diamond shape, in a golden brown color with flaky texture. We all have grown up eating crunchy namak para, shakarpara, gud para as kids.All these recipes have been deep fried and made especially in the festive season in almost every Indian home. Fried snacks are great to munch when you are a kid.You can also take them in bento boxes. You spend all the energy playing all day. Now with us getting older and leading a sedentary life, fried version is just not OK.
Baked namak para or baked salty crackers are a healthier option. Most of us know especially you can't be eating too much fried ones. Oil intake should be limited with age.After all, health is wealth. As a foodie, we always try to find out ways to enjoy our diet too.Read on our simple and healthy namak para recipe.
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Namak paare & childhood nostalgia
Most of us remember Mom's kitchen once we hear Namak Paare or Shakar Paare.Our childhood is full of memories of this crispy snack. Train journeys or otherwise. Summer vacations, hostel diet all of us have some memory of this Indian snack.
When we are kids, we play and run and are active all the time. This ensures all those fried biscuits, crackers get digested well. However, once we are older and in jobs, our weight increases with such diet. These days maida or plain flour based fried crackers are easily available. We all fall to our cravings once a while. The best alternative to this is baking it at home. Also, using whole meal flour for it is better.
Equipment
- Oven
- or Air fryer
- pizza cutter
- large bowl
How to make namak pare in air fryer? (Recipe video)
Ingredients
- maida/ plain flour /all purpose flour
- soda optional,not required for air fryer.
- salt
- jeera or cumin seeds optional
- Little water to knead
- Oil for flour mix
- Oil for tossing, spray
Refer to recipe card for details.
How to make air fryer namak para ?
- Add the oil to plain flour and salt. Mix it until you can combine the dough
- Knead into a stiff dough.
- Divide in equal parts and roll it flat like a roti on a baking paper using a rolling pin.(do not roll it very thin, thicker pieces tend to cook better )
- Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut into desired shapes.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 180 deg C.
- Place the namak pare on the baking tray, spray with oil before starting.
- Air fry the crackers at 180 deg C for 10-11 minutes.(spray oil twice in between)
Instructions (In oven)
- Place the crackers on a baking tray.
- Preheat the oven for 5 mins at 160 degree centigrade.
- Bake for 160 degree ,fan forced for 20 mins.
- Toss the crackers in 2 tablespoon oil and bake again for 15 mins.
- Store in a air-tight container once it comes at room temperature
Related recipes
Air fryer namak pare -baked savory crackers recipe
Equipment
- oven
- or air-fryer
- pizza cutter/knife for incisions
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup plain flour / all purpose flour / maida
- 3 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon salt or as per taste
- 1 teaspoon jeera or cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon carom seeds /ajwain optional
- Little water to knead less than ½ cup if using flax seeds,else more.
- ⅛ teaspoon soda optional, not required for air fryer.
- 1 tablespoon oil for tossing,spray
Instructions
- Add the oil to plain flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix it until you can combine the dough
- Knead into a medium stiff dough.
- Divide in equal parts and roll it flat like a roti on a baking paper.(do not roll it very thin, thicker pieces tend to cook better )
- Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut into desired shapes.
In air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 180 deg C.
- Air fry the namak pare at 180 deg C for 10-11 minutes,spray oil twice in between.
- Store in a air-tight container once it comes at room temperature.
In oven
- Place the pieces evenly on a baking paper.
- Preheat the oven for 5 mins at 160 degree centigrade.
- Bake for 160 degree ,fan forced for 20 mins.
- Toss the crackers in 1 tablespoon oil and bake again for 15 mins.
- Store in a air-tight container once it comes at room temperature.
Video
Notes
Making namak paare in the air fryer gives you the same crisp, flaky texture as deep-frying - but with far less oil. The even hot-air circulation ensures they puff up evenly and turn golden without greasy residue. It's faster, cleaner, and perfect for those who enjoy traditional snacks with a lighter twist.
Variation for namak pare
You can replace some portion of plain flour with oats flour or wholewheat flour
Variation - air fryer mathri
You can also use the same dough and make mathri out of it. Just use a cookie cutter with a round shape.Use the same steps as above.
You can even make sweet version shakar pare or gur pare using jaggery.
You can also add kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves), black pepper/ red chilly powder,fennel seeds, nigella seeds, turmeric powder as a variation.
Variation - Katori chaat
You can use the same flour to make katori chat , refer to the recipe of katori chat here.
Storage
Store namak pare in an air tight jar at room temperature.
FAQs
Masala namak pare is a ribbon shaped cracker eaten at tea time
Conclusion: crispy namak para is a perfect companion to your hot cup of evening tea. While the deep fried version of this indian snack is widely popular in Indian subcontinent, air frying this savory snack makes for a healthier alternative.
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