Poori

[kirra]

Poori
Deep-Fried Puffy Bread
Julie Sahni

In appearance, poori looks very much like phulka, the puffy bread baked over flame, except that poori has a beautiful sheen and is flakier because it is deep-fried and then cooked. Its ravishing appearance is matched only by its exquisite flavor. This is why poori is generally served at parties, special dinners, wedding banquets, and most festive occasions.

Note:
If you are planning to serve poori in a puffed-up state, you have to be sure to plan your menu carefully so that no other dish requires last-minute preparation, because poori will take about twenty to thirty minutes to roll and fry. Once fried, it must be served immediately.

Ingredients:

1 cup chapati flour plus 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; or 3/4 cup whole wheat flour plus 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (all measured by scooping flour with measuring cups and leveling off with a spatula or knife)
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 tablespoons, plus 1 teaspoon light vegetable oil
1/2 cup warm water (90°-100°F)
1/2 cup flour for dusting
Peanut or corn oil enough to fill a fryer to a depth of 3 inches

Preparation:

Combine chapati flour and all-purpose flour (or whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour) with salt in a bowl. Rub 2 tablespoons of oil into it. Add water, fast at first, to moisten the flour so it adheres into a mass; then slowly, little by little, until the dough is formed and can be kneaded.

Place the dough on the work surface, brush your fingers and knuckles with the remaining teaspoon of oil (this will prevent the dough from sticking to your hand), and knead for 10 minutes or until you have a soft and pliable dough that is smooth and silky in appearance. Note from Epicurious: According to Sahni, the dough can be mixed and kneaded in a food processor without a sacrifice in quality. For instructions, see the Tips, below.

Cover the bowl with a sheet of plastic wrap or a moist towel, and let it rest for 1/2 hour. (The dough may be made a day ahead and refrigerated, tightly covered. Remove from refrigerator about 30 minutes before you are ready to roll.)

Put the flour for dusting in a plate, and keep it close to the work surface where the dough is to be rolled.

Knead the dough again for a minute, and divide into 2 equal portions. With your hands, roll each portion into a rope, and cut each rope into 8 equal portions or pinch off small pieces of dough and roll them into 1-inch balls). Roll the small pieces into smooth balls, dust them lightly with flour to prevent their sticking to each other, and put them back into the bowl. Keep the balls covered loosely with a damp towel or a sheet of plastic wrap to prevent their drying out.

Working one at a time, place a ball, generously dusted with flour, on the work surface, and roll it into a 5-inch circle, pressing and stretching it with the rolling pin. Dust the dough from time to time to keep it from sticking to the work surface or rolling pin. (All the breads may be rolled ahead of time and kept covered with a sheet of plastic wrap or a moist towel until you are ready to fry them.)

While the last few breads are being rolled, start heating the oil in a kadhai, chicken fryer, or a deep saucepan that can be used as a fryer. When the oil is very hot and begins to smoke (400°F), drop one bread at a time into the oil. The bread will sink to the bottom. Immediately hold a slotted spoon flat over the bread, as though keeping it from rising, but not quite touching the bread. As the bread begins to sizzle and rise to the surface (about 3-5 seconds), press the bread very gently, as though patting it, for 2-3 seconds. This will puff the bread. Once the bread begins to puff up, be careful not to press the puffed part too hard, or the bread will break and oil will seep in. Let the bread cook until it stops sizzling and the underside is slightly brown. The entire process of puffing and cooking the first side should take about 15 seconds. Gently flip the bread, and let the other side cook about 15 seconds. Take it out, and drain it briefly on kitchen towels. Repeat with the rest of the rolled bread the same way. Serve immediately; or deflate them by placing them on the work surface and pressing gently, and put them in a covered dish or wrap in foil. Just before serving, warm them in a 300°F preheated oven for 15-20 minutes.

Poori can be served with practically all vegetarian main dishes, all side dishes, and those meat and chicken dishes that have reddish-brown sauces. Poori is traditionally served with Tari Aloo (potatoes in fragrant gravy) in Aloo-Poori, or with Keema Matar (ground beef and chickpeas in cashew nut sauce) in Keema-Poori, a combination generally served for Sunday brunch. You can also serve these combinations at picnics and barbecue parties for an unusual yet delicious flavor. For such occasions, make the pooris ahead, deflate, and wrap them lightly in foil. Just before serving, place them, still wrapped in foil, near the charcoal grill or barbecue pit to heat them slightly. Makes 16 five-inch poori. For 6-8 persons.

Notes:
Chapati (also called atta) flour, which is more finely ground than American whole wheat flour, is available at Indian grocery stores. A combination of regular whole wheat and all-purpose flours can also be substituted.

To mix and knead the dough in a food processor: Place the flours and salt in the procesor and buzz briefly to combine. Add the oil and process for 10 seconds. With the machine running, pour in half the water, process for a few more seconds, then turn the processor off. Turn it back on, slowly add a bit more water, process for a few more seconds, and turn it off again. Repeat until the dough forms a ball, reducing the amount of water added each time to just drops as the dough begins to adhere. As soon as a ball of dough has formed, stop adding water. Knead the dough by turning the processor on for 10 seconds, then off, and repeating 4 to 5 times, until the dough is smooth and shiny and feels soft and pliable to the touch.

A kadhai, a round-bottomed Indian wok, is very useful for deep-frying, but a chicken fryer or other deep sauce pan can be substituted.