NanKhatai Recipe – Pakistani Tea time Biscuit

Today I am sharing NanKhatai Recipe – Pakistani style. In simplest words, NanKhatai is a South Asian (Now Pakistan and India) shortbread cookie with some origin stories from Afghanistan, Iran and China. It is one of the favorite teatime biscuits in Pakistan consisting of three main ingredients (Ghee/Clarified butter, flour, sugar). You do not need any fancy equipment nor procedure to make it.

Today I am sharing one of the famous variations of this cookie, called Besan Nan Khatai Recipe, replacing some of the regular all purpose flour with besan or chickpea flour.

What is NanKhatai in English?

NanKhatai is typically a shortbread cookie but with South Asian twists like addition of mixed nuts and spice like green cardamom.

What is NanKhatai Recipe made from?

NanKhatai has three main ingredients – clarified butter or ghee, flour (or combinations), sugar.

You can use All purpose flour, whole wheat, semolina, almond flour and chickpea flour in different combinations to make NanKhatai.

In South Asia, Ghee or clarified butter has Animal fat as main ingredient. You can easily make it at home from butter if it is not readily available in your area.

I am using icing sugar or powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar. You can use grinded sugar at home sifted multiple times for that melt in mouth texture.

Is Pakistani NanKhatai Recipe made of Maida?

Commonly, NanKhatai is made from Maida or all-purpose flour. However you can substitute different flours like almond, chickpea, semolina and whole wheat in various combinations.

What is Surti NanKhatai?

NanKhatai is believed to be originated from Surat (present day India) in 16th century. It has nuts of different kinds but distinct flavor comes from Cardamom. It is a typical tea time snack.