When you crave a cookie…
Valentine’s Day is almost here! Now life is buzzing with the parties in school and my chirping gals hiding in their rooms to make Valentine’s cards and crafts for us.
The little one tenderly held A’s hand before going to sleep and asked him if he would be his Valentine? How could he ever refuse the sweet princess! This time also calls for cute desserts; for me something quick and easy to do with the kids. The Lime Cookies are just perfect. They are very much like the short bread cookies that we are so familiar with, require only a few ingredients and are done in less than half an hour.
When my MIL was here to visit us last year, she had mentioned that she remembers the “Bina pani ka roti“, (which translates to Roti/Flatbread without water), from her childhood. This “roti without water” happens to be sweet, with ghee and nuts. We did give it a try on the stove top and also in the microwave, but it was not quite what we wanted it to be. No more explorations were done thereafter – we let matters rest.
While I was leafing through Anjum’s New Indian, I came across this recipe which sounded pretty much similar to what we had been trying to accomplish. Anjum’s recipe tells how to make it on the skillet as well as the oven. I tried the cookies several times in the oven and they were really good! I have not tried the stove top method, but have written it in the recipe; if anyone wants to give it a try, do let me know how they fared.
After the first time, I made some changes to her recipe by using nut flour and using less ghee/butter and adding a little bit of milk/cream.Keep in mind that these cookies can be flavored with any kind of spice, instead of the lime zest. Cardamom, saffron, nutmeg, ginger or any spice and flavor that is your calling.
So when you crave a cookie, you better get it quick. They make fantastic tea cookies and also works fairly well to sandwich them with jellies or melted chocolate or Nutella.
Indian Lime Cookies
(Adapted from Easy Lime Cookies by Anjum Anand’s Anjum’s New Indian)
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup fine almond meal
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1.5 tablespoon ghee or melted butter
- 1 tablespoon milk/cream
- 1 teaspoon lime or lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon fine sugar
- pistachio or almond flakes to garnish the top (optional)
- coconut flakes to garnish the top (optional)
Preparation:Mix together almond meal, all purpose flour, half the zest, confectioners’ sugar, cream/milk and ghee. Work the dough until it comes together, and no longer crumbly. Pound together the rest of the zest and the superfine sugar. This will be a lime colored sugar.
Divide the dough in to 8-10 portions. Flatten them between the palm of your hands to form discs about an inch in diameter. Carefully place each cookie on a baking sheet, and flatten the cookies with your finger – to 1.5-2 inch diameter. Top with a sprinkle of lime sugar and nuts (if you are using them).
In a pre heated oven at 350 degree F, bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges get light golden. (in my convection oven, the cookies were done in 6-8 minutes).Place the cooked cooking on a cooling rack or plate. The cookies will crisp once they are cool.
To cook the cookies on stove top:
Work in batches; make flatten four balls of dough to 1 inch discs and place them on a cold nonstick frying pan. Using your fingers, flatten them further so they are as thin as possible, about 1.5 -2 inches in diameter. Top with a sprinkle of lime sugar and nuts (if you are using them).
Place the pan over stove and cook over very low heat for 7-8 minutes. Once the base is light golden, flip them over with a spatula and cook this side over very low heat for about 4 minutes. Try not to let this side turn brown or even golden. Place the cooked cooking on a cooling rack or plate. The cookies will crisp once they are cool. Work with the second batch in the same way.
Related Posts:
Orange Ginger Shortbread Cookies
Liquor Soaked Chocolate Fingers
They look fantastic and must taste heavenly!
Cheers,
Rosa
They look so good, Soma. Okay, I have a question, are they the same thing as Naan Khatais?
yes! they taste very similar to Nan Khatais. You can just say it from the ingredients, right? the nut flour, the zest and the flattened shape changes the texture and the flavor.
What pretty, simple cookies. That seals the deal – I am ordering Anjum’s book today.
Yesterday only I made orange flavour cookies 🙂 It was a kind of experiment….Tang and fresh orange juice diye baniyechilam. These cookies look very crunchy . Nut flour diyecho bole ki aro crisp hoyeche Soma?
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
I like the flavours of your cookies !
Lovely flavors in the cookies..absolutely gorgeous with pistachios and Zest topping. Pictures are amazing.
New for me and looks awesome …lovely pics
Right … when craving something it has to be quick. Must try these Soma … ki bhalo dekhte hoyeche. Naan khatai r moton e … lemon sugar er jonne ekdom fresh lemon chai .. tai na? I hope I get some here … so want to try this.
This one has less fat and a have a bold taste with citrus touch! Good one!
I am craving for these cute cookies even before the Valentine is here! Crisp and lovely with the citrus flavors.
They look like perfect cookies! I have just ordered Anjum’s book online. Just got to try some of those recipes myself!
lemon flavoured cookies look yum…
I don’t knw when I will read all the books I’m ordering this year but I need to add this one as well 🙂 Love the first picture Soma. I love lime and cookies with tea so this is perfect!
P.S. – seems to be some sought of confusion my latest post 🙂 Its not my blog anniversary. Infact its Prerna’s which will come up this month so I thought I’ll dedicate the post to her 🙂 ha!
The almond meal and confectioners’ sugar must give these a nice sandy texture, I can imagine that these would be great with all kinds of different flavorings like you said.
What a refreshing cookie! I have to admit I haven’t had much success with Anjum’s recipes in the past although I’ve only tried one! This looks good though!
Cookies look great! I am yet to try these.
This recipe caught my attention too while flipping through the book. But your adaptation with the nut flours sounds even better. Have a lot of almonds to use up at home 🙂
I’ve always wanted to try making cookies with ghee! I heard it gives it a really nice crumbly texture. This sounds great!
Just from the flavors, I can tell this is one delightful cookie! I would kill to have a box to munch on right now (hungry at the library) 8).
Oh, I can almost taste these! These look great. Such wonderful flavors.
They are so beautiful and look so perfect!
I well remember this episode by Anjum Anand where she shows how to make these stove top Lime Cookies. These look fabulous. Love ur pics!
Looks great! We’d love for you to share your recipe at dishfolio.com!
These look incredible, Soma. Love lemon in cookies.
Soma, such delicious looking cookies! Also love reading about your adorable princesses! 🙂 Happy Valentines Day! xo
p.s I have been a little busy with some projects and have not had time for twitter or blog..but I will be posting once a week..thats all I can do! miss ya! xo
I was just reading about ways of flavoring cookies with Indian spices, and they all sounded so delicious! These cookies look great with the lime and nuts on top. Wish I could a couple for breakfast this morning!
Indian Lime Cookies…those look absolutely divine! I love it when there’s a citrus flavor to pastries. It’s a great twist. Thanks for this post!
awee how lovely just perfect for the day! pretty and adorable, love the the pink scarf background brought a special zing!
These look great! A must try. Thanks.
[…] to the recipe but I could not make the dough with the listed 2 tbsp. of butter. I remembered Soma baked these cookies and checked her blog. She added some milk. I went ahead and added some milk […]
I’m sure these will be wonderful once the heating element is restored in my oven. On the stove top, however, they had the exact texture of grilled cheese! We just ate the raw dough!
It is not very easy cooking these on the stove top, esp. adjusting the temp. not to burn them underneath and also to cook them through. Sorry about it. However how they were gooey like cheese, I do not know. I have done it a few times but still prefer the oven method. I hope you will be able to try them again in the oven sometimes.
what a mmmmm good cookie. I can’t wait to try it.
[…] variety of recipes for family and friends to share. These Moroccan cookies are very similar to the Indian Lime Cookies or even a traditional dessert snack called Nan Khatai – an Indian version of the short bread […]