Ribbon Pakoda

Snacks may be a sweet or a savoury, which is generally had between lunch and dinner.  Some of them are made fresh and others can be prepared in advance!!
Some sweet treats and savouries are made for special occasions, festivals and weddings.  Generally the dry sweets and savouries can be stored in airtight containers to keep fresh for a week to 10 days.
Some snacks are served as ‘entrees’ while others are had for breakfast or at teatime in the evening to suit the individuals’ taste
This particular savoury can be prepared in advance – even a week earlier-
My preference is to have atleast one or two entrées/snacks/desserts on the menu that can be prepared in advance to reduce the pressure of cooking  on that day even if it is a small gathering!!!
this way the energy levels can be spread over a few days hence giving more time to socialise!!!!!!

Ingredients

2  Cups Fine Rice Flour (available in Indian grocery stores)
1  Cup Besan Flour (gram flour – available in Indian grocery stores)
2  Tsp. Red Chilli Powder
3 Tbs. Butter or Margarine
½ – ¾  Cup Luke Warm Water (approximately)
1-2 tsp Salt
3  Cups Oil ( for deep frying)

Ribbon Pakoda

Ribbon Pakoda


Preparation

Melt the butter slightly in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute. (just enough to make it semi liquid)
Mix the rice flour, besan flour, red chilli powder, salt with the melted butter
Sprinkle some water little by little and mix it  into a soft but firm dough
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan on a medium flame
Take a handful of the mixture and place it in the bottom portion of the murruku maker* and place the top portion of the maker above it.
Hold the two handles of the maker slightly above the pan of hot oil, pressing the top portion and moving it gently in a circular movement straight into the hot oil.
The soft mixture goes through the *small plate of the murruku maker.

Fry the ribbon pakoda till it turns golden brown on both sides.
Drain it on a paper towel.
Repeat this process for the remaining mixture.

Note:  *Murruku maker is available in most Indian Grocery Stores if you live overseas.
The small plate that is used to make the pakoda is the one with the small oblong shaped slits.
There are different types of murruku makers available in the stores.
It is important to remove the pakoda when it is golden brown in colour so it retains the flavour and taste!!! Ompodi or Sev and Murukku are snacks made with this murukku maker using different plates!