Cumin Bites / Jeera Biscuits

Jeera Biscuits/Cumin Bites, as the names say is all about cumin. I love love love the flavour and aroma of Cumin and some other seeds like it for example Carom seeds, fennel seeds and few more. These seeds are very good for your digestion and other health issues. Cumin, normally consumed only in Tadka has a big health profile and I'm gonna give some of the advantages of it here.

Cumin seeds, are an excellent source of iron. Cumin seeds have traditionally been noted to be of benefit to the digestive system, and scientific research is beginning to bear out cumin's age-old reputation. In one study, cumin was shown to protect laboratory animals from developing stomach or liver tumors.

Cumin's unique flavor complexity has made it an integral spice in the cuisines of India and the Middle East. Cumin seeds resemble to caraway seeds, being oblong in shape, longitudinally ridged, and yellow-brown in color. This is not surprising as both cumin and caraway, as well as parsley and dill, belong to the same plant family.

Cumin was mentioned in the Bible not only as a seasoning for soup and bread, but also as a currency used to pay tithes to the priests. In ancient Egypt, cumin was not only used as a culinary spice, it was also an ingredient used to mummify pharaohs.

Whenever possible, buy whole cumin seeds instead of cumin powder since the latter loses its flavor more quickly, and the seeds can be easily ground with a mortar and pestle. To bring out the fullness of their aroma and flavor, lightly roast whole cumin seeds before using them in a recipe. Cumin seeds are not a commonly allergenic food.

During recent grocery shopping in an authentic Indian grocery store, I bought a big pack of Cumin as that was so fragrant and seeds were clean and big. That gave me an idea of making Cumin Biscuits/Bites , which I used to eat back home in Indian. Most of the bakeries in India makes Cumin Biscuits/Bites with different flours and flavours.

As this was my first time to try making them, I tried making biscuits and bites both but in less quantities, Incase I mess-up with everything. I was super excited when everything came together well and tasted great. So here is the recipe of Saumya Ki Rasoi style Cumin Biscuits/Bites. We loved eating them and I'm sure you will love them too.  Let me know by dropping comment to the post, how they turn out for you and family. Until next time.......Happy Cooking Friends, Saumya

Ingredients:

Plain Flour / APF/Maida                - 1 and 1/2 cup
Butter                                             - 1/2 cup unsalted
Sugar                                              - 2 tspoon
Salt                                                 - 1 tspoon
Black Pepper                                  - 1 tspoon crushed
Cumin  Seeds                                 - 2 tspoon                                      
Milk                                                - 1 tblspoon

Method:

Sieve the flour, add the cumin seeds, black pepper, and salt into it. Set aside.
Beat the butter, sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the butter into the flour and start to mix slowly with the fingers, do not knead it like chapati dough.

Use the milk if it's very crumbly and do not come together.

Refrigerate the dough for about 20 mins wrapped in cling film.

Pre-heat the oven at 180 C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper/Baking mat.
Roll out the dough on lightly floured surface. The thickness should be about quarter an inch.

Cut out rounds or whichever shape you prefer out of rolled dough.

Place on the baking tray, then using a fork, pierce a few times on each cookie.

Once all are done, bake until sides starts to turn golden, for about 15 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, then store in an airtight container.

These little biscuits go very well with tea-time snacks. I can have them anytime and I take them as snack while we are out and about with kids.

**The extensive details about Cumin Seeds are read and adapted from http://www.whfoods.com **