Chakli
Encyclopedia
Chakli or Murukku is a savoury snack popular in India
and Sri Lanka
, originating in the cuisine of the South and West India. It is also popular in places with large Indian populations.
meaning a wheel.
and rice flour
, salt, and flavourings such as chili, asafoetida
, ajawain, cumin
and other spices.
The West Indian Chakri or Chakli is normally made of Besan and rice flour,unlike the Murukku.
, mechanically extruded, formed into a spiral or coil, and fried to a crisp. Murukku can also be rolled into a flat ribbon (ribbon murukku) or shaped by hand (kai murukku). Kai suthu murukku (Hand spun) is prepared by getting a string of dough and twisting it while winding it into a ring. This process is very hard, requires patience and is highly technical work. This profession is in high demand and is paid very well.
It is popular among the Indian residents of Fiji
, and among Indian Fijians in North America. Murukku is traditionally enjoyed as a treat on Diwali
.
More recently, murukku has become available in North America, and is made by several manufacturers in the United States. Murukku has also found its way into the UK
market, distributed under the name "Chakri."
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, originating in the cuisine of the South and West India. It is also popular in places with large Indian populations.
History
Murukku or Chakli originated in South Indian/West Indian cuisine . Because of its taste and easy preparation, it is now a widely available snack. The word murukku originates from Tamil which literally means a twist.Whereas the names chakli,chakri originate from the word ChakraChakra
Chakra is a concept originating in Hindu texts, featured in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning" .Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices...
meaning a wheel.
Ingredients
Murukku is typically made from a mixture of uradUrad (bean)
Vigna mungo, known as urad, urad dal, udad dal, urd bean, urd, urid, black matpe bean, black gram, black lentil [not to be confused with the much smaller true black lentil ], maas , đậu đen or white lentil, is a bean grown in southern Asia...
and rice flour
Rice flour
Rice flour is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye....
, salt, and flavourings such as chili, asafoetida
Asafoetida
Asafoetida , alternative spelling asafetida, is the dried latex exuded from the living underground rhizome or tap root of several species of Ferula, which is a perennial herb...
, ajawain, cumin
Cumin
Cumin is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to India. Its seeds are used in the cuisines of many different cultures, in both whole and ground form.-Etymology:...
and other spices.
The West Indian Chakri or Chakli is normally made of Besan and rice flour,unlike the Murukku.
Preparation
The mixture is made into a batterBatter (cooking)
Batter is a semi-liquid mixture of one or more flours combined with liquids such as water, milk or eggs used to prepare various foods. Often a leavening agent such as baking powder is included to aerate and fluff up the batter as it cooks, or the mixture may be naturally fermented for this purpose...
, mechanically extruded, formed into a spiral or coil, and fried to a crisp. Murukku can also be rolled into a flat ribbon (ribbon murukku) or shaped by hand (kai murukku). Kai suthu murukku (Hand spun) is prepared by getting a string of dough and twisting it while winding it into a ring. This process is very hard, requires patience and is highly technical work. This profession is in high demand and is paid very well.
It is popular among the Indian residents of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, and among Indian Fijians in North America. Murukku is traditionally enjoyed as a treat on Diwali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
.
More recently, murukku has become available in North America, and is made by several manufacturers in the United States. Murukku has also found its way into the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
market, distributed under the name "Chakri."