If you want something sweet and delicious for tea, you can try the traditional Bihari dish—Khajur. In taste, it resembles Thekua and can be easily prepared at home. This is a traditional Bihari dessert that is very tasty, and you can make it once and store it for several days. It can be eaten as a snack during evening tea or when slightly hungry. Below is the recipe for making crispy Khajur, similar to bakery items, and a list of necessary ingredients.
For preparation, you will need: 2 cups of flour, ¾ cup of sifted or finely ground sugar, ¼ cup of dry grain (soji/rava), 3-4 tablespoons of ghee or refined oil (for moina), ½ teaspoon of cardamom powder, 2 tablespoons of grated dry coconut (optional), and 1 teaspoon of fennel. Milk or water will also be needed as required for kneading the dough, as well as refined or ghee oil for frying.
To begin making crispy Khajur, mix the flour, dry grain, cardamom powder, fennel, and grated dry coconut in a large bowl. Then, add 3-4 tablespoons of ghee or refined oil and rub thoroughly with your hands. This process ensures the crispy texture of the Khajur.
After this, add the sugar to the mixture and mix well. Then, gradually adding a little milk or water, knead a stiff dough. It is important that the dough is not too soft; it should be firm enough to hold easily in your fist.
Next, form small balls from the dough. If you have a mold, lightly grease the ball with oil and give it the desired shape. If no mold is available, you can shape the Khajur or any other desired figure by hand or using another object.
Pour refined or ghee oil into a pan and heat it. When the oil is hot, reduce the heat to medium and place the ready Khajur one by one. They need to be fried over low or medium heat until golden brown, ensuring they are fully cooked inside and become crispy.
After frying, remove the Khajur and let them cool. Initially, they may seem a bit soft, but after cooling completely, they become completely crispy. The finished Khajur should be stored in an airtight container to maintain its crispiness for a long time.