The popular South Indian delight, murukku is a spiral snack that is extremely crunchy and flavourful. Being the origin of Tamil Nadu, murukku is a Tamil name that means twisted. Many varieties of murukku recipes were crafted by altering the ingredients or their quantities.
Out of all the other types of murukkus, the classic murukku is the traditional one, made from rice flour and roaster urad flour seasoned with spices. The murukku dough is kneaded, and spiral murukkus are carved and deep-fried. The spices used are cumin, sesame seeds, asafoetida, and salt.
However, many changes have been made to this murukku recipe by increasing the spice count or adding extra spices, thus creating masala murukku. To understand what spices can be used to bring different flavours to the murukkus, read the detailed information explained below.
Flavours and Benefits that Herbs and Spices Add to Murukku
The good news is that all the spices mentioned below are easily available at any shopping groceries store near you or can be easily ordered online.
Red Chilli Powder
Red Chilli Powder is one of the main sources of spicing up the murukkus. Two teaspoons of it added to the two cups of murukku mix gives an instant spicy kick to the food.
Turmeric Powder
Turmeric is a traditional Indian ingredient used in several food dishes. Half a teaspoon of Turmeric can make murukkus taste earthy, enhancing the overall flavour. Turmeric, or haldi, is anti-inflammatory and has high healing power.
Hing
Asafoetida, or hing, has a strong and bitter taste. One or two pinches of hing improve the flavour and aroma of the murukkus.
Curry Leaves
Curry leaves is an authentic South Indian herb famous for its strong aroma. Adding them to the murukku dough brings a slightly bitter and sour taste to the murukkus and fills them with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.
Pepper
Freshly ground peppercorns add a mild spiciness to the murukkus. Half a teaspoon of pepper is enough to change the flavour. It is also used as a substitute for chilli powder.
Ginger
Ginger has a strong flavour and is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Adding ginger to murukku makes this snack a healthy bite. When ground ginger is added to the murukku mix, a new and tasty variety is created, popularly called Inji Murukku.
Garlic
Poondu murukku is prepared from the classic murukku mixture and garlic paste. Garlic gives the murukku a unique spicy taste.
Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds are sweet to taste and offer a refreshing flavour to murukkus.
Cumin Seeds
Cumin seeds, or jeera, have an earthy taste and are also known for helping digestion and improving your immunity. The savoury taste helps to add flavour to the murukkus.
Carom Seeds
Carom seeds, or ajwain, have a bitter taste and add a different taste to the murukku, making it slightly bitter and tangy. It helps in controlling gas and indigestion.
Mint and Coriander Leaves
Mint and coriander offer a cool and refreshing taste and crispness to the murukkus when they are deep-fried.
Conclusion
With herbs and spices like mint, coriander, cumin, ajwain and curry leaves, the flavours of murukkus can be enriched to the next level, leaving the foodies with an unforgettable experience.
Try adding any of these ingredients while preparing murukku to create a delicious flavoured murukku.
Buy these herbs and spices from Swiggy Instamart while shopping groceries and give the classic murukku recipe a healthy and tasty twist!
