Bengali style Nimki is a diamond shaped deep fried popular snack from Bengal. It is also known as Kucho Nimki. There are different shapes of nimki including elo jhelo nimki, tinkona nimki, kucho nimki to name a few.
In Bengali, Nimki is referred to salted snack and Kucho means small size, hence the smaller size diamond cut deep fried salty snack is called kucho nimki.
Popular Festival Snack
Nimki is the perfect accompaniment with your evening tea or coffee. Nowadays it is available in the market easily and throughout the year. However, earlier it was not the case. They were synonymous to Durga Puja more specifically to Vijaya Dashami [“Vijaya Dashami” is the last day of Durga Puja (or Dusshera)].
On this day, idol of Goddess Durga is immersed in water (Visarjan) and it is believed that Goddess Durga returns back to Kailash with her family. After giving farewell to Devi Durga younger seek blessing from elders and elders share love and affection. Homemade sweets (especially narkel naru) and namkeens are distributed.
Basically, combination of narkel naru and kucho nimki is a tradition after Vijaya Dashami which is being carried forward for so many years and hopefully, the future generation will also carry forward this legacy.
Though in today’s date it is easily available in the market with colorful packaging, but my taste buds refuse to approve them. I prefer homemade kucho nimki and every time I crave for it, I refer to this no fail recipe shared by my mother.
It is also a travel friendly snack which you can enjoy in your long-distance travel by train or bus. Although it is a deep-fried snack, but I prefer it any day over store bought dry snacks and chips. In future I have planned to bake them and if I succeed, I will share it here how to bake this mouthwatering snack. Here is my crispy and crunchy nimki recipe for you all.
Ingredients
Maida (All-purpose flour): It is the primary ingredient. you can replace all-purpose flour and use wheat flour instead. However, taste will not remain same. All-purpose flour or maida is light in texture hence gives a crunchy crispy light snack as outcome. Also, there are other flours including ragi, oats, bajra can be used as alternative flour to prepare this snack.
Other ingredients include ghee, salt, kalonji/nigella seeds, cooking soda and refined oil or vegetable oil for frying. Bengalis have sweet tooth so many people do add a teaspoon of sugar while kneading the dough which gives a sweet and salt taste to the nimki. However, I have skipped sugar here. Also, black salt is optional but if you sprinkle it on top, it gives a tongue tickling taste to the diamond cut.
Difference between Nimki and Namak pare
Nimki and namak pare is not exactly the same. There is subtle difference between the two (as per my knowledge). Former contains kalonji (nigella seeds) in it which gives a nice nutty flavor to this Bengali snack. On the other hand, namak pare has either ajwain or crushed black pepper or cumin seeds in it. However, these days many people add ajwain and other spices to the nimki. So somewhere the subtle line of difference is merging over the time period.
Nimki and namak pare is not exactly the same. There is subtle difference between the two (as per my knowledge). Nimki has kalonji (nigella seeds) in it which gives a nice nutty flavour to it. On the other hand, namak pare has either ajwain or crushed black pepper or cumin seeds in it. However, these days many people add ajwain and other spices to the nimki. So somewhere the subtle line of difference is merging over the time period.
One more interesting fact is the shape of kucho nimki is diamond (haven’t seen any other shape than diamond shape) however, in case of namak pare it is either rectangular or diamond. Nimki is mainly prepared using maida or all-purpose flour. However, namak pare is prepared using all-purpose flour as well as whole wheat flour or sometimes using the mix of both flours.
Serving Suggestions
Traditionally, nimki was served along with narkel naru or sweets during the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. You can serve it with hot beverages like tea or coffee. You can also serve it in an assorted dry snack platter along with mathri, mixture, masala makhana and other stuff.
Storage
Yes, you can store nimki upto two weeks. After frying allow them to cool and once they are cool store them into a dry airtight container for two weeks. If you want to store them for longer duration, use less salt in the dough. As we all know salt absorbs moisture and it might make the stored nimkis soft. Also avoid sprinkling black salt on top if you are storing for longer period.
Bengali style Nimki
Equipment
- Wok
- Rolling Pin & Board
Materials
- 2 cups Maida (All purpose flour)
- 2 teaspoon Ghee
- 1 teaspoon Kalonji(Nigella seeds/ Kalojeere)
- ¼ teaspoon Cooking Soda
- 2 cups Refined Oil (for deep frying)
- Salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon Black Salt (for sprinkling on top) Optional
Instructions
- Take maida in a bowl and mix salt, kalonji and cooking soda into it.
- Then add ghee and make a tight dough by adding water.
- Now cover the dough with a wet cloth for 30 minutes.
- Make equal size balls from the dough. Roll each ball like a chapatti.
- Take a knife and cut the roti horizontally and vertically such a way that it makes diamond shaped small pieces.
- Repeat the same procedure for other balls which are made from the dough.
- Now heat oil in a wok and fry the diamond shaped nimki under low to medium flame.
- When they turn golden brown take out them from oil in a tissue paper to soak the extra oil.
- You can store them in an air tightcontainer and serve your guest.
Notes
- Always knead tight dough instead of a soft one. The dough should be similar like luchi (maida puri) dough.
- Fry them under low to medium heat. Avoid frying them on high heat as they might burn.
- After cutting the diamond shapes, spread them out on a large platter so they don't stick together while cooking. Some of the components may remain undercooked.
- Cooking soda and baking soda both are same. It is sodium bicarbonate. It is used as leaving agent and gives lighter crumbs in biscuits, cookies and cakes.
PIN this recipe to read later!
hem lata srivastava
Wow nimki looking so crispy , we also make in diamond shape nimki called namkeen khurma. A perfect tea time snacks.
motionsandemotions
Good to know about the name...thank you Hema ji
Preethi'sCuisine
This bengali nimki with kala namak and kalonji looks super tempting. Just need some hot masala chai to polish it off. Beautiful Clicks.
motionsandemotions
Thank you Preethi
Niranjana Sankaranarayanan
It's a perfect tea time snack, Amritha. They look crispy and I have not used nigella seeds while making this. We call it maida kaara biscuit or spicy diamond cuts at home.. Nice to know the difference btw nimki and namak pare.
motionsandemotions
Good to know different names of similar recipe... Thank you
Priya Anandakumar
Super crispy Nimki, very tempting
motionsandemotions
Thank you
Narmadha
super crispy and crunchy nimki and perfect for evening snacks. Wish to pick a few from the screen. Too tempting.
Geetha
Nimki looks so crispy and crunchy. Such irresistible snacks disappears in no time. Lovely capture Amrita!
jayashree
Flavoursome snacks to binge anytime, although ideal with tea. Nice info of nimki and namak pare.
Pam
Oh, crunchy goodness for sure. They look addictive!
Lathiya
This is perfect with a cup of hot chai to enjoy the rainy day. I love such home made nimkis.
Anshu
Wow, the nimkis looks so utterly delicious and with a perfect crisp texture. A perfect tea time treat I must say. Thanks for the lovely share...loving it!
Swati
Same here as Jolly said, we call it namakpare. Looks so crunchy and crispy! Perfect chai time treat for all the age groups.. like the addition of kalonji here.
My Culinary Journey
Crispy and crunchy nimki looks so yummy and i have some fab memories with it. We used to eat these with hit cup of tea made by my Mum.
Loved your detailed recipe post.
Mayuri Patel
Every state has its own version of nimki. I like your recipe with nigella seeds. Worth trying as usually the one I make is with ajwain, jeera and sometimes add green chili and ginger paste. I too don't like the store bought ones. Homemade is best.
Bless My Food by PAYAL
Nimki is something one can store for many days and cherish with tea or otherwise whenever feel like munching anything. This looks too good.
Indfused
Love this Nimki with the black salt and kalonji! Super yum!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
I want to grab that whole bowl now! I like the flavor of kalonji and I have not used it before. I am going to use that next time when I make some.
Julie
nimki looks similar to namak pare,love them.. addictive ones and perfectly made !
JollyHomemadeRecipes
I love nimki & we called it namak paare. They looks super crispy and delicious. A Perfect snack for my tea time. I can munch many at anytime 😉 lovely recipe!
Pavani
Wow, such crispy and crunchy looking nimki. Wish I had a bowlful of those yummy snack right now 🙂 This reminds me of my mom's namkeen. Will have to try this Bengali version some time.
Droolsss
Knew these as only diamond cuts...love to get to know the details abount this lovely snack. The sweet version of this is a favorite at home
Angie's Recipes
So crunchy and yummy! Bet you can't stop eating just one or two. I would probably finish the whole batch before I even notice it.