Hot and Spicy Vegan Cookies

Ever since we moved to this remote mountain village in the Western Ghats, every year on Christmas Eve, my family and I eagerly await the visit of Santa Claus and the neighborhood carol singers. The first year, a person was sent here in the morning asking us if we wouldn’t mind the children coming to sing the carols. My husband replied that we would indeed be delighted to have them. That year, we greeted them with pumpkin payasam and with snacks. Around of 25 persons, most of them children, sang Christmas songs and danced to the accompaniment of drums. After taking the refreshments, crackers were burst and off they went to the next house. The next year, their numbers swelled to around 35 and there was a Santa too in their midst. Last year, there were around 60 to 70 enthusiastic carol singers in the band.

The memories of that night awaken in me as I write this. The brilliant light of a petromax comes down our drive. Amidst the bursting crackers and the beating of drums, march up a multitude. Children, adults young and old, carrying with them a little statue of Infant Jesus. A soulful song and a fervent prayer set off a hearty dance led by the Santa. Here the Santa costume is worn by youngsters. He is joined in by the rest of the troop, bring alive the merry spirit of Christmas. Definitely, an occasion to remember. The delighted looks on the faces of the singers as they happily tuck into the refreshments, bracing themselves against the crisp winter air fills our hearts to the brim with joy. A psalm to the heavens, handshakes with the Santa, cheerful smiles, and off they march to the house next door.

This year, I decided to cook some delicious sweet semiya (vermicelli) payasam accompanied by hot and spicy vegan cookies for the carol singers. The cookies came out so good that they melt in your mouth, while the flavor of the spices, the sweetness and the salt just explode on your tongue, leaving you spellbound in ecstasy.

I am certain the carol singers will love them, and so would you! Here is the incredible recipe! One word for it? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Print Recipe

Hot and Spicy Vegan Cookies Yum

Hot and spicy, sweet and savory, curry leaf masala cookies that melt in your mouth.

Prep Time

30 minutes

Cook Time

18 minutes

Passive Time

20 minutes

Servings

cookies

Ingredients

• 500 gm all purpose flour (maida or white wheat flour)
• 25 gm baking powder
• 150 gm powdered sugar
• 10 gm hot red chili powder
• 2 gm turmeric powder
• 2 gm garam masala powder
• 2 gm ginger powder
• 300 ml sunflower oil
• 20 gm cashew nuts
• 20 gm golden raisins (kismis or sultanas)
• 4 sprigs curry leaves
• 15 gm powdered salt

Prep Time 30 minutes Cook Time 18 minutes Passive Time 20 minutes Servings cookies Ingredients 500 gm all purpose flour (maida or white wheat flour) 25 gm baking powder 150 gm powdered sugar 10 gm hot red chili powder 2 gm turmeric powder 2 gm garam masala powder 2 gm ginger powder 300 ml sunflower oil 20 gm cashew nuts 20 gm golden raisins (kismis or sultanas) 4 sprigs curry leaves 15 gm powdered salt

Instructions

1. Sieve the flour (maida), the baking powder, the chili powder, the turmeric powder, the garam masala powder, the ginger powder and the powdered salt together thrice through a fine meshed sieve. This is for the powder to mix thoroughly in order to get better results.
2. Transfer to a mixing bowl and tip in the powdered sugar.
3. Chop the cashew nuts, the raisins (kismis) and the curry leaves to fine bits and tip them in. Mix well with your fingers. Pour in the oil and knead thoroughly.
4. Take small portions of the dough and make gooseberry sized balls. Preheat your convection oven for 5 minutes at 180 °C (356 °F).
5. Put a piece of baking paper over your baking tray. Flatten each ball by pressing it slightly between your palms and arrange the patties, taking care to give an inch (3 cm) wide gap between them.

To bake:

1. Put the baking tray in the preheated oven and bake at 180 °C (356 °F) for 18 minutes. Take out and let cool naturally. Enjoy!