• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simple Sumptuous Cooking
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • How To
  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • How To
    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    How To Make Chakli

    Published: May 13, 2021 · Modified: May 13, 2021 by Uma Raghupathi · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 39 Comments

    84 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    Forget about store-bought snacks...prepare this crispy, delicious chakli recipe and you will wonder how much money you could have easily saved by not buying them at the store. Chakkuli or Chakli is easy to make and lasts for weeks….if you can resist your temptation. 

    A plate full of chakli is on the table along with cup of coffee. this recipe
    Jump to:
    • What is Chakli/ Murukku/ Chakkuli?
    • About this recipe
    • Ingredients notes
    • Without butter (vegan)
    • How to cook the urad dal
    • How to make this recipe
    • Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Try them today - you won't be disappointed! And I bet you can't just eat one!  Rice flour mixed in a savory combination of black gram and cumin seeds, fried to golden brown perfection makes an irresistible snack.

    What is Chakli/ Murukku/ Chakkuli?

    Although the snack is called differently in different parts of India, the basic recipe is the same across India. Chakli is a spiral-shaped fried snack with a spiked surface.

    It is typically made from flours of rice, Bengal gram (brown chickpea) and black gram (urad dal). It comes in several variations, depending on the types and proportion of flours used. “Murukku”, a similar snack but one of the popular variations is typically made without the Bengal gram flour, and called "chakli".

    About this recipe

    This chakli is also known as Urad dal murrukku (Karnataka style). The version with Urad Dal is not only the easiest of them all but also the crispiest. It just needs a few basic ingredients mixed with the right proportion of water.

    Dough with the perfect consistency of water will give you the crispiest yet not a greasy snack. Their unique shape and texture get the right attention from kids too. I learned this recipe as a kid from my grandfather when he was preparing this snack for Krishnashtami ( Indian festival). I used to help him and also learned some of the finer nuances in preparing the dough.

    As I said, Chakkuli can be prepared in several ways and I have presented one of the easy methods here. But even the easy methods take some patience and attention to detail, but it is definitely worth the extra effort!

    Ingredients notes

    To get the best tasting, crispy, and delicious chakli/ murukku you need: 

    • Rice flour: This is a quite common ingredient. Be sure to get the fine variety in a sealed bag.
    • Urad dal / Black gram: I used whole black gram. But it is perfectly fine to use split black gram or urad dal.
    • Vegan butter or coconut oil: Adding oil or butter makes the chaklis softer and they also remain crispy for a longer time.
    • Cumin seeds and Sesame seeds: Apart from the nice aroma they bring, Cumin seeds and Sesame seeds give an authentic taste.
    • Oil for deep fry: I used corn oil for this recipe. However, coconut oil is also a great option.

    Equipment needed: Chakli press and a deep pan. 

    Without butter (vegan)

    Most chakli recipes call for butter, but I have found the alternative that brings the same crispy texture and does not compromise on the authentic, traditional taste. For this vegan chakli recipe, I got equally good results with coconut oil as well as vegan butter. 

    How to cook the urad dal

    Cook the black gram in a stovetop pressure cooker with 2 cups of water. Cook until it gets very soft (4 whistles and slow cooling). 

    If you have an Instant Pot pressure cooker, cook the urad dal or black gram using pot in a pot (PIP) method. Add rinsed urad dal in a small pot and pour  1 ½ cup water. Cover the lid and cook for 25 mins in HP. Open the lid after the pressure is released naturally. 

    Once the pressure pin drops, open the lid and take out the cooked dal.  Use the whisk to mash them and let it cool down. When it is warm enough to handle in the chakli recipe, you are ready to move onto the next step...

     

    How to make this recipe

    A bowl is with chakli ingredients like cooked urad dal, oil, cumin seeds

    Take a big mixing bowl, mix the cooked black gram with rice flour, melted butter (vegan), salt, cumin seeds, and sesame seeds.

    A bowl is with rice flour and other ingredients for chakli.

    Mix all the ingredients to get an even mix.

    A bowl is filled with chakli dough

    You do not have to add water because the water from cooked black gram is sufficient.

    Close up of chakli disc or plate

    Place a big frying pan with sufficient oil ( I used 4 cups of canola oil)  over medium heat. Put the dough inside the chakli press. 

    Chakli press is filled with dough

    A lady is pressing the chakli dough into circular shape on the counter tops

    Start pressing out the chakli dough in a circular spiral on small pieces of parchment paper or paper towels. I usually do 3 to 4 spiral rounds, close to each other to make one chakli.

    Secure the end to the outermost circle so the chakli will stay together.  Continue pressing the remaining chaklis. The tube usually holds enough dough to press out 8 to 10 chaklis. 

    Test the oil for optimum temperature by dropping a small piece of dough to the oil and check if it rises up gradually.  If it rises up too fast, lowers the heat. If it does not rise up in 10 seconds, let the oil heat up a little more.

    When the oil has heated optimally, carefully add chakli one at a time into the hot oil, taking care not to crowd the frying pan. You can add 3 to 6 chaklis at a time depending on the size of your pan. 

    Repeat pressing out the chakli and frying process for the remaining dough. Remember to increase the heat for the oil to high before adding the next batch of chakli.  

    Allow the chaklis to completely cool down and then store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They have a very good shelf life and they stay good for weeks or even months as long as you keep them away from moisture.

    Chakkuli ready to serve with hot chai or any sweet treat! 

    • Churumuri recipe
    • How To Make Dosa Batter - Dosa Recipe
    • Urad Dal Bonda - Urad Dal Vada

    Related Recipes

    • Buffalo Tofu Air Fryer
    • Watermelon Chaat
    • Masala Peanuts(Air Fryer And Microwave)
    • Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi

    Just subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious vegan recipes such as this sent directly to your inbox.

    If you’ve tried this recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! Follow me on social media Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. 

    📖 Recipe

    closeup of urad dal Murukku

    How To Make Chakli

    Uma Raghupathi
    Chakli is rice flour mixed in a savory combination of black gram and cumin seeds, fried to golden brown perfection makes an irresistible snack.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time:30 mins
    Cook Time:30 mins
    Total Time:1 hr
    Course :Snack
    Cuisine :Indian
    Diet :Vegan
    Allergen :Dairy free, Gluten free
    Difficulty :Easy
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 247 kcal

    Equipment

    • Non-Stick Pan
    • Chakli Press - Chakli Maker

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup Urad dal
    • 2 Cups of rice flour
    • 2 tablespoon coconut oil or vegan butter
    • 2 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds - optional
    • Oil for deep frying
    • Salt to taste
    • 1 ½ cup water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the black gram in a stovetop pressure cooker with 2 cups of water. Cook until it gets very soft (4 whistles and slow cooling).
    • If you have an Instant Pot pressure cooker, cook the urad dal or black gram using pot in a pot (PIP) method. Add rinsed urad dal in a small pot and pour 1 ½ cup water. Cover the lid and cook for 25 mins in HP. Open the lid after natural pressure release.
    • Once the dal is cooked, use the whisk to mash it and let it cool down.
    • When it is warm enough to handle, mix it rice flour, melted butter (vegan), salt, cumin seeds, and sesame seeds.
    • Mix all the ingredients to get an even mixture.
    • Place a big frying pan with sufficient oil ( I used 4 cups of canola oil) over medium heat.
    • Press out the chakli dough in a circular spiral on small pieces of parchment paper or paper towels.
    • When the oil has heated optimally (check recipe details on how to reach optimum oil temperature), carefully add chakli one at a time into the frying pan. You can add 3 to 6 chaklis at a time depending on the size of your pan.
    • Repeat pressing out the chakli and frying process for the remaining dough. Remember to increase the heat for the oil to high before adding the next batch of chakli.
    • Allow the chaklis to completely cool down and then store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
    • Crispy and warm chaklis are ready to be served! Enjoy them all year round!

    Video

    Notes

    • After cooking urad dal, be sure to mash them. Otherwise, the dough won’t be soft and it will be hard to press down. 
    • You can add a pinch of turmeric powder to get a nice golden color. 
    • Sift the rice flour before using it in the recipe. 
    • You can also use urad dal flour instead of urad dal. Add ½ cup flour and sift it nicely to remove the chunks. 
    • I added both cumin seeds and sesame seeds. But you can choose to add just one of them to suit your preference. 
    • Add little water to the dough in case if your dough is dry.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4Chakli | Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutritional information is an estimation only.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @simplesumptuouscooking or tag #simplesumptuouscooking!
    Subscribe to my email list and get my Free E book Instant Pot Vegan Recipes.

    Pin this recipe for later use

    A close up of chakli on a wooden table
    « How To Make Avial (Without Curd)
    Cucumber Pineapple Smoothie »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Molly Kumar

      May 20, 2016 at 5:42 pm

      Chakkali's are my fav teatime snack and my mom usually makes them for us. Your recipe sounds yummm!

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        May 20, 2016 at 7:51 pm

        Thanks Molly! Mom made is always good:)

        Reply
      • Rewa

        January 03, 2021 at 1:06 am

        Hello Uma ji. A Very Happy New Year to you and your Family. Went through this recipe of making Chakli. I have a query regarding this- Is there any substitute of Urad Dal as being an Arthritis patient I have been advised to avoid Dal's. Hope you will solve my query.

        Reply
        • Uma Raghupathi

          January 03, 2021 at 7:02 am

          Hi Rewa
          Thank you, Happy New Year!
          You can use flour instead of dal. Use urad dal flour instead of dal.

    2. chloe | boxwood avenue

      May 20, 2016 at 5:51 am

      This recipe is made even more special because you learned form your grandfather. Sounds delicious!

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        May 20, 2016 at 2:47 pm

        Thank you:) That's right he was very good at snacks and sweets! I really miss him and his food!

        Reply
    3. HealthierSteps (@Healthiersteps)

      May 20, 2016 at 2:10 am

      Wow reminds me of churros. I love that they are gluten free. I can't wait to try !

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        May 20, 2016 at 4:20 am

        It may be looks like churros, but it tastes very different than it is. This is tea time snack 🙂

        Reply
    4. Linda @ Veganosity

      May 19, 2016 at 4:12 pm

      It sounds like a savory butter cookie. I would love this, Uma. 🙂

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        May 19, 2016 at 4:39 pm

        Thank you Linda:) But this not sweet, This snack will be good with hot cup of tea.

        Reply
    5. Kelly Page (@TastingPage)

      May 19, 2016 at 3:22 pm

      I love how only a few ingredients can produce such a lovely result. These would sure to be gone in minutes!

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        May 19, 2016 at 4:40 pm

        Thank you Kelly! Yes 🙂

        Reply
    6. Hauke Fox

      May 19, 2016 at 8:11 am

      Woahh!! These look like churros, it's a deep fried dish bake peeps in Spain like to eat. Some of them a little too much 😀

      Reply
    7. lalainemanalo

      May 19, 2016 at 6:42 am

      I can't wait to try these, sound very interesting. Good thing I always have rice flour at home as we use it often for desserts. I just have to find black gram 🙂

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        May 19, 2016 at 2:39 pm

        Thank you:) I bet you will like this:)

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A women standing in front of a mountain

    Hello friends! My name is Uma and I am a vegan. But that's not all - I am also a mom.

    If you're curious about what being a vegan entails or just want to try some new recipes, keep reading! I'll share some of my favorite dishes with you.

    More about me

    My Cookbook

    cookbook displaying on white back ground

    Popular Recipes

    • Wheat Flour Dosa
    • Mushroom Masala Recipe
    • Potato Kurma For Chapathi, Biryani, Poori
    • Cauliflower Sabzi
    • Cucumber Pineapple Smoothie
    • Watermelon Pineapple Smoothie

    Eat What You Want!

    • Vegan Mango Ice Cream
    • Mini Mango Cheesecake (No Bake)
    • Chocolate Chip Cookies Without Brown Sugar
    • Easy Vegan Honey Cake Recipe
    • Vegan Creamy Mushroom And Broccoli Pasta
    • Veg Hakka Noodles
    • Vegan Butter Chicken
    • Palak Tofu Recipe (Instant Pot &Stovetop)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

    COPYRIGHT © 2021 - 2022 SIMPLE SUMPTUOUS COOKING

    84 shares