Masala Puri: Spicy, Puffy Flatbread

This delicious masala puri is a spicy twist to the popular deep-fried puri. Serve it hot and fresh with a cup of tea and your favorite chutneys!

If you’re looking for an indulgent spicy breakfast, look no further than these hot and fresh masala puris!

These masala puris are a breakfast favorite around here.

We do love these masala puris, just a little more than the classic plain puris.

And if our waistline had no say in the matter, we’d be indulging in these every week. You’ll also love these masala puris, they’re

• golden and crispy on the outside
• soft and fluffy on the inside
• beautifully golden, with a few specks of spices
• tastes just a little spicy, and a little tangy
• the perfect thing to roll up and dip in your favorite chai!

They taste the best hot and fresh, so if you can sneak one straight off the stove, we highly recommend it!

If you love spicy or savory weekend breakfasts, then we know you’re going to love these!

Ingredients & Tools for Masala Puri

This deep-fried bread is made with only a few ingredients!

• Flour – All-purpose flour or roti atta both work for the recipe below. All-purpose flour will give you a slightly chewier puri.
• Water – use lukewarm water when making the dough for the best results.
• Spices & Salt – these are essential to the flavour of the masala puri. We leave some of the spices (carom seeds, fenugreek leaves and sesame seeds) as whole spices and others are ground spices (red chili powder, and turmeric powder).
• Lemon Juice – adds a little bit of tang to the Masala Puris.
• Oil – A little oil is added to the dough to make soft masala puris. Oil is also used to deep fry the puris. We typically use canola or vegetable oil for deep frying.
• Rolling Pin – we prefer using a thin wooden rolling pin for all our rotis and puris, for best results.
• Wok or Deep Pot for frying – Make sure to use a deep pot or wok that is deep enough to fry the puris such as a Kadhai.
• Slotted spoon or skimmer for straining – This helps with draining any excess oil from the puris before laying them on paper towel to get rid of the rest of the oil. We recommend a spider strainer like this or a slotted spoon!

How to make Masala Puri step by step?

Puri Dough

• Combine the ingredients: In a large bowl, add flour and all spices and mix well. Add in 3-4 tablespoons of oil and mix till it forms a crumbly dough. Add the lemon juice, and mix well.
• Add water: Slowly add some lukewarm water, starting with a 1/4 cup, and adding a few tablespoons at a time (up to 1/2 cup), until a dough forms.
• Knead the dough: Knead the dough until it is smooth, and has no cracks.
• Rest the dough: Cover with a dish towel and set aside for at least 20 minutes.

Roll out the Puris

• Divide the dough: Then divide it into 5-6 equal-sized portions.
• Roll each puri: Take one at a time and use a rolling pin spread out in a circle.

Fry the Puri

• Prepare the Oil: Heat oil on medium heat, in a large frying pan with a rounded bottom (like a wok) or a deep pot. Test if oil is hot by adding a little piece of dough or using the handle of a wooden spoon. If it bubbles and floats to the top the oil is ready.
• Once the oil is hot, add the rolled out puri into the oil, and using a slotted spoon immerse it into the hot oil to deep fry. The oil must be hot for the puri to puff, else your puri will turn hard instead of crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
• Once the puri puffs up, turn and fry for another 10 seconds until golden brown.
• Remove from hot oil: Remove and strain using a slotted spoon or strainer to drip off the excess oil.
• Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain off any excess oil.
• Serve immediately.

Tips to make soft Puris

• When making the dough, add in lukewarm water, just a bit at a time to form the dough. Your dough should not be sticky.
• Rest the dough for at least 15-20 minutes (or even the night before), to make sure the flour has a change to hydrate.
• For soft puris, make sure that the oil is hot before frying the puri so that the puri puffs up quickly!
• Test if the oil is hot, by dipping the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil. If bubbles appear, then the oil is ready to fry.
• Puris taste best fresh, or on the day they are made. They will lose their signature crispy outershell after a while.

How to serve Puris?

These masala puris are the perfect breakfast but can be a delicious snack any time of day!

Masala Puris are great on their own. Serve it with your favorite chutney, like a classic green chutney or simple mint raita, along with a cup of tea.

If you’re looking for more breakfast ideas, here are some of our favorites:

• Daal Puri: Crispy Flatbread with Lentil Stuffing
• Aloo Paratha: Potato Stuffed Flatbread
• Masala Roti: Easy Soft & Spicy Flatbread
• Puri – Puffy Deep-Fried Bread
• Halwa Puri Cholay: A Classic Pakistani Brunch
• Masala French Toast: Quick and Easy Indian Breakfast

If you give this recipe a try, we’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @thespicemess