A traditional Newari sweet bread deep-fried to golden perfection, made from flour, sugar, butter, and cardamom. These ornate patterned confections are exchanged during festivals and family ceremonies.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
Pinch of salt
Oil for deep frying
Instructions
1Mix flour, sugar, cardamom, and salt in a bowl. Rub in the softened butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
2Gradually add warm milk and knead into a firm dough. Cover and rest for fifteen minutes.
3Divide dough into portions and roll into thick discs or shape into traditional ring forms about half an inch thick.
4Heat oil for deep frying to medium temperature. Fry the lakhamari on low to medium heat, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about eight to ten minutes per batch.
5Drain on paper and cool completely. Lakhamari hardens as it cools, developing its characteristic crunch. Store in an airtight container.
Did You Know?
Lakhamari comes in many shapes and sizes, from small everyday rounds to elaborate oversized pieces weighing several kilograms that are exchanged between families during wedding negotiations.