Mattri (Savory Fried Biscuits) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup semolina
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 teaspoon pepper
salt
water (to mix)
milk (to mix)
oil (for frying)

Preparation

In a large bowl mix together the all-purpose flour, semolina, salt, pepper, cumin seeds, and vegetable shortening.
Mix lightly to obtain a bread-crumb consistency.
Add equal amounts of milk and warm water to make a stiff dough.
Knead the dough well for 15-20 minutes, cover, and set aside for another 20 minutes.
Make lemon-sized balls of the dough, and roll into 3-inch diameter circles ('puris') on a floured board, using a rolling pin.
Prick each'puri' with a fork a few times.
Heat oil (for frying) in a heavy frying pan and deep fry the puris, one at a time (turning every minute or so for even browning), until golden brown.
Remove from heat and drain excess oil on tissue.
Serve plain, or with a sweet/sour chutney.
This can be stored in an airtight tin for upto a week.