Sooji Fingers Recipe - Tasty Indian Tea Time Snack

Sooji Fingers is delicious and healthy, quick vegetarian Indian Tea Time snack. Crispy, soft, spongy and surprisingly easy to make this Indian semolina recipe is my healthy twist from a popular Gujarati snack. It makes a perfect party appetizer or a teatime snack.

Suji finger is a perfect appetizer that is light but still full of flavors. Sooji which is Indian semolina or farina combined with curd is good for the stomach. That makes it a healthy snack compared to deep fried snacks.

The rich smoky flavor is infused by tempering it in hot red chilis and aromatic and flavourful curry leaves. So ditch those deep fried potato fries and try these sooji sticks or sooji fingers for the best of taste and a healthier option.

I can’t even begin to say how much we love this snack for teatime. The slight sweetness that comes from sugar along with mild heat from green chilies makes this recipe a must have.

Since these sooji fingers are pan-fried (or tempered) they become delicious crackly crispy outside. Makes for the right amount of bite to this snack. This Indian appetizer is just what you need in your snack and it tastes perfect with green chutney or coconut chutney both.

And, if you needed another reason to make this snack then let me tell you this recipe comes together in less than 40 mins.

As I said earlier, Sooji fingers is a traditional Gujarati snack with my twist in it. I would leave on you to guess and tell which recipe am I talking about.

How to Make Sooji Fingers - Video Recipe

I am always on the look-out for recipes to make healthy and tasty snacks for tea time. So, imagine my excitement when I tried this recipe and it came perfectly in the first trial itself.

Another one is the fact that you can cook it with very few common ingredients. Most of the ingredients for this recipe are available in every Indian kitchen pantry.

Other than teatime you can pack these sooji sticks your kid's lunch box. I can assure you they will return with empty tiffin boxes. Win-win situation because you packed a healthy snack and kid got a tasty snack.

How To Make Sooji Fingers/ Suji Sticks

The recipe has two parts. I start with making the batter first. Mix semolina (sooji), curd, ginger-green and other spices mentioned in the recipe below. To save time, I put the steamer on the stove while making the batter. Because the recipe involves the use of baking soda so adding it just before I put it for steaming helps in a better texture.

I suggest that you do it at once because baking soda produces carbon dioxide which will help sooji fingers to rise and give the desired sponginess you need in the recipe.  If you are not quick enough it will be denser.

Semolina Fingers - Recipe Notes

Though the recipe is simple there are few things you need to keep in mind while making them.

• Brush some oil on the baking tray prior to pouring the suji batter in it.
• Sooji sticks are a great make ahead Indian snack. Simply follow the recipe till cutting them. Do not add tempering or crispen them. Keep them in refrigerator or freezer depending on time frame. When you are ready to serve to add tempering and cook until crisp.
• When you pour water in the steamer, first allow it to reach the boiling point. Do not put the baking tray on the steamer until steam starts.
• When you are pan-frying the fingers, try not to over-fry them and cook them on medium to high heat.

You May Like to Try

I love sooji snack recipes and tea time snacks, so here sooji/semolina recipes on the blog here.

Semolina and potato squares,

Sooji Halwa, and

Sooji Halwa in the microwave.

Method

To make Sooji Sticks, start with making the batter first. For that, take a mixing bowl and add suji and curd in it.

After that add salt to taste, sugar, oil, green chili and ginger paste in it. Then squeeze some lime juice in the mixing bowl.

Mix the ingredients well by gradually, pouring water in it. Make a batter of thick consistency and then add baking soda in it.

Mix the batter well and keep it aside. Now, in a baking tray pour little oil and brush the oil in the tray before pouring the batter.

Pour the batter in the baking tray and meanwhile place a steamer on the stove and pour water in it. Let the water reach its boiling point before placing the tray on top.

Place the baking tray on top of the steamer and allow it to steam. When they are steamed, then carefully take the baking tray out of the steamer and place it on a flat surface.

Now, allow it to cool down a bit and then cut them vertically, in shape of fingers. Keep them aside and then heat a pan and add oil in it. When the oil is hot add a pinch of asafoetida, and mustard seeds in it.

Add a sprig of curry leaves and then break two red chilies and add them too in the pan.

Add sooji sticks carefully in the pan. Keep the heat medium-to-low and fry them from all side until they are crispy and golden brown. When all the sticks are pan-fried, take them out in a plate and serve them hot.

Enjoy this delicious appetizer or teatime snack with your friends and family and tell me all about it in the comments below.

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