VegetarianOrigin Awadh/HyderabadPrep 40 minutes, plus standing timeCook 10 minutes
A rich, multi-layered bread enriched with milk, ghee, and dried fruit, lightly perfumed with cardamom. Baked until golden, it has a tender, flaky crumb and a crisp poppy-seed crust.
Combine 1 tsp yeast with 5 tbsp lukewarm water in a small bowl and rest for 30 minutes until frothy. Sift 500 g flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 0.3 g salt into a large bowl, then mix in 3 tsp sugar and 250 g warm milk.
Pour the activated yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and bring together into a dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. Work in the dough spice, 2 tbsp raisins, and 16 slivered almonds until evenly distributed. Place into a greased bowl, cover, and leave to rise in a warm spot for at least 1 hour until noticeably swollen.
Work half of the 250 g melted ghee (125 g) into the dough. Portion into 12 equal pieces and roll each into a smooth ball. Arrange on a greased baking sheet, cover, and leave to relax for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Flatten each ball into a round roughly 18 cm (7 inches) wide and 5 mm (¼ inch) thick. Brush the surface with melted ghee, fold into quarters, roll back into a ball, and let rest for 10 minutes. Repeat this rolling, greasing, folding, and resting cycle two more times.
Sprinkle the poppy seed topping across the tops of the shaped dough portions. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes until golden brown.
Use 25% of the baking powder's weight (e.g. 1 g for 4 g) and add 2 g cream of tartar or 1 tsp lime juice per 100 g flour. Mix quickly and bake at once.
Use 120% of the weight; melt gently over low heat to avoid burning the milk solids, which will yield a softer, creamier richness rather than a nutty aroma.