Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1.Sift Dry Ingredients

   Place a sieve over a bowl. Add 1 cup of chickpea flour, 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of fine semolina, 1/2 cup of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of baking powder to the sieve. Sift all the dry ingredients together to ensure there are no lumps.

2. 2.Mix Sifted Ingredients

   Use a spatula to thoroughly mix the sifted dry ingredients in the bowl.

3. 3.Add Ghee and Cardamom Powder

   Add approximately half of the 3/4 cup of melted ghee and 1 teaspoon of cardamom powder to the dry mixture. Mix gently with a spatula.

4. 4.Incorporate Remaining Ghee

   Pour in the remaining melted ghee. Mix the mixture gently with your hands until it forms a crumbly texture that holds its shape when pressed. Do not knead it like bread dough. If the mixture feels too dry, you may add an additional 1 tablespoon of melted ghee, but do not add water or milk.

5. 5.Form Nankhatai Balls

   Take a small portion of the mixture and gently press it in your palm to form a compact ball. Roll it between your palms to make it smooth and crack-free. Ensure the nankhatai remains round, similar to a pedha, and is not flattened like a biscuit.

6. 6.Decorate Nankhatai

   Gently press chopped pistachios and almonds onto the top of each formed nankhatai for decoration.

7. 7.Prepare Baking Tray for Microwave

   Line a microwave-safe baking tray with butter paper and lightly grease it with ghee.

8. 8.Arrange Nankhatai on Tray

   Place the decorated nankhatai on the prepared baking tray, ensuring there is sufficient space between each one to allow for expansion during baking.

9. 9.Preheat Microwave

   Preheat your microwave oven on convection mode to 180°C for 10 minutes.

10. 10.Bake in Microwave

    Carefully place the tray with nankhatai into the preheated microwave. Bake at 180°C on convection mode for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the nankhatai appear golden brown and have developed cracks on their surface.

11. 11.Cool Microwave-Baked Nankhatai

    Once baked, remove the nankhatai from the microwave and let them cool completely on the tray. Handling them while hot may cause them to break.

12. 12.Prepare Kadhai for Baking

    For baking in a kadhai, add a layer of salt to the bottom of a kadhai (pot). Cover it with a lid and preheat on medium flame for 10 minutes until the salt is very hot.

13. 13.Set up Kadhai for Baking

    After preheating, remove the lid from the kadhai. Place a metal stand inside the kadhai. Position a lightly greased cake tin (or any oven-safe dish) on top of the stand.

14. 14.Arrange Nankhatai in Kadhai

    Place the prepared nankhatai into the greased cake tin, ensuring there is adequate space between each piece.

15. 15.Bake in Kadhai

    Cover the kadhai with its lid and bake the nankhatai on a low flame for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are golden brown and have visible cracks.

16. 16.Cool Kadhai-Baked Nankhatai

    Once baked, carefully remove the nankhatai from the kadhai and let them cool completely before handling.