Sheermal: A Sweet Bread Journey

Sheermal is a melt-in-your-mouth flatbread that is popular in India and Pakistan. It is traditionally made with maida (all-purpose flour), ghee (clarified butter), milk, sugar, and saffron. The dough is fermented for several hours, which gives the sheermal its characteristic soft and fluffy texture. The bread is then cooked on a tawa (griddle) until golden brown.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup ghee, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• A pinch of saffron
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Ghee, for cooking

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cardamom, and salt.
2. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the milk and ghee.
3. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
4. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for 2-3 hours.
5. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and divide it into 8 equal pieces.
6. Roll each piece into a thick circle.
7. Heat a tawa over medium heat. Brush the tawa with ghee.
8. Place a sheermal on the tawa and cook for 1-2 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
9. Brush the sheermal with ghee and sprinkle with saffron milk.
10. Serve hot.

Tips:

• For a richer flavor, you can use browned ghee.
• If you don’t have saffron, you can use a few drops of yellow food coloring.
• Sheermal can be served plain or with a variety of toppings, such as honey, nuts, or dried fruit.

Additional notes:

• The amount of ghee you need will vary depending on how hot your tawa is.
• Be careful not to overcook the sheermal, or it will become dry.
• Sheermal is best enjoyed fresh, but it can also be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.

I hope you enjoy making this delicious recipe!

Additional Information:

Sheermal is a versatile bread that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is also a popular choice for Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.

If you are looking for a healthier alternative to sheermal, you can try making it with whole wheat flour or oat flour. You can also reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe.

I hope this article has been helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.