Khapli wheat sheermal recipe takes the usual all-purpose flour and swaps it with the nutritionally dense khapli atta. This wheat is a nutrient-dense ancient grain with the goodness of iron and vitamin B1. It also has a higher fibre content than your typical whole wheat atta, and is also richer in protein. It is also naturally low in fat, low in saturated fat and free from trans-fat. Such atta is a must-try, and brands like Aashirvaad Chakki Khapli Atta emulate these qualities.
The word ‘sheermal’ is derived from the Persian ‘sheer’ (Sanskrit kshir) and ‘mal’, meaning to knead. So, it’s a flatbread that is made with flour, milk and ghee that is kneaded and shaped into one. It tends to be mildly sweet, with a saffron-scented and dyed bread with deep roots in Mughal court cuisine, still loved in Lucknow, Hyderabad, and Old Delhi. The khapli atta version has an earthy, nutty flavour that will produce a wholesome flatbread.
Making khapli wheat sheermal is quite straightforward, with the dough coming together with some effort, with minimal resting time, and it is cooked on a tawa before a brief finish in the oven or under a grill for that signature golden top. Add this khapli wheat sheermal to a festive spread, alongside korma, haleem, or nihari for Mughlai flavours on your table. It is also excellent with just a cup of saffron milk or Kashmiri kahwa tea, for a quiet and indulgent breakfast.
Ingredients
UNITSIngredients
2 cupsAashirvaad Chakki Khapli Atta
¾ cupWarm full-fat milk (plus extra for brushing)
a generous pincSaffron strands (soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk)
Add a generous pinch of saffron strands to 2 tablespoons of warm milk. Stir and let the saffron steep for at least 10 minutes, for the saffron to release its pigment and aroma.
Description - Step 2
Step 2: Make the dough
Sift the khapli wheat flour with baking powder, salt, and cardamom powder in a large bowl. Add sugar and mix well. Then rub the ghee into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Now add the saffron milk, then gradually pour in the warm milk, while mixing and then kneading. You should have a soft dough that will take a little longer than usual to form. You need a soft dough, not a sticky one, and do not overknead.
Description - Step 3
Step 3: Rest the dough
Shape the dough into a ball, grease the surface lightly with ghee, and cover with a damp breathable cloth. Rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
Description - Step 4
Step 4: Shape the sheermal
Divide the dough into six equal balls. Roll each ball gently into a round of about 6-7 inches in diameter and ½ cm thickness. Sheermal is slightly oval in shape, but a round one works equally well. Prick the surface all over using a fork.
Description - Step 5
Step 5: Cook the Sheermal
Heat a tawa over a medium flame. Put the sheermal on the tawa and cook for 2-3 minutes until the bottom develops golden spots. Flip and cook the other side for another 2 minutes. Brush the top with the saffron-infused milk. For the signature sheermal finish, transfer to a preheated oven at 200°Cor hold over an open flame for 30-60 seconds to develop the characteristic colour on top. Brush with ghee before serving.
A: Sheermal is a mildly sweet saffron-flavoured flatbread made using refined flour, milk, ghee, sugar, yeast, and sometimes cardamom, traditionally baked in a tandoor or oven.
A: Sheermal is especially famous in Uttar Pradesh, particularly Lucknow’s Awadhi cuisine, though it is also popular in Hyderabad, Kashmir, and parts of Mughlai culinary traditions.
A: Sheermal is considered an indulgent bread because it contains refined flour, ghee, milk, and sugar, though moderate portions provide energy and pair well with protein-rich dishes.
A: Sheermal originated in medieval Persia and later spread into Mughal India, where royal Awadhi kitchens refined and popularised the saffron-flavoured bread within courtly cuisine traditions.