Benne biscuit, khara biscuit, masala bun, khara bread and nipattu can all be made at home with an ordinary oven. These are the snacks sold in Iyengar bakeries across Bengaluru, and each one has a step by step recipe on Ask Deepa.
The five recipes
- Benne biscuit. The buttery, melt in the mouth biscuit Bengaluru bakeries are known for.
- Khara biscuit. Savoury, with green chilli, coriander and curry leaves.
- Masala bun, Bangalore style. A soft bun with a spiced filling, good with tea.
- Khara bread, bakery style. The spicy loaf that is sold by the slice.
- Baked nipattu. The crunchy rice cracker, baked here instead of fried.
Why make them at home?
Home versions let you control the butter, salt and spice, and they are fresh on the day. They also travel well as a taste of Bengaluru for family living abroad.
Quick answers
What is an Iyengar bakery? A style of bakery common in Bengaluru, known for vegetarian, eggless bakes such as benne biscuit, khara bun and honey cake.
Can nipattu be baked instead of fried? Yes. The Ask Deepa recipe bakes it, for a lighter version of the classic.
Deepa Chandrashekhar cooks, films and photographs every recipe on Ask Deepa, a vegetarian recipe brand with 300+ recipes on YouTube and Instagram. More about Deepa
