Ingredients

  • 250 grams soft unsalted butter
  • 1 cup caster sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 tablespoons fine semolina
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour or finely ground desiccated coconut
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground cardamom seeds
  • 1 teaspoon rosewater
  • 1 tablespoon milk (optional, to bind)
  • 15 blanched almonds
  • 1 egg, beaten - use as egg wash
  • 2 tablespoons finely crushed pistachios

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C / 338 degree F. Begin with whisking the butter and sugar together until combined and light. Add the yolk and beat until smooth.
  • Mix baking powder with the flour, cardamom, coconut flour and semolina, slowly begin to add to the butter mixture until all the flour is used up. Add rose water. Now use your hand to bind the dough together, add a little milk if needed.
  • Taking about a tablespoon of the dough make a round ball with your hand and then using the back of the fork, press down to flatter slightly, making an indent marking. Using a pastry brush, brush the egg yolk wash over the cookie, press a blanched almond in the middle and sprinkle some crushed pistachio over the cookie. Place on baking tray and repeat until all the dough is finished,
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the corners of the cookies are light brown. The general colour of nankhatai is pale and not a very dark cookie. Allow to cool before eating. Store for 7-10 days in an airtight cookie jar.