There is no Indian Christmas without the humble Kal Kal – a cardamom flavoured deep-fried cookie that is crisp on the outside and cake-like on the inside.
Christmas is my favourite time of the year – I would put up the Christmas tree in March if I could – because it is the only time when grown-ups are allowed (encouraged) to act like children!
While cookies, hot chocolate, reindeer and snow flakes herald in the spirit of Christmas in the West, those of us in India (where there’s neither reindeer nor snow) have our own version of Christmas – and it’s just as fun and merry as it is anywhere else in the world!
The Dawson Family Christmas
We each have separate chores this season – My dad and I fashion the crib/manger for the Holy Family, decorate the tree and the house, my mother fills our home with an endless array of food (to be eaten and shared), and my little brother is required to stay out of everyone’s way and try to exercise restraint in stealing food from the kitchen!
There are no fresh-cut evergreen trees in India, so we just bring down a plastic tree from storage, but hey! it’s just as fun and merry, ok!. I always sing-along to Jim Reeves’s 12 Songs of Christmas as my Dad and I set up the tree, and fashion a manger for baby Jesus. No matter how many boxes of decorations there are, we always seem to find room on the tree for more, so we end up adding each year. And the star that goes outside the house – we lose it every year, buy a new one each year and end up misplacing that one too! We probably have like thousands of stars in boxes all over the house! That night, we turn off all the lights save the ones on the tree and the 4 of us huddle on the couch just watching the serial lights dance. No one talks. We just enjoy the silent company in the realization that Christmas has come home, once again!
But despite the awesomeness of a fully decorated tree, it isn’t really Christmas until the Christmas cake is baked. We all pitch in to make large (and several) batches of fruit cake, walnut cake, chocolate cake and brownies – all of us measuring or sifting or whisking or chopping nuts! It’s my favourite day of the year – not just because of the unusually large number of cakes lying around the house, but because it’s when we feel most close together as a family.
What’s a Kal Kal?
Amidst the host of cakes and brownies this season, is one humble cookie – the Kal Kal. If you are neither an Indian Christian nor have Indian Christian friends, chances are, you can’t possibly have heard of it. Because Kal Kal is a very specific cookie made by Christians in India only during Christmas.
No one really knows about the origins of the elusive Kal Kal, but my guess is that it was likely inspired by something the Portuguese brought with them when they landed in India. Baking isn’t really a part of the Indian heritage kitchens, so the locals probably found a way to deep-fry the same dough, creating the Kal Kal – a deep-fried cardamom flavoured cookie that is crisp on the outside but soft and cake-like on the inside.
Making Kal Kal is undeniably a family/group activity – the more the merrier. These suckers need to be hand rolled individually, so once the dough is ready, gather the troops, sit around the table and roll away while one sad person (Mom) stands over the stove frying them up.
And why is it called a Kal Kal anyway? My bet is, they named it after the sounds it makes as it rattles in it’s storage container – although in our home we joke about how it probably got its name because it’s so easy to mess up the recipe and make the result hard and stone-like (the tamil word for stone is ‘kal’)
Making Kal Kal
Which brings us to ‘how NOT to mess up the Kal Kal‘ – because as awesome as it is when made right, it truly sucks when made wrong.
First off, don’t be too hard while kneading the dough. Rub the ingredients between your fingertips (much like making pie-dough) till you get a crumbly-mixture. Then add just enough water to form a dough. Let it rest covered for 10 minutes.
To get the perfect ‘swirls’ be sure to roll each piece of dough in your palms – it melts the butter and sugar. And don’t forget to wipe the fork on a wet napkin and grease slightly with oil too!
All that’s left to do, is fry ’em up! Medium – Low heat, and keep stirring to prevent burning. You’re done when it’s golden brown all around.
Enjoy! And Merry Christmas to you and yours!
This recipe was posted as part of the Second annual International Cookie Exchange hosted by Sarah from Curious Cuisiniere.
You can follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #IntnlCookies, and you can find these great recipes and more cookies from around the world on the International Cookie Exchange Pinterest Board.
- From France: Palatable Pastime – Sablés
- From Germany: Cindy’s Recipes and Writing – Lebkuchen (Spiced Molasses Cookies)
- From Greece: Cooking the Globe – Kourabiedes
- From India: Love Is In My Tummy – Kal Kal
- From Iraq: Caroline’s Cooking – Kleicha (Iraqi Date Cookies)
- From Italy: An Italian In My Kitchen – Cranberry Almond Biscotti
- From Italy: Culinary Adventures with Camilla – Ricciarelli
- From Poland: A Day in the Life on the Farm – Rogaliki
- From Scotland: The Redhead Baker – Cranberry Orange Shortbread
- From Serbia: Curious Cuisiniere – Vanilice (Little Filled Vanilla Cookies)
- From Switzerland: Tara’s Multicultural Table – Basler Brunsli (Swiss Chocolate Almond Cookies)
- From Venezuela: Five Senses Palate – Coquitos
Tara says
Gorgeous! Love the shape of the Kal Kal with the swirls. Also enjoyed reading about your Christmas traditions.
Tina Dawson says
Thanks so much Tara!!
Igor @ Cooking The Globe says
I have never heard of them before, but these Indian cookies look splendid! I’m surely trying them 🙂
Tina Dawson says
Thanks so much Igor! I bet you’d love these!
Cindy @CindysRecipesAndWritings says
These sound so flavorful! Beautiful pictures, Tina! Thank you for sharing your traditional cookies!
Tina Dawson says
Thanks so much Cindy! I’m glad you liked them! 🙂
Wendy Klik says
Thank you so much for sharing all of your Holiday traditions with us, including these wonderful cookies. I love this post!
Tina Dawson says
Thanks so much Wendy! I am so glad you enjoyed it! It was an absolute pleasure writing this post! 🙂
Evi says
This reminds me of a snack Nigerians have called chin chin. Love your photos!
Tina Dawson says
Ok now I HAVE to check out Chin Chin! Thanks for that, Eve!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
Your photos are gorgeous and I love hearing about your holiday traditions. I sometimes wish we could use a fake tree from the attic too! Less mess! These cookies are adorable and I can tell they are made with love.
Tina Dawson says
Awww thanks so mucuh Karen! I was thinking of my mom as I was making them!
Raia says
Those look so fun! I bet my girls would love to make them with me. Can’t wait toncheck out o!e of those other cookies you linked to, as well. ?
Tina Dawson says
This is such a fun family activity! I bet you’d have a lot of fun making these Kal Kal together!
Platter Talk says
I love new recipes for cookies and you just gave me one! Cardamom is going to be a new and welcomed flavor to the Christmas cookie platter!
Tina Dawson says
Absolutely, Dan! I hope you enjoy making these, as I did!
patricia conte says
I may be starting a new tradition in my home this year — your recipe sounds amazing! I’d never heard of these before, but will now start asking my friends, in the hopes someone will deliver some to me 🙂 I really want to try this recipe — I looooove cardamom. Just lovely!
Tina Dawson says
Thanks so much Patricia! These are absolutely simple to make, and a treat to enjoy!
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere says
What fun Christmas memories! These cookies look fantastic! I can’t wait to try them! Thanks for joining us!
Tina Dawson says
I am so thrilled to be a part of the Cookie exchange, Sarah! Thanks so much for inviting me! 🙂