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    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Indian » Indian Breads » How To Make Poori (Puri, Indian Puffed Bread)

    Published: Jul 21, 2021 | Last Updated On: Jul 22, 2021 by Neha Mathur | This post may contain affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases.

    How To Make Poori (Puri, Indian Puffed Bread)

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    Jump to Recipe

    Poori (Puri) is an Indian fried puffed bread that is made using whole wheat flour. This unleavened bread is soft, fluffy, and crispy and is perfect to serve with Indian curries. Check out my easy recipe to make perfectly puffed-up non-oily poori every single time.

    Here are some other Indian bread recipes that you might also like – Palak Paratha, Lachha Paratha, Bedmi Poori, Garlic Naan, or Masala Paratha.

    Poori served on a plate.
    Jump to:
    • About This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Poori
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage Suggestions
    • You Might Also Like
    • Recipe Card

    About This Recipe

    Poori (Puri) is a very popular Indian puffed bread made using whole wheat flour. It is made using unleavened dough which means that you don’t have to use anything like baking powder, baking soda, or yeast to work the dough.

    It is one of the most popular bread in India and just like roti and paratha, it can be served any time of the day.

    Since the puri dough is not leavened (fermented), you can make this bread quickly. A perfect poori is pale golden in color, non-oily, evenly puffed, soft, and pillowy from inside with a thin crispy layer on top, just right to scoop a rich creamy curry.

    It can be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner with savory dishes like pickles, curries, dry sabji, or sweets like shrikhand, halwa, kheer, or aamras.

    This puffed bread is made for all the special occasions, weddings, and festive meals in India and is served along with rich curries. Chole Puri, Puri Bhaji, or Aloo ki Sabji Poori is a weekend special meal in many Indian households.

    It is also a great option to pack for school lunches and picnics. A lot of Indians carry a box full of fluffy puri and pickles while traveling. It keeps well at room temperature for 2-3 days and comes in handy while traveling.

    Making perfect puri might look a little daunting at first, but trust me it is not. By keeping a few tips and tricks in mind, even a novice chef can make perfectly puffed round puri without much effort.

    You can easily double or triple this recipe. You can also use a stand mixer or a food processor fitted with a dough hook to knead the dough instead of kneading it with your hands.

    Ingredients

    Poori ingredients.

    Whole Wheat Flour – Poori is made using whole wheat flour, the same flour that is used to make chapati. Some people add a little all-purpose flour to the dough to make it crispier and whiter but I like to make it with only whole wheat flour.

    Note – Try to get the whole wheat flour (chapati atta) from an Indian grocery store. The one you get at the regular American grocery stores is not the same and your poori might not turn out perfect.

    Semolina – Fine semolina (sooji) is added to give a crispy texture to the puri. They also hold their shape for a longer time if semolina is added to the dough.

    Oil – I mostly use rice bran oil or vegetable oil to fry the puri. You can fry them in canola oil or ghee as well.

    Salt and Sugar – I add a little sugar to the puri dough as it caramelizes while frying giving the poori a lovely golden brown color. Salt is added to give them a little flavor.

    Note – You can make poori using only whole wheat flour. Adding salt, sugar, and semolina is totally optional. I add these ingredients to take my poori recipe a notch higher.

    How To Make Poori

    Making puri is a very easy process if you keep a few tips and tricks in mind. It will take 45 minutes from start to finish and this recipe will yield you 14-16 poories which are good to serve 4 people.

    Make The Dough

    Mix 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and 4 teaspoon fine semolina (sooji) in a large mixing bowl or a parat (a large, wide, and shallow Indian utensil).

    Whole wheat flour, salt, sugar and semolina added to a bowl.

    Add water (approx ¾ cup) little by little and knead to make a stiff dough. The consistency of the dough is very important in making good puffed-up puri. It should be tighter than the regular roti dough. If it is not tight, the poori won’t puff up well and will absorb more oil.

    Note – You can use a stand mixer or a food processor fitted with a dough attachment to knead the dough.

    Water added to the bowl.
    Tight dough made.

    Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and keep it aside for 15 minutes.

    Dogh covered with a kitchen cloth.

    Rolling the Poori

    Knead the puri dough again for a minute until it is smooth and then divide it into 14-16 equal size pieces. Roll each piece to make a smooth ball and press it gently in between your palms.

    Small balls made from the dough.

    Take one dough ball and apply 2-3 drops of oil over it. Roll it into a 4-inch circle using a rolling pin. The side of the circle should be slightly thinner than the center. Roll 3-4 balls and keep the rest covered with a kitchen cloth.

    Note – Never use dry flour to roll the puri. It will burn in the oil while frying, become black, and stick to the next puri.

    Note – Do not roll the puri too thin otherwise it will become hard after frying.

    Tip – If you have trouble rolling out round puri, then roll the dough into a rough circle. Use a cookie cutter or any sharp 4-inch round object and cut the dough into a round using it.

    $-inch circle made from the ball.
    4 rolled poories.

    Fry The Poori

    Heat 4-5 cups of oil in a pan over high heat until the temperature of the oil is very high. We need very hot oil to fry the poories. If they are fried in less hot oil, they will not puff up perfectly and will also absorb more oil.

    Note – To check if the oil is hot enough, drop a small ball of dough into it. If it rises immediately, it means the oil is hot enough to fry the puri. If the ball does not rise immediately, then heat the oil for some more time.

    If you have a candy thermometer, you can use it to measure the oil temperature. It should be 360-375 degrees F (180-190 degrees C).

    Slide a rolled puri from the side of the pan gently in the hot oil and fry until it puffs up (10-15 seconds). Keep pressing gently with the back of a slotted spoon. Flip and fry from the other side as well until nicely browned (10-15 seconds).

    Poori frying in hot oil.

    Drain it on a plate lined with a paper towel. Fry all the rolled puri in the same manner.

    Note – Once the rolled puries are fried, reduce the heat to low and roll another batch. Set the heat to high again and heat the oil well. Now fry the next batch.

    Ready puffed poori.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why is my poori oily?

    One of the main reasons for puri soaking more oil is the consistency of the dough. Make sure your puri dough is tight and not soft. Puri also becomes soft if fried in less hot oil. So make sure the oil temperature is right well before you drop puri into it.

    Why is my poori hard?

    Puri can turn hard if it is rolled too thin and fried for too long at a lower temperature.

    Is puri healthy?

    No, since they are deep-fried, they are not the healthiest choice. I suggest making them only for special occasions and controlling your portions.

    How is poori different from bhatura?

    Both bhatura and poori are Indian fried puffed bread but they are very different from each other. While poori is made using whole wheat flour, bhatura is made using all-purpose flour. Puri dough is unleavened while bhatura dough is leavened or fermented. Poori is smaller in size while bhatura is larger. Do check out my bhatura recipe here.

    Is poori and chapati dough the same?

    Both puri and chapati are made using whole wheat flour as the base ingredients but the poori dough is kneaded tight while chapati dough is kneaded soft. Also, sugar and semolina can be added to puri dough while they are never added to the chapati dough.

    Variations

    This recipe I have shared with you today makes the classic puri, but you can do many variations with it. Some of them are

    Beetroot Poori – Add some beetroot puree to the dough. This puree will give a nice pink color to it.

    Beetrot poori served on a plate.

    Palak Poori – Add palak or spinach puree and make a dough.

    Palak Puri served on a plate.

    Luchi – Bengalis make puri using only maida or all-purpose flour and it is called Luchi.

    Luchi served on a plate.

    Aloo Puri – In this version, boiled and mashed potatoes are added to the dough along with a few spices.

    Aloo Puri served on a plate.

    Methi Poori – Adding some freshly chopped methi (fenugreek) leaves to the dough gives a nice taste to it.

    Namak Ajwain – Add some ajwain (carom seeds) and some salt to the dough and then make poori from it.

    Masala – Add dry spice powders like dry mango powder, anardana powder (pomegranate powder), red chili powder, etc to make this delicious masala poori.

    Serving Suggestions

    Poori tastes best hot, right out from the oil and it can be served with any Indian curry or sabji like Batata Bhaji, Aloo Matar Curry, Dum Aloo, Kashmiri Dum Aloo, Bengali Aloo Dum, Bhandare Wale Aloo, Dahi Wale Aloo, Punjabi Chole, Amritsari Chole or Kala Chana Curry.  

    Puri Aamras is a very popular combination and is very popular in Gujarat and Maharashtra. It also pairs well with sweet dishes like Kheer, Shrikhand, and Sooji Halwa.

    During Navratri, on the 8th day, many people do Kanjak and serve Puri, Suji Ka Halwa, and Sookha Chana as Prashad.

    In India, poori is a popular food to pack for traveling or for picnics as it stays good for a few days at room temperature.

    Storage Suggestions

    Poori keeps good at room temperature for 2-3 days. Just let them cool and store in an airtight container or wrap them in aluminum foil.

    You can also refrigerate them for 4-5 days or freeze them for up to a month in an airtight container.

    You can also make the puri dough and refrigerate it for 2-3 days or freeze it for up to a month. Just let it come to room temperature before using.

    You can reheat the poori in a microwave (10-15 sec at. high) or in an air fryer (5-6 minutes at 160 degrees C, 320 degrees F).

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    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    Poori (Puri) is an Indian fried puffed bread that is made using whole wheat flour. This unleavened bread is soft, fluffy, and crispy and is perfect to serve with Indian curries. Check out my easy recipe to make perfectly puffed-up poori every single time.

    How To Make Indian Poori Recipe (Puri)

    Poori (Puri) is an Indian fried puffed bread that is made using whole wheat flour. This unleavened bread is soft, fluffy, and crispy and is perfect to serve with Indian curries. Check out my easy recipe to make perfectly puffed-up non-oily poori every single time.
    3.82 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Resting Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 226kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Equipment

    • Rolling Pin
    • Pan
    • Slotted Spoon

    Ingredients 

    • 2 cups whole wheat flour
    • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar ((optional) gives a lovely caramelized brown color to poori)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 4 teaspoons fine semolina (sooji) ((optional) gives nice crispiness to poori)
    • oil for frying
    US Customary or Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Knead The Dough

    • Mix whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, and fine semolina (sooji) in a large mixing bowl.
    • Add water (approx ¾ cup) little by little and knead to make a stiff dough. The consistency of the dough is very important in making good puffed-up puri. It should be tighter than the regular roti dough. If it is not tight, the poori won’t puff up well and will absorb more oil.
    • Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and keep it aside for 15 minutes.

    Roll The Poori

    • Knead the dough again for a minute until it is smooth and then divide it into 14-16 equal size pieces. Roll each piece to make a smooth ball and press it gently in between your palms.
    • Take one dough ball and apply 2-3 drops of oil over it. Roll it into a 4-inch circle. The side of the circle should be slightly thinner than the center. Roll 3-4 balls and keep the rest covered with a kitchen cloth.

    Fry The Poori

    • Heat 4-5 cups of oil for frying the poori in a pan over high heat. We need very hot oil to fry the poories. If the poories are fried in less hot oil, they will not puff up perfectly and will also absorb more oil.
    • To check if the oil is hot enough, drop a small ball of dough into it. If it rises immediately, it means the oil is hot enough to fry the puri. If the ball does not rise immediately, then heat the oil for some more time.
    • If you have a candy thermometer, you can use it to measure the oil temperature. It should be 360-375 degrees F (180-190 degrees C).
    • Slide a rolled poori from the side of the pan gently in the hot oil and fry until it puffs up (10-15 seconds). Keep pressing gently with the back of a slotted spoon. Flip and fry from the other side as well until nicely browned (10-15 seconds).
    • Drain it on a plate lined with a paper towel. Fry all the rolled poori in the same manner.
    • Once the rolled poories are fried, reduce the heat to low and roll another batch. Set the heat to high again and heat the oil well. Now fry the next batch.

    Video

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QETSI2W1qTw&t=6s

    Notes

    You can use a stand mixer or a food processor fitted with a dough attachment to knead the dough.
    Never use dry flour to roll the dough. It will burn in the oil while frying, become black, and stick to the next poori.
    Do not roll the puri too thin otherwise, it will become hard while frying.
    If you have trouble rolling out round poori, then roll the dough into a rough circle. Use a cookie cutter or any sharp 4-inch round object and cut the dough using it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 227mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2mg
    Pin this recipe for later use!I LOVE to see your creations so pin and mention @WhiskAffair!
    Sign up for regular updates?I would love to have you as part of my journey. Click to sign up!

    More Indian Bread Recipes

    • Ajwain Paratha is an unleavened Indian flatbread prepared with whole wheat flour, carom seeds (ajwain), salt and ghee. It is best served for breakfast with tea or coffee (vegetarian, and can be easily made vegan.
      Namak Ajwain Paratha (Carom Seeds Flatbread)
    • Aloo Paneer Paratha is an Indian unleavened bread stuffed with a flavorful potato paneer filling. It is best served for breakfast with yogurt and pickle. Here is how to make it.
      Aloo Paneer Paratha
    • Bakarkhani Roti is a mildly sweet tandoori bread from Mughlai cuisine which is still popular in some parts of Old Delhi. Served with spicy mutton and chicken gravies, this shahi roti is a treat to the tastebuds.
      Bakarkhani Roti
    • Mangalorean Neer Dosa (Neer Dose, South Indian Breakfast Rice Crepes) are thin, lacy, and soft Indian crepes prepared using rice (vegan, gluten-free).
      Mangalorean Neer Dosa (Neer Dose, Rice Crepes)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Daniela

      October 25, 2015 at 9:56 am

      Hy, I’m Daniela from Romania 🙂
      sooji is semolina ?
      thanks!

      Reply
      • msnehamathur

        October 26, 2015 at 5:07 am

        Yes Daniela. It is Semolina. You must use the fine variety for making Poori.

        Reply
    2. Swati Vadapalli

      June 28, 2017 at 1:08 pm

      4 stars
      I believe Sooji is one of the secret ingredients for those perfect yummy puri’s and dahi wale aloo sounds great. look forward to finding the recipe here, and great pic I must say.

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        June 29, 2017 at 2:18 am

        Thnx 🙂

        Reply
    3. SAhmed

      March 14, 2019 at 11:00 pm

      Hi,

      The Whole wheat flour is that the atta used for making chapattis?

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        March 15, 2019 at 5:38 am

        Yes, it’s the same.

        Reply
    4. Beena Tharakan

      February 20, 2020 at 4:20 am

      Your recpie for Puri sounds perfect. Can you post the dhai wale Aloo recpie as well.

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        February 20, 2020 at 8:17 am

        It’s already on the blog.
        https://www.whiskaffair.com/no-onion-no-garlic-dahi-wale-aloo/

        Reply
      • Reen

        May 02, 2020 at 9:50 pm

        Can I add ghee or oil and mix together w the dough

        Reply
        • Neha Mathur

          May 03, 2020 at 10:39 am

          Sorry, I didn’t get your question.

          Reply

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