Crunchy Manapparai Murukku with Roasted Peanut Candy

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A traditional Tamil Nadu snack featuring crisp, spiral-shaped murukku paired with sweet, roasted peanut candy for a balanced treat. This indian-inspired snacks ready in about 50 minutes turns rice flour, urad dal flour, butter into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 30 min Serves 6 Indian cuisine 320 cal/serving
Plan a meal with the AI → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: To prepare the murukku dough, combine 2 cups rice flour, 1/2 cup urad dal flour, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1/4 tsp asafoetida, and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl. Gradually add 3/4 cup water, mixing with your hands until a soft, non-sticky dough forms. Set aside for 15 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat (around 350°F). Fill a murukku press fitted with a star-shaped nozzle with the dough. Press spirals directly into the hot oil, frying 3-4 at a time for 2-3 minutes each side until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
  3. Step 3: For the peanut candy, roast 1 cup peanuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 5 minutes until fragrant and slightly browned. Set aside.
  4. Step 4: In a separate pan, melt 3/4 cup jaggery with 2 tbsp water over medium heat, stirring until it reaches a thick syrup stage (about 8 minutes). Quickly stir in roasted peanuts and 1/2 tsp cardamom powder, spreading the mixture on a greased sheet to cool and harden for 1 hour before breaking into pieces.

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Frequently asked questions

How long does Crunchy Manapparai Murukku with Roasted Peanut Candy take to make?

Total time is about 50 minutes (20 min prep + 30 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Crunchy Manapparai Murukku with Roasted Peanut Candy?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for crisp items, or in the fridge for anything dairy- or produce-based, for up to 3–5 days. Re-crisp baked snacks in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes if they soften.

Can I substitute ingredients in Crunchy Manapparai Murukku with Roasted Peanut Candy?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Crunchy Manapparai Murukku with Roasted Peanut Candy for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Crunchy Manapparai Murukku with Roasted Peanut Candy?

Indian snacks like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

Related recipes