When I think of Murukku, I don’t just see a snack. I see spirals of wisdom, golden coils that have twisted their way through centuries, carrying the fragrance of festivals, the warmth of kitchens, and the laughter of families.
The word itself comes from the Tamil “muṟukku”, meaning “to twist.” And much like life, every twist of murukku carries its own story.
Murukku Across India: A Heritage in Spirals
Most of us know the classic Tamil “Mullu Murukku”—rice and urad dal flour pressed through a star-mould, fried till crisp. But travel across India, and you’ll find a mosaic of variations:
- Tamil Nadu: Mullu Murukku, Thenkuzhal Murukku, Kai Murukku (hand-twisted artistry), and the famous Manapparai Murukku with its GI tag.
- Kerala: Achu Murukku (Achappam)—rose-shaped, coconut-milk rich, with Dutch influences.
- Karnataka: Benne Murukku (Chakkuli), buttery and melt-in-mouth.
- Andhra & Telangana: Chakralu and Sakinalu, festive delicacies of Sankranti.
- Maharashtra & Gujarat: Chakli or Chakri, gram flour blended with rice for extra crunch.
Each state adds its soil, its grain, and its people’s patience to the recipe. What remains constant is the philosophy—turning humble ingredients into edible jewelry meant to share and celebrate.
The Ingredients: Carriers of Culture and Season
To truly understand murukku, we must first understand its ingredients—for they are not just chosen for taste, but for their place in the land and the season.
In Tamil Nadu, rice flour and urad dal are staples of the harvest, embodying abundance and fertility. In Karnataka, the richness of butter (benne) finds its way into murukku, echoing the dairy traditions of the region. In Andhra and Telangana, sesame seeds and ajwain lend heat and warmth—perfect for winter festivals like Sankranti. In Kerala, coconut milk sweetens Achu Murukku, celebrating the coastal bounty.
Even the oils—gingelly in the South, groundnut in the Deccan, sunflower in the West—carry regional signatures of soil and climate. Each grain, seed, and spice is a quiet storyteller, weaving the wisdom of season, land, and culture into the golden spirals we call murukku.
Each ingredient carries not only nutrition, but a seasonal rhythm and cultural meaning, reminding us that food is never separate from the soil it springs from, or the communities it nourishes.
Challa Jantikalu in Konaseema
One memory always returns to me whenever I bite into murukku. Back in Konaseema, Lakshmi garu—our neighbor—had her own special way of honoring leftovers. Whenever curd was about to turn sour, she would whip up Challa Jantikalu (curd murukku).
With practiced hands, she’d knead rice flour with curd, shape the dough into spirals, and fry them till they sang in oil. We would wait eagerly, and she would serve them to us hot, alongside a glass of chai.
That was the magic of these snacks—nothing was wasted, and everything was celebrated.
Today, I was reminded of that memory when I came across Thayir Murukku by Uma Raghuraman (@masterchefmom) on Instagram. Food, across time and distance, always finds ways to connect stories.
Murukku Around the World
Murukku’s story is not bound by India.
- In Turkey, there is Simit, sesame-coated bread rings.
- In Italy, Taralli—twisted, crunchy rings of olive oil dough.
- In Mexico, the beloved Churro.
Different names, same comfort—the joy of flour, oil, and imagination twisted into circles.
Recipe: Vira Murukku – A Nutreat Tribute
We believe traditions are not museum pieces—they should breathe, adapt, and nourish. As a tribute, we handcrafted murukku using Vira, our wholesome blend that adds nutrition without taking away nostalgia.
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice flour
- ½ cup urad dal flour (roasted & ground)
- 2 tbsp Vira blend
- 1 tsp sesame or cumin seeds
- ½ tsp asafoetida
- Salt, to taste
- Warm water, as required
- Oil, for deep frying
Method
- Mix rice flour, urad dal flour, Vira, seeds, asafoetida, and salt.
- Add warm water little by little, kneading into a soft dough.
- Load into a murukku press and shape into spirals.
- Fry in medium-hot oil until golden and crisp.
- Cool and store—or better, share immediately with family over chai.
Why Murukku is More Than Food
Murukku is not just a snack. It is a cultural compass—reminding us where we come from and guiding how we nourish our future. Every bite holds mathematics in its shapes, gastronomy in its recipes, and wisdom in its heritage.
At Nutreat, our Vira Murukku is one more twist in that timeless story—rooted in the past, crafted for today, and meant to be shared across tomorrow.
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