Methi muthia is a delicious and healthy Indian snack made with flours, fenugreek leaves and spices. I have shared steamed, fried and Air fryer recipes. Super tasty.
Gujaratis are known for their penchant for snacks. Khakras, jalebi fafda, dhokla, khandvi, handvo and so many more.
I especially love this methi muthia recipe because it is a healthy snack that is perfect as your 4 pm snack.It is steamed and is very tasty. You can also use the same recipe to make dudhi muthia or bottlegourd or zucchini muthia.
You can have these as snack or use them to make a curry or a Gujarati dish called undhiyu that is a winter specialty.
You may also like air fryer samosa, aloo tikki in air fryer, air fryer banana chips, air fryer namak pare, Kurkuri Bhindi Airfryer.
What is the Difference Between the three versions
Steamed Muthia: This is what I regularly make to have with tea. It is a very filling and tasty snack.
Deep fried muthia: These are delicious and crispy. These are the ones used in curry or undhiyu as they retain their shape well. To be honest, I haven't made them in a while.
Air fryer muthia: These are my favourite now. They turn out so nicely browned and crispy outside while staying soft and well cooked inside. Of course, they use lesser oil as well.
Step-by-step Pictures
Wash, clean and chop methi leaves and set aside.Take all the ingredients and make a stiff dough.
Add wholewheat flour or atta with besan to coriander, cumin powder, turmeric, salt, ginger-chilli paste, chilli powder and lemon juice and oil.
Bind with water.
Rest the dough for some time.
For Steaming
Make 1 inch cylinders and steam them for 10-15 minutes or till done.
Cut into roundels when they cool. Heat 2 tsp. oil. Add mustard seeds and allow to sputter. Add heeng and sesame seeds. Then quickly tip onto the prepared muthia. Serve your methi muthia hot.
For Deep Frying
Heat oil in a pan or wok. Deep fry the muthia shaped into ovals till brown outside and well cooked inside. Fry on medium heat. No need to temper.
For Air frying
Preheat the Air fryer at 390 F or 200 C for 5 minutes.
Brush the basket and lay the muthia cylinders cut into thick slices so that there is not too much overcrowding.
Air fry for 8-12 minutes till they are slightly crispy and brown outside and cooked inside. Use a toothpick to prick and check if it is cooked inside.
No need to do final tempering. I normally roast some sesame seeds and sprinkle on top when serving. You can also add sesame seeds to the dough itself.
Final tempering for steamed version
Give a tempering of mustard seeds, heeng and sesame seeds in oil. Let it brown a bit and serve hot methi muthia.
Pro Tips
1. For gluten free version use millet flours like bajra or jowar flours. Whole wheat flour provides better binding of the dough.
2. You can use any greens of choice eg. spinach, kale or even grated bottle gourd in this recipe.
3. If your methi leaves are very bitter then you can add salt to them and keep aside for 10 minutes. Drain the water and wash them to remove some of the bitterness. You can also use a bit of yogurt when making your dough instead of water for the same purpose.
4. Take care not to oversteam the muthia or they become hard. I use a toothpick to prick and check when steaming. If it comes out clean, your muthia is cooked.
5. You need to do the tempering only for the steamed version. For deep frying and air frying just add the sesame seeds to the dough. Skip mustard seeds and oil.
Storage:
1. You can freeze them after preparing the dough for 2-3 months.
2. After deep frying or Air frying, you can store for 2-3 days in the fridge. These will not be crispy but will be good to use further into curries.
3. Steamed version cannot be stored. Have it fresh.
4. Your hot methi muthia is ready to serve. Have it with hot chai. Perfect snack and kids love it too.
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Methi Muthia Recipe
Ingredients
For Muthia
- 1.5 cups fenugreek leaves cleaned and chopped
- 1 cup wholewheat flour or use sorghum and pearl millet flours half cup each
- 1 cup chickpea flour or besan
- 1 tbsp. green chilli-ginger paste
- ½ tsp. turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- ½ tsp. ajwain or carom seeds or use oregano
- 1 tsp. cayenne red chilli powder
- 1 tbsp. ground coriander
- 1 tsp. sugar optional
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 2 tbsp. water to form dough
- 2 tbsp. peanut oil
- ½ tsp. salt
For tempering (Only for steamed method)
- 2 tsp. oil
- 1 tsp. sesame seeds
- 1 tsp. mustard seeds
- 1 pinch heeng asafetida
Instructions
- Pluck the methi or fenugreek leaves. Wash with water well and chop finely.
- Add all the ingredients of muthia together i.e flours with turmeric powder, cayenne, ginger-chilli paste, ground coriander and cumin, ajwain, lemon juice, salt, oil and methi leaves. Mix together and then add very little water. Methi releases water hence add very little water to form the dough.
- Now make longish cylinders of about an inch diameter with the dough and set aside for 15 minutes.
For Steaming
- Heat a steamer to stem these muthia cylinders. Steam for about 10-12 minutes and then let it rest for 3-4 minutes. Once relatively cooler, slice each cylinder into round muthias.
For Deep Frying
- Heat oil in a pan or wok. Deep fry the muthia shaped into ovals till brown outside and well cooked inside. Fry on medium heat. No need to temper.
For Air frying
- Preheat the Air fryer at 390 F or 200 C for 5 minutes.
- Brush the basket and lay the muthia cylinders cut into slices so that there is not too much overcrowding. Air fry for 8-12 minutes till they are slightly crispy and brown outside and cooked inside. Use a toothpick to prick and check if it is cooked inside.
- No need to do final tempering.
Final tempering (Only for steamed version)
- Heat oil in a pan. Add heeng and mustard seeds and allow to sputter. Now add the sesame seeds and add in the muthia. Mix well to coat all muthia and let them brown a bit. Turn off the heat and serve hot with green chutney.
Video
Notes
- If your methi leaves are very bitter then you can add salt to them and keep aside for 10 minutes. Drain the water and wash them to remove some of the bitterness. You can also use a bit of yogurt when making your dough instead of water for the same purpose.
- You can use whole wheat flour in place of millet flour. Whole wheat flour provides better binding of the dough. Mine were more crumbly as I did not use atta.
- You can use lauki or grated bottlegourd in the same recipe to make lauki muthia.
- Take care not to oversteam the muthia or they become hard. I use a toothpick to prick and check when steaming. If it comes out clean, your muthia is cooked.
- You need to do the tempering only for the steamed version. For deep frying and air frying just add the sesame seeds to the dough. Skip mustard seeds and oil.
Nutrition
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Kalpana Solsi says
I make methi muthias often. I prepare them to add in undhiyoo.
i use wheat atta, besan and little jowar atta.Will try dudhi muthia . never made them.
love your colourful pictures, Rachna.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/04/mouth-parts-of-body.html
Rachna says
Yes I use more jowar and bajra and skip the atta altogether. Thanks for reading, Kalpana.
Sonia Chatterjee says
This looks really interesting and delicious. Haven't experimented much with methi but going to do that soon. Lovely recipe.
Rachna says
Thanks Sonia. I hope you like it.
Soumya says
I'd never heard of this until now. It sounds simple and healthy, I shall give this a try soon.
Rachna says
It's a nice healthy veg snack. Do try.
Roshan Radhakrishnan says
I thought I knew most dishes but no, had not heard of this one prior to this
Rachna says
Yes a Gujarati snack but very healthy.
Mayuri Nidigallu says
Mom makes Muthiya for Undhiyoon, and she deep fries them. I love Muthiya but avoid them because of that. Love this super healthy and steamed version. Hoping to try it soon! The recipe sounds so easy and the pics had me salivating.
Rachna says
Thanks Mayuri. I have never liked the fried version that I tasted. Do try this recipe and let me know.
Shilpa Garg says
I love methi in any form. I had methi muthias for the first time on my last trip to Baroda at a friend's place. Absolutely loved this dish. I had forgotten all about it, till I read your recipe. Will try making your recipe, if I am able to get methi as the season is over here.
Vidya Sury says
I make these often. So easy, tasty and nutritious! They taste good when we add mashed sweet potato or steamed kabuli chana mashed, too! Yummy, Rachna!
Rachna says
That's nice. Haven't added those. Must try next time I make. 🙂
dNambiar says
I've never tasted Muthia. It sure sounds and looks healthy. And tasty, too.
Priya Ahuja says
Excellent recipe. Turned out v tasty. Thank you.
Rachna says
Thanks so much, Priya!