Khara bun is a Iyengar bakery style popular snack. These savory buns are eggless and easy to recreate at home in easy steps.

I love savoury baking a lot than baking cake or cookies. I have tried this buns for 2-3 times and I just simply love it.
Am now hooked to my pizza base dough and use it as basic dough for other bakes like I have used for Garlic buns and Stuffed masala buns too.
This time I have replaced a part of maida with atta and no compromise in taste. You can make it for either snack box or for tea time snack.
Method
- Sieve the flours together in a large bowl and make a dent in the centre. Heat the milk and water little(luke warm) and add sugar, yeast to it and mix well to dissolve yeast completely.
- Optional step if you are not sure about the yeast quality: Proof the yeast before using in the recipe.
- Yeast smell dominates because it have not worked properly in the dough. So first mix and dissolve yeast completely in lukewarm milk +water + sugar.
- It should be lukewarm, not hot, otherwise you may kill the culture. Once completely dissolved, keep aside for 5 to 10 minutes.
- It should raise and become frothy. Now, use this to make the dough. If the milk doesn't raise or froth, it is not active yeast, it will not give good results, so better change your yeast, always use fresh stock.
- Pour this mixture in the dent, add oil or butter, salt, chopped garlic, coriander and the chilli flakes and gather to make a pliable and loose dough.
- Apply oil over the dough and cover the mouth of the bowl with a cling wrap with enough room for the dough to rise.Keep in a warm place for an hour.
- After an hour the dough should have raised well(refer picture).
- Punch down the dough and make six equal sized balls and arrange it in a greased baking tray. Pre heat the oven to 190oC . Till then the dough balls we have made will again rise a bit.
- Brush the buns with milk and bake the buns at 190oC for 13-15 minutes or untill the top starts turning golden colour.
- Brush again with butter on top..
Enjoy khara bun with tea or coffee!
If using instant yeast, use just 1 teaspoon of Instant yeast for this recipe. You can directly add to the flour, no need to dissolve in milk or water.
Recipe card
Khara bun recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup All purpose flour Maida
- ½ cup Wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon Active dry yeast
- ¼ cup Milk
- ¼ cup Water
- ⅛ cup Oil or melted butter
- ½ tablespoon Sugar
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Chopped garlic
- 1.5 tablespoon Chopped coriander
- 1 tablespoon Chilli flakes
Instructions
- Sieve the flours together in a large bowl and make a dent in the centre.
- Heat the milk and water little(luke warm) and add sugar, yeast to it and mix well to dissolve yeast completely.
- Optional step if you are not sure about the yeast quality: Proof the yeast before using in the recipe.
- Yeast smell dominates because it have not worked properly in the dough. So first mix and dissolve yeast completely in lukewarm milk +water + sugar.
- It should be lukewarm, not hot, otherwise you may kill the culture. Once completely dissolved, keep aside for 5 to 10 minutes.
- It should raise and become frothy. Now, use this to make the dough.
- If the milk doesn't raise or froth, it is not active yeast, it will not give good results, so better change your yeast, always use fresh stock.
- Pour this mixture in the dent. Add oil or butter, salt, chopped garlic, coriander and the chilli flakes and gather to make a pliable and loose dough.
- Apply oil over the dough and cover the mouth of the bowl with a cling wrap with enough room for the dough to rise.
- Keep in a warm place for an hour.
- After an hour the dough should have raised well(refer picture).
- Punch down the dough and make six equal sized balls and arrange it in a greased baking tray.
- Preheat the oven to 190oC .
- Till then the dough balls we have made will again rise a bit.
- Brush the buns with milk and bake the buns at 190oC for 13-15 minutes or untill the top starts turning golden colour.
- Brush again with butter on top..
Notes
- The dough should be very pliable and soft, if its stiff and tight you may not get soft buns.
- If your dough doesn't rise then your yeast is not active, you may not get soft buns either.
- Tastes and smell great even after cooling down.
- You can add along chopped green chillies too for extra hotness!
Priti
This looks so good ...yum ..now I feel why you didn't bring this along 😉
Radhika
Oh Raji. Same pinch. I made them last week and the kids loved it so much. Yet to post though. Love your step by step pictorial.
Prathibha
Just love them...even I use half maida nad half wheat flour for this...healthy too..:)
Sharmilee! :)
Looks very tempting....Fluffy and soft buns, have come out super good!
Shanthi
Looks tempting and too good. Love the idea.
Paaka Shaale
What yummy looking buns. Slurp :))
Sushma Mallya
Looks so delicious Raji, thts a beautifully baked bread:)
Raji
OMG...I am bowled over by looking at these gorgeous buns....a cup of tea and maybe 1 or 2 of these buns would make me happy 🙂
kaveri
Such delicious looking buns...Your step wise pictorial makes it seem so simple...I'm surely going to try it out...
Divya.M
wonderful pics and explanation.....lovely buns...
sowmya's creative saga
I love khara buns and they look so lovely..yumm
Sayantani
what a recipe. am going to make it asap.
jeyashrisuresh
ooh what a gorgeous looking bus. What a combo of fantastic and simple ingredients. Amazing clicks with detailed explanations and note
Nags
second picture is really droolworthy, the inside looks perfectly cooked. akka appove sonna, try pannu nalla varumnu. Will do soon 🙂
Sunanda
Looks awesome..Perfect teatime snacks...
Sunanda's Kitchen
Hari Chandana
Wowwwwww.. Wonderful recipe raji.. looks so tempting and perfect.. thanks for the recipe.. love the presentation too 🙂
Suhaina
This is my fav bun from my childhood days. There is a famous bakery near our locality(in Kerala) which sells this...whenever I visit India this is my first thing to have from that bakery..I have tried it once and will post the recipe soon... Only some slight changes in the recipe.. ur khara buns looks simply drool worthy...I am drooling....slurp..wish I could grab a few...Any ways few more days to go...I will go directly to that bakery from the airport...hahahaha...ur clicks are so superb especially the first one...love it.
Dr.Sameena Prathap
wow...yummy and tasty buns dear...:)Lovely clicks too!!:)
Dr.Sameena@
http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com/
EC
Wow..they look so delicious..would love to have it anytime
srividhya Ravikumar
looks so nice..
Happy Cook / Finla
Love love them, till now i have not made any savoury breads, i would love to makes once a filled one, these look absloutley perfect and yumm.
Hamaree Rasoi
Wow ! these buns look amazing. A must try 🙂
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Now Serving
I am totally bookmarking this one - I am constantly trying to find ways of making breads stand alone dishes and I am sure this will be a super hit in my home - Thanks for another marvelous recipe raks 🙂
lata raja
They look extremely soft and kara buns were my staple sustained food during pregnancy:) I do not need excuses to bake them, but I do have one now! That I am longing for them looking at your pictures is reason enough to bake them soon!
Nithya
They look super delicious and perfect. Buns are my nightmare 🙁 I have failed thrice and havent found the reason for it yet 🙁 Wish you were here next door to show me a demo and share those buns with me 🙂
Suja
Absolutely delicious and perfect buns..looks fabulous.
aipi
Coincidentally, only yesterday I was planning to make some khara buns and now here you are with these perfect buns ~ looks splendid!
US Masala
Priya
Prefectly baked buns, simply inviting..
Saranya
thats a great one to choose..its something new for me
Vardhini
Love anything savory .. got to try this out.
Vardhini
VardhinisKitchen
Smitha
they look so cute and yum!!
Smitha
divya
Wow tempting and delicious,looks so inviting.
Sarah Naveen
loved the recipe..nice clicks..looks so yummy!!
sangee vijay
perfectly baked n simple delicious...
Suman Singh
Looks absolutely perfect!
GEETHA ACHAL
Perfect buns...Love the colors and texture..
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal
yum, what a great looking bun, bookmarking 🙂
Jagruti જાગૃતિ
yummmmmmmmmmmm yummmmmmmmmmm..pics are lovelyyy!
swapna
Perfect khara buns....super soft and yummy!!
Swathi
khara buns looks awesome perfect.
Gayu
The buns look so delicious..Cooked perfectly and looks very soft...
Mahimaa's kitchen
wow that look so tempting. love them at the bakeries.
Nitha
Perfect snack.. Should try this for sure..
Red Chillies
These buns brings back so many memories of Bangalore bakeries !Looks beautiful Raks and would love to have this snack along with tea.
Shanavi
looks gorgeous, I've already made those savory buns from ur blog, and again this one is also bookmarked..Thanks for sharing raks..
Divya Vikram
This should make a perfect snack with tea. Bookmarked!
Suparna
Hey Raji, now that I've got the hang of baking breads 😛 would love to bake these..am bookmarking these:P thanks.
Rinku Naveen
Delicious buns!! Loved the pics too..
Sanctified Spaces
Its tea time in Chennai...kara buns and tea would be perfect.Wish I could have some right away..
Lavanya Selvaraj
Lokks absolutely divine... Bookmarked!
I started a blog recently. Kindly take a look at it when you get a chance.
http://recipecongeries.blogspot.com
Madhavi
WOW this khara buns looks damn good..super :))
http://vegetarianmedley.blogspot.com/
Jay
this is one gorgeous buns..the flavors are just amazing..
Tasty Appetite
Event: Letz Relishh Ice Creams
Chitra
Gorgeous looking buns. simple love them. Wish to have one 🙂
Plateful
Never tried buns savory before--sounds like a great idea! Lovely and tempting clicks!!
Premalatha Aravindhan
Perfectly baked buns,luv the savory version...thanks for the recipe.
Vibaas
wow, this looks sooooo tempting. i have never heard of this. khara bun-na i thought the stuffed masala buns. will try this. I tried the normal buns that you made and it came out well. didnt take the pics though..next time 🙂
Divya Kudua
Wow Raks..you've become a pro in baking now!!Khara buns look inviting!!
Jayasri Ravi
wow, the buns look lovely, I love baking khara buns in the way we bake in our bakeries check out on my blog sometime when you have time, nothing special we add dill leaves, onions and chillies.
hmker
I really have to ask this.. In what oven do u bake all these, in a traditional wall oven or in the convection mode of a microwave oven.? its really superb... I dont have a traditional oven, so ur answer will really help me... Thanks
RAKS KITCHEN
I baked in convection mode of a microwave oven...
Meenakshi
Yummy looking buns.
I tried the same @home. It was a little moist inside (though a toothpick inserted came out clean) and the top was not as brown as yours. Let me know my mistake
Thanks
RAKS KITCHEN
try proofing the yeast,i.e; keep the yeast mixture after step 1. If it rises, then ur yeast is active and buns should come out good. Did your dough raised properly?
Kamini Shankar
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kamini Shankar
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kamini Shankar
For all those having an issue with the dough not rising, try proofing it in the oven (preheat at 175 F for 5 mins and then switch off) and place a big bowl of boiling water at the bottom of the oven. This increases the humidity of the oven helping the dough to raise. I live in NJ and was having trouble with rising until i tried this method.
Hope this helps 🙂
Kamini Shankar
Amazinggggggg recipe. Loved how it came out. The flavour was just right (not overpowering, not too mild). The buns came out so beautiful and soft with a nice crunchy crust (i used an egg wash on the surface). Hubby called it The Perfect Snack !!!! They were over before i could snap a pic !!! This will now b a regular at my home. Will share pics the next time i bake 🙂
RAKS KITCHEN
Kamini, thats so sweet of you to give the feedback and a trouble shooter too 🙂 Love you!
Kamini Shankar
Im literally addicted to ur blog now. This Diwali all my sweets are going to b from here !!! Cant wait to try them all 🙂 You r super good ...
RAKS KITCHEN
Haha, thank you!
sangee vijay
Tried this bun and came out really good...thanx for the recipe,we enjoyed it a lot...I posted it on my space too...if u wish drop by to see those mini buns 🙂
RAKS KITCHEN
Thanks Sangee 🙂
Priya Hari
Hi Raks,
Can you give some general tips for baking?
1) Should everything be baked in the lowest rack possible? My lowest rack would be say 1 inch from the bottom of the oven. I always have a doubt if I can use that or raise it to the next rack which would be 3 inches from the bottom.
2) Do cakes, pizzas, cookies, buns etc need to be baked in the same rack?
RAKS KITCHEN
Hi priya,
Mine doesnt have any rack , so i keep at the bottom only. But my friend has OTG and she bakes all in middle rack. Sometimes in upper rack for cookies she said. Hope this helps.
Priya Hari
Thanks for your prompt reply!
Geetha
hey Rak's,
Seeing this recipe i need to buy the oven and start baking , can u pls suggest the type of oven should i buy.
mail me at [email protected]
Geetha
letscook
Tried them today with three more ingredients .... chopped onion, ginger and cumin seeds ...thanks for the recipe 🙂
SAKSHI
where can i get yeast from?
Ammu
How can i use the instant yeast in this recipe?
Shilpi
I just made this and Stuffed Buns to accompany with tea and they came out perfect from oven.. Thanks for the recipe my husband enjoyed them alot 🙂
Raks anand
If using instant yeast just mix 1 &1/2 tsp of yeast in yhe flour itslef. No need to dissolve in milk. But knead well. Otherwise follow the same. Sorry for my late response. I know I am very late 🙁
Prathima
Hi, I wanted to know if we can refrigerate the dough and use it next day morning..
Raks anand
Yes cling wrap it to refrigerate. Next day bring to room temperature and let it raise. Then proceed as mentioned. Since garlic is there, not more than 12 hrs.
minu baby
can we bake this in pressure cooker
Shakera
how many days is the shelf life for these buns?after baking??
Raks anand
It should be consumed the same day you bake
Unknown
Hi, vry nice recipe.....I have a question , no need to knead the dough for 8 to 10 min? Just combine all the ingredients together like chapati dough ?
Raks anand
I did not knead it more. Just smooth like chapati dough and it was fine 🙂
Ravitha Thiyagarajan
Thanks for your immediate reply☺
saradha radhakrishnan
Hi mam,
I'm fan of your recipes. When ever I prepare bread items yeast smell is dominating even after baking?
How to overcome from it can please give me some suggestions.
Raks anand
Proof the yeast before using in the recipe. Yeast smell dominates because it have not worked properly in the dough. So first mix and dissolve yeast completely in luke warm milk +water + sugar. It should be luke warm, not hot, otherwise you may kill the culture. Once completely dissolved, keep aside for 5 to 10 minutes. It should raise and become frothy. Now, use this to make the dough. If the milk doesn't raise or froth, it is not active yeast, it will not give good results, so better change your yeast, always use fresh stock.
Divya
Made these today & they turned out yummy.. I didn't get the texture though.. It was pale yellow.. Soft & cooked... Forgot to brush milk before baking but tht was the only variation from ur recipe... What could have gone wrong?
Vimala
Hi,
This one sounds good of making bun by ourselves. Is it compulsory to use olive oil? or we can use our regular veg oil?
Raks anand
Sure you can use other oil or even melted butter.
SK
Hi, I love your blog, especially, because u explain, step by step, with pictures.
I wanted to know whether I can double this recipe? If so should I double all ingredients, esp, yeast?
Thanks in advance, Keep cooking and keep posting wonderful recipes. 🙂
Raks anand
Yes, except yeast 🙂
Zainab
Thanks. I bought all the ingredients to try this. But how many grams is your one cup?
Raks anand
My cup holds 240 ml of liquid.
Suresh Natarajan
Hi ur blog is so nice because of ur step by step pictures. I tried ur Kara bun came out very well in texture and taste but I didn't get the golden brown colour on the top. I don't know what went wrong. I didn't forget to brush with milk also. Please reply. Thank u very much. Happy cooking.
Raks anand
Try proofing the yeast. That is prepare the yeast liquid by dissolving yeast in luke warm water, sugar and milk as per the measurement. Keep aside for 10 mins, it should look frothy and raised. Then your yeast is good and can proceed to the recipe (use this to knead dough). If the solution remains plain and look same, yeast is not good and you cannot get good result with that. hope this helps.
visuarchie
Thank you for your recipe.I tried it out and my family enjoyed it.Another day,I tried the buns adding some oregano and chilli flakes instead of coriander and chilli flakes.It was too good.Thank you once again.