Daal Dhokli

There are many popular, traditional and very authentic Gujarati dishes, and no doubt Daal Dhokli is one of them. Very tasty and healthy, and definitely a complete any time meal, so here we go,

Ingredients

For Daal
- ½ Cup Tuvar Daal (Yellow Pigeon Peas), Peanuts, Oil
- Curry Leaves, Asafoetida, Mustard Seeds, Cummin Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds
- Ginger, Chilli, Tomoto, Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder
- Tamarind Pulp, Jaggery, Salt, Garam Masala

For Dhokli
- ½ Cup Wheat Flour, 3 tbsp Besan, 1 tbsp Oil
- Salt, Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder

Recipe

Dhokli>
- Prepare roti like dough from the ingredients.

Daal
- Wash the Daal. Pressure cook Daal and Peanuts with 1½ glass water.

- Once cooked, remove the Peanuts and then crush the Daal. Keep it aside.

Let's cook it,
- In a deep pan, heat 3 tbsp oil, add mustard seeds and cummin seeds. Let it crackle.
- Then add fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, tomatoes, ginger and chilli. Saute for 2 min.
- Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder and garam masala.
- Add the Daal and Peanuts. Let it cook for 5 minutes.
- Prepare roti from the dough and cut it in any shape you want. I prefer squares,

- Add the dhokli to boiling Daal and let it cook for 15 more minutes.
- Add Tamarind pulp and jaggery. Also adjust the masala per taste.

Garnish it wit Coriander leaves and enjoy the Daal Dhokli,

Read More

Poha

If any time I need super quick and healthy food option, I jump onto Poha (Flattened Rice). Most of the time we have it for breakfast or evening snack, but at times we consume this for dinner as well.

Ingredients

- Medium Poha (Flattened Rice)
- Oil, Asafoetida, Mustard Seeds
- Peanut, Curry Leaves, Green chili
- Onion, Potato, Salt, Turmaric Powder
- Lemon, Sugar, Coriander Leaves, Fennel seeds

Recipe,

- Pre-wash the Poha for couple of times and then drain water. Keep it aside for 10-15 minutes.
- Finely chop the potatoes (finer the better), and slice the onions.
- In a pan, heat 3 tbsp oil and fry the peanuts first, and keep them aside.
- After taking peanuts out, add mustard seeds, asafoetida, green chilli and curry leaves.
- Then add sliced onion and potato, and saute them for 8-10 mins.
- Add salt, turmeric powder and drained poha, saute for a minute.
- Add some more turmeric powder (as needed), sugar and lemon juice.
- Mix it well (I usually taste and adjust it for salt, sugar & lemon) and Poha is ready.

Read More

Vaati Daal Dhokla

Vaati Dal Dhokla is a popular n tasty Dhokla made from soaked and crushed Split Chickpeas. It is very healthy and fresh, that is prepared from soaked Split Chickpeas (Chana Daal) unlike the Khaman, which is made of gram flour. It needs little preparation and careful cooking, so let's get started.

Ingredients

For Batter,
- (for 2 people) 1 Cup Chana Daal (Split Chickpeas) soaked for at least 6 hours
- 1/2 Cup Curd, 10-15 Fenugreek Seeds, Salt per taste, 1/2 Lime
- 1/2 tsp Ginger - Chili Paste, Oil, 1 tsp Fruit Salt, 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder

For Tadka (Tempering),
- 2 tbsp Oil, Mustard Seeds, Curry Leaves, Asafoetida, Shredded Coconut

Here's the Recipe,

First of all we will prepare the Batter,
- Wash and soak the Chana Daal for 6 hours.
- Again wash it thoroughly, under running water for 5 times, so the Daal leaves raw smell.
- Coarsely crush the Daal, if needed add few spoon of water.
- Add 1/2 cup yogurt to batter, and crush again to just mix it.


- Take the mixture out in big bowl, sprinkle few fenugreek seeds and let it ferment for 8 hours.


Once fermented, add ginger chili paste, turmeric powder, salt, 1 tsp oil and lemon to the batter, mix it well.


- Take a big plate for steaming and grease the plate with little oil.
- Just before steaming, add the fruit salt to the batter, stir it and pour the batter for steaming.


- Steam cook it for around 15 mins, keep checking the Dhokla by poking a tooth pick or knife.


For Tempering / Tadka,
- Heat oil, add mustard seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves, let it crackle.
- Cut the dhokla in any shape you like and pour the Tadka evenly on the Dhokla.
- Garnish it with fresh cilantro leaves, shredded coconut and enjoy with Chutney.

Read More

Bharva Baingan / Bharela Ringna

All time favorite, Bharva Baingan, can be enjoyed with Roti, Puri, Paratha or Rice. This recipe is very meditative, as each process from preparation, to the slitting eggplants, to filling and cooking is little long and needs some attention. Here's my way of making it tasty and as quick as possible !!

Ingredients

- 3-4 Medium sized Eggplant (Baingan/Ringna), 2 Medium sized potatoes
- Oil, Jaggery, Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Cumin - Coriander Powder
- Salt, Cilantro, Thin Sev, Garam Masala

Here's the Recipe,

Preparation for the filling,
- Mix Salt, Turmeric Powder, Chili Powder, Cumin - Coriander Powder, Jaggery and 1 tbsp oil together.
- Mix it well and add Sev to the mixture, then gently mix it, just little making sure not to mash the sev.


- Now cut slit the Eggplants, do not cut them entirely. Fill the mixture gently into the slit Eggplants.


Now, let's cook it,
- Add oil in Pressure Cooker, let it heat, add cumin seeds and asafoetida.
- Once the cumin seeds crackles, gently put the Eggplants and Potatoes to the cooker.
- Let it cook for a while (at least 8-10 mins), once the eggplants seems softened, close the lid.
- Pressure cook it for 3-4 whistles and then let it cool down for a while.

Garnish it with fresh cilantro leaves and the curry is ready to enjoy.

Read More

Jaggery Rice

Ashadhi Bij, special dessert/dish Jaggery Rice, goes with any spicy curry !!

Ingredients

- 1/2 Cup Rice, Ghee, Jaggery
- Cinnamon, Cloves

Here's the Recipe,

- Pre-wash the rice and soak it for 15 minutes.
- Heat 2 tbsp Ghee in pressure cooker.
- As the Ghee heats up, add Cinnamon and Cloves.
- Add rice, mix it well. Lower the flame and saute it for 2 minutes.
- On the side (different stove), boil a glass of water and add Jaggery to it.

- Now add the Jaggery water to the Rice and close the pressure cooker.
- Pressure cook until it whistles 3 times and then let it cool.

Enjoy the Rice with spicy curry or daal !!

Read More