Friday, April 3, 2009

Instant Dhokla (Indian Chickpea bread)

The closest North American version of Dhokla is cornbread. Dhokla is a very popular Indian snack that comes from the western part of India, specifically Gujarat. Gujarati food is famous for a touch of sweetness in every savory dish, and dhokla is no different. (Check out some other recipes on Gujarati food here).

Dhokla is healthy, quick, and tasty teatime food. The batter for Dhokla is made of chickpea flour which is steamed into a spongy cake (or bread) and finally tempered with flavoured oil. Dhokla has a moist cornbread like texture that melts in the mouth while the harmony of sugar and spice pampers your tastebuds. The bright yellow color of this dish can certainly add life to the dining table.

OK. I hope I have tempted you enough to be ready to cook up this delicious delight. :) Here you go with the recipe....

Ingredients:
1. 3/4 cup Chickpea flour (besan)
2. 1/2 cup water
3. 2 tablespoons lemon juice
4. 1/2 tablespoon sugar
5. 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
6. 1/2 teaspoon salt
7. 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
8. 1 packet Eno lemon salt (anti acid from India)

For the garnish:
1. 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2. 5-6 fresh curry leaves
3. 1/4 teaspoon Red chili powder
4. 1 tablespoon oilve oil

Instructions:
For the bread:
1. Mix ingredients 1 to 8 together to form a batter.
2. Lightly oil a steel plate and pour the batter on the plate.
3. Put the plate in a steamer or dhokla maker and cook for 15 minutes on medium heat.
Note: You can alternatively bake the batter in an oven or use a microwave. A pressure cooker will work too if you don't have a dhokla maker.
4. Pierce a knife though it and if it comes out clean, it is done. Set aside and cool.


For the garnishing:
1. In a small pan, heat oil.
2. Add mustard seeds and allow to cracke.
3. Add curry leaves, red chili powder, 2 serving spoons water
3. Boil this.
4. Using a spoon spread this mixture all over the bread that was kept aside to cool.

Slice into bite size pieces and Voila! Your savory treat Dhokla (Indian Chickpea bread) is ready.

Serve Dhokla with mint-coriander chutney (which I will show you how to make in another post) and there is no chance that it will be a miss!

10 comments:

Saritha said...

Nice recipe.This is the second dhokla recipe i saw today.

Lisa said...

Your recipes are always so delicious-looking.

Where do you buy Indian spices and ingredients in Vancouver? I think one of your next posts should be a trip to the grocery store. :-)

Chutneytales said...

Dhokla looks yum and perfect!You made me drool for it now!

Pooja said...

Thanks for visiting my blog..Dokla is looking delicious..

M said...

I love this dokala.. It was so good and so soft. I really like love it. Thanks Food-fanatic

Indian Khana said...

I was just thinking abt dhokla and here u go....looks yummy

luckysanjana said...

we were just discussing dhokla today and here it is......my friend was asking me what makes it real soft?????/and i was wondering besides he eno could it be the oil???

Lavanya said...

i never tried dhokla..but i ate it once ..i have to try this one..looking so good!!

Ashwini said...

Looks so fluffy and yummy..Nice recipe..

Priyanka Agrawal said...

Varunavi, really? Who was the first? :)

Thanks, Lisa! I'll put something together for the grocery store. Tea asked me as well about this.

Thanks, Madhu. Hearing something like that from a veteran like you makes me blush!

Pooja, I will keep revisiting!

M, You are welcome for more! Thank you for the public testimonial of this dish :)

Priti, is this telepathy? :)

Sanjana, other things that can make Dhokla soft is baking soda but eno tastes better ;-)

Lavanya, would love to hear from you when you try it !

Thanks, Ashwini.

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