*****DHOKLA*****

Excitement at its peak, I am ready for my next post. Before I go any further, should thank all my readers. My blog has already got 170 hits since Oct 9th, 2010. Special thanks to my photographer Briji for the wonderful pictures.

I have got suggestions from my readers that they are looking forward for some Indian recipes. So here I am with an Indian snack.

Dhokla is a famous snack from the Indian state of Gujarat. There are different variations of this recipes. It can be made from besan, chickpeas or sooji.  Dhokla made out of sooji is one of the easiest ways.

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups Sooji

2. 2 tablespoon Oil

3. 1 cup Curd

4. 1 cup Water

5. 2 teaspoon Ginger paste

6. Green Chillies (finely chopped) - 2 nos

7. 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder

8. 1/2 Lemon juice

9. Salt to taste

10. 1 teaspoon Eno fruit salt

For Seasoning:

1. Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon

2. Green Chilies -  to taste

3. Curry leaves

Method:

- Beat the curd into a smooth paste and add the green chilies, ginger paste and turmeric powder to this. Mix well and keep aside.

- Take 2 cups of sooji in a medium sized bowl, add 2 tablespoon of oil to this and mix well using your hand until there are no lumps.

- Add the curd mixture to the sooji and make it a thick batter. To this add 1 cup water, salt and 1/2 lemon juice.

- Keep the prepared batter aside for about 20 mins.

- In the meantime, prepare a tall vessel or pressure cooker (without the weight) with 1.5 inches of water. Bring it to a boil.

- Prepare the Dhokla plates by lightly spraying the cooking oil.

- Once the water comes to a boil, add the eno fruit salt to the batter and immediately pour it to the Dhokla plates only half way through. Place the Dhokla plates into the boiling water and close tightly with the lid.

- Cook the Dhokla for 15- 20 mins until done.

-Switch off and take the Dhokla stand from the cooker. Let it cool for a few mins.

- In the meantime for seasoning, heat oil in a small kadai, add mustards seeds. Once splattered add the green chillies and curry leaves and saute for a few secs.

- Pour the seasoning over the Dhokla. Cut the Dhoklas into any shapes desired.

If you have unexpected guests showing up, this is the best snack to impress them in a quick and easy way. Dhoklas can be served with mint/coriander chutney. If you dont have a Dhokla plate, you may use a cake pan or even plates used for making idli. 

ENJOY!!!