Thursday, July 30, 2009

Khaman Dhokla-For Indian Cooking Challenge!




Khaman Dhokla is a traditional snack of Gujarat, India. This savoury snack is made by steaming fermented chickpea flour(besan) along with few other ingredients. The steamed cake is known as Dhokla. Depending upon the ingredients used in making Dhoklas the name changes accordingly. Dhokla made with chickpea flour/besan is called Khaman Dhokla while the one made with rice,urad dal and sour curd is called Khatta(Sour) Dhokla. Dhoklas can even be made with Sooji(Semolina) and it is then known as Sooji Dhokla.


Khaman Dhokla was selected this time for Indian Cooking Challenge hosted by Srivalli of Spice Your Life for the month of July. The event focuses on bringing into light the long forgotten traditional recipes. Serve this hot Khaman Dhokla with spicy green chutney along with a cup of steaming tea!


For Dhoklas:
Ingredients:
For the batter:
Chick Pea Flour(Besan/Gram Flour) - 250 gms
Curd - 1/2 cup(Do not use sour curd)
Water - 1/2 cup
Cooking Soda - 1/2 tsp
For seasonings:
Oil - 1 tbsp
Turmeric a pinch
Green chilly paste of 2 chillies
Salt to taste
Sugar - 1 tsp
Citric acid - 1/4 tsp
Eno(Fruit Salt) - 5 gms(1 tsp) + more for dusting the vessel
For tempering:
Sesame seeds - 1/2 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Green Chillies
Curry leaves- few
Grated coconut- A handful
Coriander leaves/Cilantro- few
3 tsp water + 1 tsp Oil for moistening dhoklas

Method:
  • For preparing the batter mix curd with water well. Add the flour and mix well till the batter becomes free of lumps. The consistency of batter should be like Idli batter, should be of dropping consistency rather than pouring consistency. You may add additional water if needed but I didn't.
  • Add the soda, cover the vessel and leave it to rise for an hour. You will need another vessel for steaming process.Keep that vessel aside now.
  • Meanwhile prepare the pressure cooker for steaming.
  • Fill cooker with enough water, place a lid/plate in the cooker,over which you would be placing the vessel filled with batter. The reason for placing the vessel filled with batter over another plate/lid is to allow the vessel to rest upright and to prevent from swaying during the cooking process.
  • Heat the water in the pressure cooker.
  • Meanwhile to the batter add citric acid, oil, salt, sugar, turmeric powder, green chilly paste and mix well.
  • When the water starts boiling in the cooker add eno to the batter and dust the vessel required for steaming(kept aside earlier) with eno. The reason for dusting the vessel with eno is to allow the bottom of the dhoklas to become porous. When you add eno to the batter you will see small bubbles coming out.
  • Transfer the batter to the dusted vessel, place it in pressure cooker, cover with a lid and steam for about 7 minutes.
  • After this time open the cooker and prick the dhoklas with a toothpick to check if its cooked. If the toothpick comes out clean, its done. Now cover and steam for another one minute. Turn off heat and let it rest for another 5 minutes.
  • Remove vessel from cooker and pour water+oil mixture on top.
  • For seasoning, heat a pan with oil, add curry leaves, sesame seeds, mustard seeds and finely chopped green chilies. When mustard seeds start popping, remove and pour over the dhokla along with grated coconut and cilantro leaves.
  • Cool before cutting into pieces.
For Green Chutney:
Ingredients:
Green Chillies - 3
Coconut - 1/2 cup
Coriander Leaves/Cilantro - a bunch
Few mint leaves
Lime - 1(I used 1/2 lemon)
Salt to taste

Method:
  • Grind all the above ingredients except coriander leaves/cilantro adding enough water to a smooth paste.
  • Add cilantro and grind again.
  • Serve with Dhoklas.
Khaman Dhokla goes to Indian Cooking Challenge hosted by Srivalli.


Pooja.

Other Snacks:

Pazham PoriFrench ToastPhotobucketPhotobucketUnnakkayi

100 comments:

Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

Beautiful and lovely Dhoklas. Looks so yummy dear.

Sailaja Damodaran said...

Lovely click.....very colourful

Pari Vasisht said...

Perfect looking Dhoklas.

Sushma Mallya said...

looks really very soft and delicious pooja....

Suparna said...

yumm..tempting dhoklas..green chutney sure a good taste and colour combO :P
Happy weekend!
TC

Bon appetit! said...

Great colors and great blog.

chef and her kitchen said...

Nice color of the dhokla's..looks super yummy

Srivalli said...

Beautiful pictures...thanks for joining!

Padma said...

Looks yummy Pooja...

Parita said...

Looks Perfect! love the tempering:)

Vrinda said...

Yummy dhoklas..dhoklas with coriander chutney,fabulous combo....

Anonymous said...

Pooja,dhoklas look so tempting and perfect !! great color and soft...cheers !!

Anonymous said...

Pooja,dhoklas look so tempting and perfect !! great color and soft...cheers !!

Anonymous said...

Pooja,dhoklas look so tempting and perfect !! great color and soft...cheers !!

Kalaivani said...

Dhokla looks awesome,wonderful color.

Sudeshna said...

Hi Pooja,
Thanks for sharing this recipe. couple of days back I tried preparing dhokla, but it got stuck to the bottom of the vessel. I had no idea, where I went wrong :(. I didn't use eno (is it the digestive salt that you get in the medicine shop), I'll try with eno the next time

Anonymous said...

This snack looks delicious! Would be a great appetizer as well!

Medhaa said...

love your pictures, they look perfect

Priyameena said...

Wow...Very Colorful..Love the green chutney too..

lata raja said...

Your Dhoklas havecome so neat and spongy.

Ashwini said...

ATTARACTIVE doklas.. I have a award for u in my blog!!!!

Muneeba said...

I've only had khaman dhokla ONCE in my entire life ... just goes to show that I need more gujju friends ;) Reading through the ingredients, I was surprised to see Eno there ... I had no idea you could actually use it for cooking! I actually have that stuff in my pantry, but only ever used it for upset tummies!

Yasmeen said...

Perfect!love the hot chili chutney on side :D

Pooja said...

Thanks Valar :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Sailaja :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Pari :) I was unsure at first whether it would come out well!

Pooja said...

Thanks Sushma :) It turned out soft and remained as such after cooling down too :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Bon Appetit for dropping by :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Prathibha :) I made it for the first time and I loved it :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Srivalli :) Happy to be part of a great event :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Padma :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Parita :) The tempering gives an added taste! Unfortunately I ran out of curry leaves at the last moment!

Pooja said...

Thanks Vrinda :) Yes it was a nice combo. During my work days I had it for the first time at office, without any chutney and I felt it tasted bland! But this recipe that Srivalli gave was perfect :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Ann :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Sudeshna for dropping by :) Oh I wonder what went wrong with yours! Some have prepared Dhoklas without eno for this event and it came out well. Did you grease your vessel before transferring the batter? Do try with Eno next time. Yes it is available at pharmacies in India. It is also used for cooking.

Pooja said...

Thanks Natasha :) Yes can be had as an appetizer too :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Medhaa :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Priya :) Green chutney went well with Dhoklas!

Pooja said...

Thanks Lata Raja :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Ashwini :) Glad you liked it. Thanks a lot for considering me and passing the award. You made my day :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Ashwini :) Glad you liked it. Thanks a lot for considering me and passing the award. You made my day :)

Pooja said...

Frankly I too had it only once before I made this! When I had it for the first time at my work place I felt it tasted bland. But I loved it when I made this and tasted great with chutney. Yes you are right about Eno..its also used for cooking. In Dhoklas it aids in getting spongy porous dhoklas.

Pooja said...

Thanks Yasmeen :)

Sunshinemom said...

You dhoklas look perfect:)!

Preety said...

i am seeing so many dhoklas today that i am almost tempted to make and have those..looks very soft and spongy in texture..i have to find eno fruit salt as i don't have it in my pantry

Lisa Turner said...

This is new to me, but I just know I would enjoy it. Your photos are lovely!

Unknown said...

They indeed have come out very well.

Pooja said...

Thanks Harini :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Preety :) Today is the posting date and that is why you saw many of them! You may use baking soda instead of eno, but since I havent tried with it, I cant guarantee the texture of dhoklas.

Pooja said...

Thanks Lisa :) You would love this. Do give a try!

Pooja said...

Thanks Sadhana & Muskaan :)

Vijitha said...

Nice clicks! the presentation looks really good. Yummy dhooklla!

Sree vidya said...

Your dhoklas too look perfect.
Thanx for the comments.
Lovely pics

Pooja said...

Thanks a lot Vijitha for dropping by :)

saffronapron.blogspot.com said...

They look really good Pooja.

Purva Desai said...

Khaman dhokla looks perfect......soft and spongy..

Poornima Nair said...

Hey Pooja...the dhpklas have come out great...nice pictures.

Shri said...

Awesome dhoklas esp when served with that green chutney...Yummo

Sharodindu said...

Very nice post! though I am not a cook but found the process clear...
Thanks for sharing!

Sharodindu said...

Very nice post! though I am not a cook but found the process clear...
Thanks for sharing!

Rahin said...

dhokla looks delicious Pooja

Christo Gonzales said...

dhoklas everywhere...these look good - I would love to try them...

kittymatti said...

wow! looks delicious Pooja!!

Unknown said...

Love the vibrant color of the dhokla. Looks too good.

Pooja said...

Thanks Smitha :)

Pooja said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pooja said...

Thanks Purva :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Poornima :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Shri :) Yes it went well with the chutney!

Pooja said...

Thanks a lot Sharodindu for dropping by :) Glad to know that you liked it!

Pooja said...

Thanks Rahin :)

Pooja said...

Thanks DB :) You would love this!

Pooja said...

Thanks Divya :)

ashsdelicacies.blogspot.ca said...

Delicious Dhoklas dear....so colourful....excellent click Pooja

Pooja said...

Thanks Aysha :)

lubnakarim06 said...

Oh wow...delectable....very soft and yum....

Nirvana's Kitchen said...

These look scrumptious :) And they are making me hungry!

Vikis Kitchen said...

Dokhla looks perfect. Nice for event too.

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

That looks great Pooja, very colourful and appealing :)

Ganga Sreekanth said...

colourful dhoklas.........
Please pick up your awards and tag from my blog.

Prasukitchen.blogspot.com said...

Looks delicious Pooja nice click dear !!

anudivya said...

I love the way you have cut the dhoklas. You did great on the challenge.

Seena said...

nannayirikkunnu pooja! :)

Faiza Ali said...

The Dhoklas look so perfect and yummy dear. I have awards and tag for you on my blog dear. Kindly accept it.

Prasukitchen.blogspot.com said...

Pooja Yummy ... looks delicious
Pls collect ur award from my blog dear !!

Science Bloggers Association said...

Nice Blog. Congrats.
-Zakir Ali ‘Rajnish’
{ Secretary-TSALIIM & SBAI }
[Editor- Children’s Poem & Adult’s Poem]

Pooja said...

Thanks Lubna :) Yes they turned out soft and moist. Do try this!

Pooja said...

Thanks Nirvana :) Happy to know that you liked it!

Pooja said...

Thanks Vicky :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Jacqueline :) Yes I love the colour..the colour alone tempts a lot!

Pooja said...

Thanks a lot Ganga for considering me and passing the award and tag :) It means so much to me!

Pooja said...

Thanks Prasu :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Anu :)

Pooja said...

Thanks Seena :) Do try this sometime dear :)

Pooja said...

Thanks a lot Faiza for considering me :) You made my day!

Pooja said...

Thanks a lot Prasu for passing me the award :) Will pick it up soon :)

Pooja said...

Thanks a lot-Science Bloggers Association :)

Maneesh said...

Hi Pooja, you have nice recipes in your blog. Check out Femlina.com. It is India's first women's social network. You can join and share your blogs, photos and videos about your recipes.

Pooja said...

hey pooja dhokla is my most favourite dish.. but i have been very unfortunate as whenever i have tried it the result has been very bad
but ur version is entirely different.. i will try this sooner !
can i have a greedy bite?

Shivali said...

Yummy dhokla.I was surprise to c no ginger garlic there.Simply and tasty with green chutney.