By Rittwik Naskar
A popular Gujarati snack, Moong Dal Dhokla is made by steaming a fermented batter of rice and green gram. Nutritious, healthy and flavourful, here are some easy steps to make them at home.
1 cup moong dal, peeled ½ cup rice 2 tbsp urad dal, chopped coriander leaves and grated coconut ½ tsp fenugreek seeds, ajwain, mustard seeds ¾ cup sour yoghurt ¼ cup water 1 tsp ginger paste, green chilli paste, garlic paste, salt, fruit salt, and red chilli powder 2 tsp sugar ¼ tsp turmeric powder, and asafoetida 4 tbsp oil 1 sprig curry leaves 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Soak the moong and urad dal along with methi seeds in water for 6-8 hours or overnight. In a separate bowl soak the rice for the same amount of time as well.
Drain the dal and rice and grind them into a paste along with the yoghurt and water. The batter should be thick and coarse and not runny.
Pour out the batter into a mixing bowl, cover it with a lid or cling film and allow the batter to ferment for 4 hours in a warm place.
Mix salt, turmeric powder, hing, green chilli paste, ginger paste, garlic paste, ajwain, sugar and a tbsp oil to the batter. Cover and let it ferment for 2 additional hours.
Grease two 8-9 inch aluminium or steel plates with a tbsp oil. Put the steaming device on medium flame so that the water can come upto temperature.
Mix fruit salt to the batter before steaming so it becomes frothy. Divide the batter between the two plates.
Mix fruit salt to the batter before steaming so it becomes frothy. Divide the batter between the two plates and steam for 10 minutes.
Heat 2 tbsp oil in a small pan over medium heat and add mustard seeds, followed by the sesame seeds. Take it off the heat and add hing, curry leaves, chopped chillies and coriander leaves.
Pour the tempered spices over the steamed dhokla, sprinkle red chilli powder and grated coconut over it. Once cooled cut the dhokla into squares and serve with green chutney.