My first attempt at the most authentic Rajasthani dish - Dal Bhati and Choorma (of course I did not attempt the Choorma this time). The Dal Bhati for breakfast was simply amazing. I chose the healthy route, avoiding excessive use of Ghee which otherwise is the case with authentic Dal Bhati.
For the Dal:
- Toor Dal - 100 grams
- Moong Dal - 50 grams
- Urad Dal - 50 grams
- Channa Dal - 50 grams
- Coriender Leaves - 1 bunch finely chopped
- Tomatoes - 2 chopped
- Garam Masala powder - 1 tsp
- Cumin powder - 1 tsp
- Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
- Jeera - 1 tsp
- Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
- Green Chillies - 2 finely chopped
- Ginger - 1/2 inch, finely grated
- Pulao Pattha (Bay Leaves) - 1 or 2
- Dalchini (Cinnamon) - 1-2 sticks (1/2 inch)
- Salt to taste
- Oil for tadka
For Bhati
- Whole Wheat flour (Chappati Flour) - 200 grams
- Besan flour - 50 grams (people add Rava instead of Besan, you can opt for that too)
- Hung curd (or normal thick yogurt will do) - 1 tbsp
- Milk - 1 tbsp
- Ghee - 1 tbsp
- Carom Seeds (Ajwain) - 1 tsp
- Sugar - a pinch
- Salt to taste
- Water for the dough
- Cooking Oil - 1 tsp
Preparation (time 40 mins)
Dal
1) Soak the Dals for about 20 mins and then pressure cook it for 3 whilstles and keep aside (you can also boil it a wok with water, but time consuming)
2) Take a kadai (wok) add Oil and then add Cumin (Jeera) till it splutters, add green chilles, ginger, Dalchini, Bay leaves, Turmeric powder and Red chilli powder and saute for 2 mins. Add tomatoes and garam masala and saute for another 2-3 mins on low flame.
3) Add cooked dal and mix well and bring to boil, add salt to taste and then sprinkle with chopped Coriender. Your dal is ready !
Bhati 1) Take Wheat and Besan flour in a bowl and add 1tsp of Ghee and oil, salt, sugar, ajwain and mix, now add Curd and mix well and slowly add milk until you get a consistency 'much thicker' than the Chappati dough. Knead for 5 mins and let it rest for 20 mins. (people add baking powder, but I generally don't use it at all)
2) Make small balls from the dough and dimple it in the middle. Keep the balls aside.
3) In a big vessel, big water to boil. Immerse the bhati balls you just made into the boiling water. Let the water keep boiling until the bhati's start rising to the top.
4) Strain all the water and keep the Bhati's aside.
5) If you have a oven, preheat to 180C and bake for 20 mins. If you have a microwave with the grill option, chose that and place the Bhati's on a plate and then grill for 20 mins until its fully done (it should get fully toasted form the outside and get cooked from the inside).
Your Bhati is now ready!!
Crack open the Bhati's, add a dash of Ghee and then serve with Dal ! Your Dal Bhati is now ready !
2) Take a kadai (wok) add Oil and then add Cumin (Jeera) till it splutters, add green chilles, ginger, Dalchini, Bay leaves, Turmeric powder and Red chilli powder and saute for 2 mins. Add tomatoes and garam masala and saute for another 2-3 mins on low flame.
3) Add cooked dal and mix well and bring to boil, add salt to taste and then sprinkle with chopped Coriender. Your dal is ready !
Bhati 1) Take Wheat and Besan flour in a bowl and add 1tsp of Ghee and oil, salt, sugar, ajwain and mix, now add Curd and mix well and slowly add milk until you get a consistency 'much thicker' than the Chappati dough. Knead for 5 mins and let it rest for 20 mins. (people add baking powder, but I generally don't use it at all)
2) Make small balls from the dough and dimple it in the middle. Keep the balls aside.
3) In a big vessel, big water to boil. Immerse the bhati balls you just made into the boiling water. Let the water keep boiling until the bhati's start rising to the top.
4) Strain all the water and keep the Bhati's aside.
5) If you have a oven, preheat to 180C and bake for 20 mins. If you have a microwave with the grill option, chose that and place the Bhati's on a plate and then grill for 20 mins until its fully done (it should get fully toasted form the outside and get cooked from the inside).
Your Bhati is now ready!!
Crack open the Bhati's, add a dash of Ghee and then serve with Dal ! Your Dal Bhati is now ready !
