Zealver Clubs

Dhokla made with moong dal

Reviewed by Dr Namrata Bagaria, MBBS, MPH (Harvard)Last reviewed

Snack Serves 4 20 minutes, plus soaking overnight

Tea is where most of the unhelpful eating of the day happens. Biscuits, namkeen, something fried, eaten without much thought. Having a batch of dhokla in the fridge changes that without requiring any willpower.

Made with moong dal rather than gram flour it is higher in protein and lighter on the stomach, and because it is steamed there is no oil in it to speak of.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup split yellow moong dal
  • 2 tbsp curd
  • 1 inch ginger and 1 green chilli, ground to a paste
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tsp fruit salt (Eno) or 1/2 tsp baking soda with 1 tsp lemon juice

For the tempering

  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • A few curry leaves
  • 1 tbsp chopped coriander
  • 1 tbsp grated coconut, optional

Method

  1. 1

    Soak the moong dal in plenty of water for four hours or overnight. Drain it well.

  2. 2

    Grind it with the curd and a very little water to a smooth, thick batter. Stir in the ginger and chilli paste, turmeric and salt, and leave it to rest for twenty minutes.

  3. 3

    Grease a steamer plate. Bring water to the boil in your steamer or a covered pan.

  4. 4

    Stir the fruit salt into the batter, mix gently for a few seconds only, and pour it straight into the plate. It must go into the steam immediately or the rise is lost.

  5. 5

    Steam for twelve to fifteen minutes, until a knife comes out clean. Let it cool a little before cutting into squares.

  6. 6

    Heat the oil, add mustard seeds, and when they pop add the curry leaves. Pour over the dhokla and scatter with coriander and coconut.

Good to know

  • The fruit salt is what makes it rise, and it works for seconds rather than minutes, so have everything ready before you add it.
  • It keeps two days covered in the fridge. Steam for two minutes to freshen, or eat at room temperature.
  • Serve with a coriander and mint chutney rather than a sweet one if blood sugar is a consideration.
  • Soft, moist and easy to swallow, which makes it one of the better snacks for anyone with a dry mouth or dentures.

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