Dhokar Dalna(Fried Lentils Cake Curry) A Bengali Dish

Dhokar Dalna is a traditional Bengali dish.Dhoka is a fried lentil cakes and Dalna means curry.You all must be wondering why this dish is called''Dhokar Dalna''.''Dhoka'' means cheat in hindi.I am not sure the reason behind it.Even Benglis doesn't know the meanings behind it.I think, from outside you won't realize how awesome this dish tastes.We really enjoyed this dish with chapati as our dinner,its a super delicious,flavorful,less spicy and nutritious on the same time too.
It is purely a satvik dish where no onion and garlic are not using at all.This is one of the recipes which are served during their special occasions like Pooja days.During these days they will cook only veg(Niramish).They won't even use onions and garlic on these days.Basically it serves with plain rice.
I am part of the famous South Vs North Challenge,an event started by Divya Pramil  of You too can Cook.She has divided the members into two and those who are born and brought up in North India is named as Northern team and other team is named as Southern team(food bloggers born N brought up in South India).Every month,a blogger from each team will challenge with their traditional recipe and the opposite team have to cook the recipe challenged by the other team.

Nabanita Das of Esho- Bosho-Aahare  challenged the Southern team with the popular Bengali dish ''Dhokar Dalna''  and while Roha of Hyderabadi cuisine challenged Northen team with ''Khubani Ka Meetha'' a dried apricot dessert served during Hyderabadi weddings.I made this dessert 2 days before and we really enjoyed it.

Here is the recipe for Dhokar Dalna
Ingredients:
For Lentils Cake:

1. Chana dal/Bengal gram-3/4cup(since i don't have matar dal, i used bengal gram)
2. Matar dal/split peas gram-1/4cup
3. Ginger paste-1/2tbsp
4. Onion seeds-1tsp
5. Turmeric powder-a couple of pinches
6. Salt to taste 
7. Asafoetida-a pinch
8. Oil for frying

For Curry:

1. Potato-1,medium size,cubed
2. Green chillies-3,slit
3. Tomato-1,small size,chopped
4. Chilly powder-1/2tsp
5. Onion-1,finely chopped
6. Bay leaf-1
7. Cinnamon-1/2''piece
8. Cloves-2
9. Cardamom-1
10. Pepper, crushed-1/2tsp
11. Cumin seeds-1/4tsp
12. Cashew nuts-5-7(soaked in warm water for 10minutes) 
13. Asafoetida powder-a pinch
14. Salt to taste
15. Oil-as required 

Method:

1. Soak chana dal and matar dal for3-4 hours and grind the dals as coarse paste with green chillies.
2. Add onion seeds,turmeric powder,salt,ginger paste to the grounded batter and mix well(i don't use coconut and baking soda).
3. Grease a plate with oil and keep aside.
4. Heat 1tbsp oil in a pan,add asafoetida powder and fry.Add the batter and stir continuously on a low flame until all the water evaporates and the batter leaves from the sides and bottom of the pan.
5. Spread the dough evenly on the greased plate.Keep aside to cool.Cut them into any desired shape with the knife.
6. Shallow fry or deep fry it until they turns light golden brown colour and keep aside.
7. Cut the potatoes into cubes and mix it with turmeric and salt.Fry it until it turns crispy golden colour.
8. Grind the soaked cashew nuts into a fine paste and keep aside.
9. Heat oil in a kadai,add cumin seeds,bay leaf,finely chopped onion,grated ginger,green chillies stir for few minutes.Add chopped tomatoes and  cook until it cooks well.
10. Now add chilly powder,turmeric,pepper powder and salt and cook until the oil oozes out.Add fried potatoes to this and close the lid and cook for few minutes.Add some water and bring it to boil again.
11. Add cashew nut paste to this and mix well.Add fried dhoka /lentil cake to this gravy.Adjust the salt and seasonings.
12. Sprinkle garam masala powderand 2tbsp ghee on top of it.Cover and switch off the flame.Now Dhokar Dalna is  ready to serve.

  

Notes:

1. While stirring the batter in 1tbsp oil,make sure that it all the water should evaporate completely and the batter should leave from sides and bottom of the pan. 
2. You can shallow fry the dhoka pieces.Make sure that it won't get over fried,else the pieces won't absorb the gravy.
3. Once the fried pieces are added to the gravy,don't forget to serve immediately,else the the gravy becomes thick soon. 

Serve warm with Rice or Chapati.....Enjoy the dish..... 

Happy Cooking!!!

   

Khubani Ka Meetha(Dried Apricot Dessert With Custard)

Khubani ka meetha is an authentic traditional Hyderabadi desert recipe.It is a must dessert served in Hyderabadi weddings.It is made out of dried apricots.''Khubani'' means apricot in urdu language and ''meetha''meaning sweet that's why it is called''khubani ka meetha''.

Today I made this classic Hyderadadi dessert for the Potluck Party Event hosted byJagruti's Cooking Odyssey.
I made the yummy dessert from my friend Avika Nair's A day through my life. She brought ''Khubani Ka Meetha'' to the party.Avika's pictures were so tempting and it looks delicious.This was something very new to me and never tried it before.....Avika,Thank you so much for sharing this dish with us.

There are numerous advantageous of eating apricots,both fresh and dried on a regular basis.Apricots are rich in vitamins A,B2,B3 and C.It contains high amount of  magnesium and phosphorous and this helps to improve the function of brain.Magnesium can also helps to normalize the blood pressure very effectively.I decided to try this classic dessert with custard.
Ingredients:

1. Dried Apricot-12
2. Sugar-2tbsp
3. Cardamom-2,crushed
4. Lemon juice-few drops
5. Custard powder-2tbsp
6. Milk-3/4cup
7. Sugar-1tbsp(for making the custard)
8. Custard for topping-2scoops  

 Method:

1. Wash and soak dried apricots in water overnight.Make sure you add enough water to cover all the apricots.
2. Remove the apricots from water after the soaking time.Do not throw the soaked water.
3. Heat a saucepan and add the reserved liquid(used for soaking)and the apricots.Allow to boil.
4. When it starts to boil,add sugar and stir well.
5. Mash the apricots and cook the apricots on low flame till you get a thick consistency.
6. Add clove and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.
7. Add a pinch of cardamom powder and cook for 3minutes more  on a low flame. This is the apricot compote.Allow to cool.
8. Meanwhile,make custard.Boil milk and add sugar.
9. Take a small bowl and dissolve custard powder with 3-5tbsp of milk without lumps.Add this to the boiling milk and stir well.Allow to cool.

Assembling:

1. Take a bowl and make desired layers of the apricot compote and vanilla custard.
2. Garnish with chopped apricot nuts or cashew nuts. 

 

Serve chilled with custard,ice-cream or malai and Enjoy...
Happy Cooking!!!
 
   

I am Linking this classic Hyderabadi Dessert to Potluck Party,Cyber Style.....

Thank you so much Shobha keshwani for sharing Kabile tarif Award to me for myMango Payasam /Dessert.

Mushroom(Koon)Thoran /Stir Fried Mushrooms With Coconut

 
Mushroom is neither a vegetable nor a fruit.It's a fungi that grows in a moist environment and has a very short life.It is cultivated and used for thousands of years,both as a food and for their medicinal properties.Mushrooms are the only food that doesn't require sunlight to grow.It contains about 90% water and are very low in calories.They are excellent source of Selenium which helps to reduce prostate cancer.It contains very low amount of sodium and are good source of vitamins B and K and fat.One serving of this gives20- 40% of the daily value of Copper,a mineral that has cardiac-protective properties. 
 
Mushrooms can be cooked in a variety of ways.This is one of my Mom's favorite mushroom preparations.

Here is the Recipe for Mushroom Thoran with coconut:

Ingredients:

1. Mushrooms-450g
2. Grated coconut-1/2cup
3. Small onion/shallots-7-10,sliced
4. Green chillies-4-5,finely chopped
5. Garlic-2 cloves,chopped
6. Curry leaves-2 sprigs
7. Turmeric powder-1/4tsp
8. Mustard seeds-1/2tsp
9. Dry red chillies-2,halved
10. Salt to taste
11. Oil-as required

Mushroom Thoran

 
 Method:

1. Put the mushrooms in a water containing 1/2tsp  turmeric powder for about 10 minutes.Wash them with water.Chop them into small pieces.
2. Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds.Add dry red chilies.
3. Now add the sliced small onions,green chilies,curry leaves, garlic and stir for a couple of minutes.
4. Add turmeric powder and stir.Add the chopped mushrooms and stir for few minutes.
5. Do not add water as water will ooze out from the mushrooms.
6. Now add grated coconut and salt to this and mix well.Saute well for few more minutes or until it turns to dry.
7. Adjust the salt and remove from heat.

Mushroom Thoran/Stir Fried Mushroom With Coconut

 
Serve as Side dish with Rice and Enjoy!!! 

Happy Cooking!!!