Dal Dhokli

I started leaving my son Dhiraj when he was 10 months old with Asha Joshi (fondly known as Asha Moushi) by all of us. They started their creche after Dhiraj started going to their house and soon after that there were many parents who used to leave their kids at Asha Moushi's creche.  She took very good care of Dhiraj and was very patient with him.

 

Dilip Joshi (Kaka) was very fond of Dhiraj and Dhiraj used to call him Baba.  Even when I reached  back home from office, Dhiraj wanted to continue playing at their home as he knew that after he came home he would have to stay indoors :)

I remember a day due to heavy traffic jam and heavy rains, I got late to reach home from office.  I called Moushi and updated her.  She told me not to worry about Dhiraj and also don't worry about the dinner as she would make dinner for us also.

When I got back home..we freshened up and went to pick up Dhiraj... Kaka & Moushi told us to have dinner at their house.   Moushi had made Dal Dhokli and she served this dish piping hot with Ghee to all of us and some home made Nachni Papad ... It was a new dish to us...a perfect combination of spiced whole wheat flour dhoklis simmered in Gujarati dal, this can be classified as a sumptuous one-dish meal. It was  simple but a ful filling meal for us :)

Let me share with you the recipe of this simple dish.

Ingredients :

For the Gujarati Dal :

Tur (Red gram) dal - 1 cup

Red Chilli Powder 1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Asafetodia - 1/2 tsp

Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp

Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp

Jaggery & Salt to taste

Kokam 4 to 5 pieces (soaked in 1/4 cup warm water)

Lemon Juice & Coriander leaves for garnishing

For the tempering :

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Mustard-Cumin seeds-Asafetodia for tempering

Fenugreek Seeds - 1/4 tsp

Cinnamon and Cloves - 2 each

Bay leaves - 1

Dry round chillies - 3 to 4

Slit green chillies - 2

Curry leaves 7 t o 8

Method :

Wash and drain the dal and add to it turmeric and asafetodia along with 2 cups of water.  Pressure cook till the dal becomes soft.   Once it is cooled, blend it well and add the chilly powder, pepper powder, cumin powder, Kokam, jaggery and salt.

Add ghee in a deep pan and add the tempering.  When it starts crackling, add the cinnamon, cloves, fenugreek seeds, round red chillies, and saute for few seconds.  Enusre that the gas is on low flame as there are chances of tempering getting burnt.  Now add the green chillies and curry leaves and again saute for few seconds.   Add the cooked dal mixture to the tempering... Simmer for 3 to 4 seconds

For the Dhokali :

Wheat Flour - 1 cup

Oil - 1 tsp

Red Chilly powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/4th tsp

Cumin Corriander powder 1 tsp

Asafetodia - 1 pinch

Water as required

Salt to taste.

Method :

Combine together all the above ingredients and make a firm dough using required water.

Roll into thick rotis of the dough and cut them into small square pieces.  Drop the cut pieces into the boiling dal along with 1 cup of hot water.  Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.  Serve hot garnished with chopped coriander leaves  and lemon juice.

Do try it out and let me know your feedback and comments!