Dhoklaa (Steamed Rice & Lentil Cakes)

 

The batter

1 ½ cups           chokhaa (rice)

½  cup              adad daal

¼ cup               chanaa daal (split chick peas)

¼ cup               tuvare daal  (split pigeon beans)

1/8 teaspoon     methi (fenugreek) seeds

 

6 tablespoon      dahi (plain yogurt)

 

2 ½ teaspoon    salt

1 teaspoon        aadu (ginger), grated

2 teaspoon        lilu marchu (green chili), minced

¼ teaspoon       hardar (turmeric)

3 cloves            lasan (garlic), minced

1 teaspoon        dhaanaa jiru (powdered coriander & cumin seeds)

1 ½ teaspoon    saaker (sugar)

1/8 teaspoon     hing (asafetida)

 

The steaming:

tel (oil)

baking soda

4 tablespoon       limbu (lemon juice), optional

 

The vaghaar (optional)

4          tbl         tel (oil)

1/8        tsp        hing (asafetida)

½         tsp        rai (mustard seeds)

½         tsp        jiru (cumin seeds)

 

The garnish

Some                kothmari (cilantro), chopped

Some                naariyel (coconut meat), grated

 

1         Pick, wash and soak the mixed daals in warm water with fenugreek seeds for 6 to 8 hours.

2         Pick, wash and soak the rice, separate from the daals, in warm water for 6 to 8 hours.

3         Drain excess water and add yogurt to the soaked daal & rice

4         Grind daals and rice separately to get a slightly gritty texture. 

5         Mix the ground daals and rice. 

6         Leave the batter fermenting at room temperature for 8-16 hours.  It should rise to 1 ½ times it’s original height.

7         Add the salt, ginger, green chili, turmeric, garlic, coriander-cumin powder, sugar & asafetida to the batter.

8         Start the steamer. 

9         In a cup, mix the oil and baking soda. If you have waited only 8 hours since grinding, add the lemon juice to the oil/soda mix.

10     To each cup of the batter, add 1 tsp of the oil/soda mix.

11     Spread in a pre-greased steaming dish & steam for 10 to 15 minutes. Let it cool for 2 to 3 minutes, then cut into diamond shapes. Remove from the steaming dish and repeat the steaming/cutting steps for the remainder of the batter.

12     In a skillet, heat the oil, then add the asafetida & mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds start crackling, add the cumin seeds.  Wait until the cumin seeds also get jumpy, then add the dhoklaa pieces.  Fry until each side is a golden brown.

13     Serve garnished with the cilantro & coconut, using a green chutney and yogurt mix as a dip.

 

 

Source: Kokila on January 1988, tested with Afshin and Pankaj for Thanksgiving 1990, and later refined by Kishor