Today I am going to make a delicious side dish recipe made with Lentils. It is Dhokar Dalna. It is a traditional Bengali dish and very popular all over Bengal.It is a dish for special occasions and the making of the dish is not very difficult.
Cooking time – 45 minutes. Serve – 4
Ingredients – For the dhoka
1.Bengal gram (chana dal) – 1 cup (soaked in water for 4 hours)
2.Yellow split peas (mator dal) – 1/2 cup (soaked in water for 4 hours)
3.Ginger paste – 1/2 tsp.
4.Garlic paste – 1/2 tsp.
5.Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp.
6.Cumin powder – 1/2 tsp.
7.Chilly powder – 1/2 tsp.
8.Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp.
9.Salt – 1 tsp.
10.Sugar – 1/4 tsp.
11.Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp.
12.Asafoetida (hing) – a pinch.
Method –
1.Take the lentils and adding 1 cup of water grind to a paste.Keep the paste aside. In a small bowl add ginger,garlic,turmeric,chilly,cumin,garam masala and 1/2 cup of water, mix well. Keep the masala mix aside. Grease a flat dish with little oil.
2.Heat 2 tbsp.of oil in a frying pan, add cumin seeds.When cumin looks brown add hing, fry for 2 seconds. Add the masala mix,sugar and salt.In slow flame saute until the raw smell of the masala goes off. Add the lentils paste, mix well. Stir continuously until the mixture becomes sticky (not dry). Transfer the mixture to the greased dish, spread and press gently with the back of a spoon. Let it rest for 10 minutes. Cut into diamond or square shape.Keep the lentils cakes in a flat dish.
3.Heat 1/2 cup of oil in a frying pan, when hot reduce the heat. Fry the lentils cakes until brown on both sides.Fry 3 to 4 cakes at a time. Remove the fried cakes from the oil,keep aside.
Ingredients for the gravy –
1.Onion – 1 (chopped)
2.Ginger paste – 1/2 tsp.
3.garlic paste – 1/2 tsp.
4.Tomato – 1 (chopped)
5.Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp.
6.Bay leaves – 2
7.Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp.
8.Cumin powder – 1/2 tsp.
9.Chilly powder – 1/2 tsp.
10.Salt to taste.
11.Sugar – 1/4 tsp.
12.Ghee – 1 tsp.
13.Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp.
14.Cashew nuts – 8
Method – Grind cashew nuts with 1/2 cups of water into a paste.
1.Heat oil in the same pan,add cumin seeds and bay leaves.When cumin looks brown add onion. fry till golden brown. Add tomato, saute for 2 minutes on slow flame. Add ginger,garlic,turmeric, chilly, cumin, sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Saute until the raw smell of the masala disappears. Add cashew paste,saute for 2 minutes on slow flame. Add 3 cups of water and salt, let it bring to boil.
2.Add the fried lentils cake, cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat, add ghee and garam masala powder. Cover the pan,give 30 minutes standing time. Dhokar Dalna is ready to serve. Garnish with raisins and cashews, serve with steamed Rice/ fried Rice/Pulao or Roti/Paratha.
