Dhokla

A quintessential Gujarathi dish, dhokla is nothing but steamed chickpea flour, seasoned with spices and coconut and cilantro.

Makes a great appetizer - healthy and tasty!

Ingredients (serves 6)

1. 2 cups besan / chickpea flour
2. 1 cup yogurt
3. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
4. 2 tablespoons sugar
5. 2 green chillies mashed with a 2inch block of peeled ginger (to make 2 tablespoons of paste)
6. 1 tablespoon lemon juice
7. 1 teaspoon Eno fruit salt or 1/2 tablespoon baking soda
8. salt, as needed
9. 1 tablespoon + a teaspoon of oil
10. 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
11. 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
12. 1/4 teaspoon hing / asafoetida
13. 1/4 cup grated coconut
14. 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
15. some curry leaves
16. extra lemon juice to garnish on top

Preparation:

1. Select a 8-9 inch pan to steam the dhokla. Grease the pan with a little oil 
2. Mix together - besan, yogurt and a little water (about 1/2 cup) and whisk until the batter is smooth and slightly runnier than bajji batter
3.  Let the batter rest for 3 to 4 hours
4.  Then, mix turmeric powder, sugar, and salt into the batter
5. Whisk some more water (if the batter has become too thick) along with green chillies and ginger paste.The batter should not be too runny and should fall in ribbons.
6. Right before steaming, add Eno fruit salt/baking soda and lemon juice (1 tablespoon) on top of the fruit salt and whisk the froth into the batter
7. Pour batter into the prepared pan and steam on high heat (you can use an idli cooker or a pressure cooker without the whistle) for 20 minutes, until a tester comes out clean.
8. When cool, slowly run a knife around the edges of the pan and invert the steamed dhokla onto a plate. 
9. Heat remaining oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds. Add hing, sesame seeds, 1/2 teaspoon sugar,  a little salt, and curry leaves. saute until the sesame seeds begin to change color. Remove from heat and mix in coconut. 
10. Distribute this tempering on top of the dhokla in an even layer. Garnish with chopped cilantro. Cut the dhokla into squares/diamonds and serve with a squeeze of lemon juice

For an extra bite, you can temper cut green chillies and ginger as well.