Dhokar Dalna ( SNC Challenge )

Dhokar Dalna a Traditional begali dish was our SNC  challenge for May 2013. Those who are unaware  SNC challenge is a very interesting event started by Divya Pramil of  You Too Can Cook . In this there are two groups Northern Group and the Southern Group. Every month one member of each team challenges the other team with a recipe . This month it was  Nabanita Das of eshoboshoaahare who challenged us (the southern team)  with Dhokar Dalna and Roha of hyderabadicuisinerecipes who challenged the northern team with Qubani Ka Meetha . Both are lovely challenges .

I made Dhokar Dalna according to Nabanitas instructions and the dish was wonderful. Immensely enjoyed making it and everyone at home was full of praises .


Ingredients :

For the Lentil cakes :

1 cup ..................Chana daal
1/4 cup...............fresh grated coconut
1tsp...................ginger
1/4 tsp................asefoetida (hing)
1/2 tsp...............onion seeds (kalounji)
2.....................green chillies
1/4 tsp.............baking soda
1 tbsp...............oil
salt
oil for deep frying




                                                                          Method :

                                                          Soak chana daal for 2 to 3 hour.
                                        Except hing and oil grind everything with very little water.
                                Now heat oil in a non stick pan add hing and add the ground mixture .

                                          Go on stirring it till it starts leaving the sides of the pan .
                                          Now grease a plate and spread this mix on the plate.
                                                   After 10 minutes cut it into square shapes.

For the Gravy :

2 ....................potatoes ( peeled and cubed)
2....................tomatoes (chopped finely )
2 tbsp..............cashew
1 tbsp................raisins
2 cups ...............coconut milk
1/2 cup...............fresh grated coconut
1/2 tsp..................grated ginger
1tsp.....................cumin seeds
2......................bay leaves
1/4 tsp...............asefoetida (hing)
2.......................green chillies slit
1 tbsp..............( clove, cardamom and cinnamon powder)
1 n 1/2  tsp......chilly powder
1tsp...................turmeric powder
2 tbsp...............oil
salt


                                                                    Method :

                                         Deep fry the potatoes till golden brown and keep aside.
                                            Also deep fry the dhokar squares till golden brown.

                          Now heat oil and add hing, cumin, bay leaves , slit chillies and grated ginger.
                         Stir for 2 minutes and add chopped tomatoes and haldi, chilly pd, and masala pd.
                                                               Saute till oil separates.
                        Now add the coconut and coconut milk along with ground cashew raisin paste.
                                           Saute for 2 minutes and add the fried potato cubes.
                             Add water if needed as the gravy should be semi thick in consistency.
                        While serving again heat the gravy and add the dhokas and serve immediately .



Note : Do not add the dhokas and boil the gravy. The dhokas may break and melt in the gravy.
Also dont add dhokas in advance as they may soak up all the liquid and become too soft and the gravy
will dry up.

 Linking this to :  SNC Challenge  at eshoboshoaahare