Dhokla

Dhokla is a yummy dish from North India, especially Gujarat. Now a days most of the Indian dishes are very popular and available in any corner of the world I can say. Especially children love to have this Dhokla, even the elders do not fall behind to have this dish. This is a steamed snack and it is prepared with Besan  (chenna dal) flour, curd and very little spice. Dokla is a healthy dish and we can have this  food  for breakfast, snack in the evening or for dinner too.

Besan flour is made of Channa dal and it contain proteins vitamins minerals and it is gluten free. Besan has high nutritive value, good for weight loss and helps to control diabetes.
Medium sized Rava (Samolina) is also added with besan to give a good texture to dokla.
Rava is high in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and fibre with some iron, zinc, manganese and copper. It is very low insaturated fat, cholesterol and sodium and contains zero trans fatty acids. It is high in vitamin E and contains a fair amount of the B complex vitamins. (Especially folic acid). Samolina has a low glycemic index which is good news for people wishing to control or reduce their weight and blood sugar and diabetics.
This Dhokla recipe is very easy and can be prepared with little spices and definitely loved by all age group people. I have not added any cooking soda while preparing the dough. Eno salt should be added just before cooking. Remember to use sour curd to get good result.

Things Needed :
Besan flour : 2 cups
Rava (medium size) : 2 Table spoons.
Sour curd : 1 Cup
Salt : to taste
Water : Required
Oil 1 Table spoon.
Mustard seeds : 1 Tea spoon
Sugar : 1 Tea spoon
Curry leaves : 8 to 10
Eno Salt: 1 Table spoon
Green chilly : 1

Method :
1. Take a big bowl and put besan, rava, salt and curd. Mix it nicely. Wash and cut green chilly and curry leaves and keep it aside.

2. Add water if required (idli dough consistency) and mix it nicely and keep it aside for 5 to 6 hours to ferment.

3. Now take the ferment dough, mix it thoroughly.
4. Keep ready the pressure cooker or Idli cooker on the fire. Put 2 to 3 cups of water at the bottom of the cooker and keep a bowl upside down. Keep a plate on the top of the bowl.
5. Apply oil to the dokla container and keep it aside. ( any bowl or plate can be used which is fitting inside the cooker. Pressure cooker container also will do).
6. Now keep the idli cooker or pressure cooker on the fire and heat.
7. Add Eno salt to the ready dough and mix it properly and pour this dough to the oil applied container and keep it in the idli cooker and cover the lid.
8. Steam for 15 to 20 minutes and put off the gas.

9. Now remove the ready dhokla from the container and place it on a plate.

10. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Put oil, mustard seeds and let it spurt.
11. Add curry leaves and cut green chilly to the spurt and put off the gas. Put a spoon of sugar to the spurt mixture and add 1 table spoon of water. Mx it well.
12. Put the spurt mustard mixture on the top of the Dhokla and spread it nicely . Cut them in to small pieces.

Serve this Dhokla with your choice of chutney .

Note : You must mix the dough nicely ( You can use an egg beater to smoothen the dough).
You can also use coriander leaves to decorate the Dhokla. Do not use lot of water either to prepare the dough or to the spurt mixture. Good texture dough will result in good, soft Dhokla. No need to add any extra bicorbonate Soda or cooking soda.

Cooking Time 20 minutes.
Preparation time :10 minutes.
Time to ferment : 5 to 6 hours.
Serves : 3 to 4

Radish + Gooseberry Dal

Ready to serve Radish + Goose berry Dal 

 Radish is a root vegetable and it has got immence medicinal values. Radish is very good for the liver and stomach. It acts as a powerful detoxifier. Radish is the best medicine for constipation since it contain very high fibre. It is considered as roughage. It helps to heal the symptoms of the piles very quickly. It also help to cure the urinary disorders. It helps to reduce the blood pressure since it is a very good source of potassium. Radish is also good for diabetes. Radishes contain vitamin - C, phosphorus, zinc and vitamin B Complex which are good for the skin. Radishes have anti - pruritic properties and can be used as effective treatment for insect bites and bee stings. Not only above said benifts of the radish it is good medicine for fever, respiratory disorders, bronchitis and astama, and gallbladder, a good appetizer, regulates metabolism, improves the blood circulation, obesity and gastric problem.
Goose Berry is well known for its endeavoring properties and its nutritional benifits. It is enriched with great vitamin C and contain Iron and vitamin too. Consumption of gooseberry prevents many health diseases and empowers the strength.  It is said that regular intake of amla juice makes the skin glow and hair strong.
Radish + Goose berry Dal recipe is a healthy dish and you can have them with chapatis,pooris, rice, rotis, idli and dosas too. Its tasty and easy to prepare. Its not much of spice and good for all age group people.

Things Needed:

Radish (Mooli) : 3 to 4 (medium sized)
Goose berry : 2 ( medium size)
Toor dal : 1/2 Cup
Jeera : 1 Tea spoon
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Table spoons
Curry leaves : 6 to 8 leaves
Oil: 1 Table spoon
Mustard seeds: 1/2 Tea spoon
Ingh or Asafoetida : a pinch
Salt: as required
Water : required
Lemon : 1/2 rind juice
Turmeric powder: a pinch
Ginger : 1 Tea spoon (grated)

Method:
1. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of Radish and wash again.
2. Wash green chilly, curry leaves and coriander leaves and cut it into small.
3. Cut radish into small pieces or according to your wish.

4. Grate goose berry and keep it aside.
5. Wash and pressure cook Toor dal and keep it aside to cool down.
6. Cook radish separately with little water till its soft.
7. Now keep the pan on the fire and heat. Add mustard seeds and 1/2  tea spoon of jeera.
8. Let the mustard seeds spurt. Add curry leaves, green chilly and ingh to it.

9. Add cooked toor dal, ginger and radish. Add pinch of turmeric and salt to it.

10. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in between so that it does not get burnt at the bottom.
11. Now add grated gooseberry and coriander leaves.

12. Mix it well and serve with chapati or Hot rice with a spoon of ghee on the top.

Note:  Adding gooseberry may turn the dal little blackish. No need to be worried. The taste does not change. The colour changes since it has a strong amla content. You can also add 1 tea spoon of lemon juice if you like tangy taste. You can also add little jaggery. You can also grind little coconut and jeera and add it to the dal and boil for 3 to 4 minutes. The taste differ. Adding garlic also will be good (optional).
Time : 40 minutes
Servings : 4