Sooji Khaman Dhokla

Dhokla is a very popular Gujrati dish which can be served for breakfast, brunches or as a snack. Dhoklas are basically savoury steamed cakes made of either gram flour(besan) or semolina (sooji). Since these are steam cooked, its a very healthy option of snacking.

Ingredients

For Batter
1 1/2 cups Sooji/semolina
3/4 th cup yogurt
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 tsp chopped ginger
1 tsp chopped green chillies (optional)
1/2 tsp haldi/turmeric powder
1 1/2 tsp ENO Fruit Salt
Table Salt as per taste
Water (as needed)

For Tempering
5 tsp vegetable oil
2 tsp Rai/Mustard seeds
10-15 Curry Leaves
3 slit green chillies (Optional)

For Garnish
2 twigs Coriander Leaves/Cilantro


Procedure

For Batter

1. Take sooji/semolina in a bowl and coat it nicely with oil. Keep aside.
2. To the yogurt, add ginger, green chillies, haldi and salt.
3. Add the sooji from the other bowl to yogurt mix.
4. Gradually add water to form a thick batter (as that of pancakes or dosa)
5. Cover and let it stand for 15 mins.
6. After 15 mins, you will find that the batter has got thickened. It should be of a consistency that when you drop a spoonful of the batter into a bowl it should flop into the bowl.
P.S If the batter has turned out too thick in 15 mins then add some more water to reach the desired consistency.
7. Add the ENO Fruit salt to the batter and mix nicely.

For Steam cooking the Dhoklas
1. Grease the Dhokla make plate or any steel plate in case you donot have a dhokla maker(as shown in the video) with vegetable oil.
2. Add the Dhokla batter to the plate and steam it for 15 mins in simmered heat.
3. After 15 mins, to check if the Dhoklas are done, pierce the surface with a toothpick or fork. If it comes out clean then your Dhokla is done.
P.S You will also notice that after you take the Dhokla plate out of steam, small holes start to appear on the surface of the dhoklas in couple of minutes. This indicates that your dhoklas are done and are very airy and soft.
Yippeee congratulations!!!

For Tempering

1. In a small saucepan, heat oil.
2. Add the mustard seeds and let it splutter.
3. Add the Curry leaves (and green chillies if adding)
4. Turn off the heat.

For Garnish

1. Tear out cilantro leaves and sprinkle them over the dhokla surface.
2. Spread the prepared tempering with oil all over the dhokla surface.

Let it stand for 5 mins and then cut out the pieces and enjoy the yummy fruit of hard work you have put in to create this amazing Dhokla.