Dhokar dalna

Dhokar dalna is one of the oldest recipes, which is of absolute Bengali origin.It is d delicious dish in bengal
Dhoka is a mixture of two types of pulses, and the curry with very little spice is called Dhokar Dalna.

Ingredients:

Yellow split pea (Matar dal): 40gms

Bengal gram (Chana Dal): 160gms

Refined wheat flour (Maida): 1 tablespoon

Potatoes: 2 medium sized

Sugar (Chini): 1 teaspoon

Black pepper : 1 teaspoon

Asfoetida (Hing): 1 pinch

Fennel seed (Mouri):  ½ teaspoons

Cinnamon powder (Dar chini guro): 1 pinchr

Cardamom powder (Elaichi): 1pinch

Nigella (Kala jeera): 1 teaspoon full

Cumin Seeds (Jeera): ½ teaspoons

Turmeric powder : 1 ½ teaspoons

Red Chili powder : 1½ teaspoon

Mustard oil  for frying

Salt to taste

For the Dhoka:

• Grind both the pulses together in a powder. Grind it well so that it becomes absolutely powdery.
• Alternately you can also soak the pulses for about 2 to 3 hours and then make a paste of the soaked pulses.
• Add salt, ½ teaspoons each of turmeric powder, ½ teaspoons of red chili powder, turmeric powder, black pepper, cumin seeds;  refinedwheat flour, sugar, asafoetida, cinnamon powder, cardamom powder and 1 teaspoon of nigella to the dough.
• If you have dry grinded the pulses then add water and make thick dough. Keep it for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Heat ½ teaspoons of oil in an wok. Add the dough and toss for 2 to 3 minutes or till the dough become quite dry.
• Spread the tossed dough over a plate with almost an inch depth. Cut it into small diamond shapes. The dhoka is now ready to fry.Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the dhokas till they get hard and the inside also gets cooked. You can prick them with a knife. If the knife comes out with sticking, then the inside is also cooked.
• For the Dalna:
  • Cut thepotatoes in medium size square pieces.
  • Heat oil in a wok. Fry the potatoes till they are golden brown.
  • Add the cumin seeds to it along with turmeric and chili powder.
  • Pour in water and salt.
  • Now cook till the gravy thickens and the potatoes are cooked well.
  • Carefully drop the dhokas and just boil for 2 minutes in low flame. Do not toss else the dhokas will break.
  • Take it out of flame and Dhokar Dalna is ready to serve. Dhokar Dalna serves as a wonderful side dish for vegetarian meals.
  • so have a yummy taste of this and try to send your comments .