Dhokla

              Dhokla is a beloved snack from the state of Gujrat from where Indian super Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modiji belongs. Dhokla can served in breakfast or it can be a tea time snack. Traditional Dhokla is prepared with soaked rice or rice flour and chickpea flour. Then batter is fermented overnight and when batter is ready it gose for steaming in a special Dhokla pot or in any wide pot for 15 - 20 minutes. After pulling this airy light dhokla from steamer, tempering is a final touch to this dish. Before tampering it is cut in bite size pieces. For Tampering oil, green papper, curry leaves, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida (hing) and water is used. some like to add sesame seeds too. this is time consuming traditional dhokla now days people prefer instant things so dhokla can be prepared with sooji (semolina) and chickpeas flour for thr instant recipe. For instant dhokla baking soda and baking powder can be used but that is little tricky so people use fruit salt available easily. Rest steaming and tempering is the same as traditional dhokla. Dhokla can be cooked in microwave as well.

                

               Dhokla is often serve with variety of chutneys like green coriander chutney and tamarind dates chutney or mint chutney or garlic chutney as well. As you travel towords Surat or Ahmadabad side this yellow spongy light dhokla will smile in bright yellow color but hot Kutch prefers to sprinkle red papper powder on top of it

               

                Dhokla is popular in almost everywhere in the world now. Modification has happen in dhokla as per region or availability of ingredients. There are tons of type in dhokla like, khatta dhokla , sandwich dhokla, khandvi dhokla, Chinese dhokla, etc.

                     Dhokla will be rare to find in restaurants out of India. But indian stores do carry some ready made pre mixed dhokla packets. You can give it a try. I saw this type of packet from brand Gits. Instructions are given on packet. Or else you can make it from scratch. You will find tons of recipe videos about Dhokla on YouTube. 

                   Happy eating foodies!!!