There are few things that I won't want to confess, still can't escape and today was one such thing. I completely forgot announcing a challenge during December Challenge. That's the reason why there was no ICC done during January. Luckily I had my senses around next time round And as always whoever talks to me about ICC, was thrust with the task of selecting a recipe.
It fell on PJ, who was asking me about January ICC. Bang she got the responsibly of picking one out for me. Sweet lady she is, she did the job right away, however I took few more days to finally announce it. Though while announcing I was elated that I was finally going to make the Baatis, that had captured my sense few years ago.
As things would always be, I end up making it the very last moment. Only this time I got very lucky. PJ who was my partner in crime this edition, also ended up making it today. So she got another task on her. She was to prepare and then let me know which recipes turned out well. She had listed couple of them, and I also added few more. I was thinking with just about an hour or so, I was I to read through and experiment. Finally when PJ guiding me, I selected just those recipes and ended up with a classic plate on hand. Rajasthan was right on our table for dinner.
So for Indian Cooking Challenge this month, we traveled all the way to Rajasthan to get their rustic Baatis home. I only wish I had time to bake those, anyway I am sure I will be making these again.
Though I don't normally like to crowd more than two recipes in a post, I think this one demands a single post. With so many step by step, this post is going to be one long one!
Rajasthani Daal
Adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor
Ingredients Needed:
To be boiled together
Split moong dal - 3/4 cup
Bengal gram / chana dal - 1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder a pinch
Ginger, grated 1" piece
For tempering
Pure ghee - 2 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Asafoetida a pinch
Dried red chillies, broken - 3
Onion, chopped - 1/2 small
Red Chilli powder - 1 tbsp
Dry mango powder / Amchur - 1/2 tsp
How to make the Dal
Wash and take the dals in a pressure cooker along with turmeric powder, ginger. Add enough water to cover the dals. Pressure cooker for 3 -4 whistles.
Wait for the pressure to fall, then gently mix with ladle.
Heat a kadai with ghee, add cumin seeds, asafoetida and dry red chillies and as cumin seeds begin to change colour, add onion. Cook till onion turns light brown.
Add red chilli powder and cooked dal. Add half a cup of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for ten minutes.
Add amchur and stir to mix well.
Serve hot with baati.
Baatis
Adapted from Tarladalal
For the Baatis
Ingredients Needed
For the baatis (makes 10 - 12 baatis small ones)
Whole wheat flour - 1 cup
Semolina / Rava - 1/2 cup
Besan / Bengal gram flour - 2 tbsp
Milk - 3/4 cups or as much need to knead to a tight dough
Melted Ghee - 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
Oil For Frying
For the baatis
In a bowl, take the wheat flour, rava, besan, ghee and salt. Mix well. Then add milk and knead into a firm dough. Knead well for 5 to 7 minutes.
Divide the dough into 10 equal portions and shape each portion into an even sized round. Flatten the rounds lightly using your thumb to make an indentation in the centre of the baati.
Boil water in a broad vessel and drop the baatis in the boiling water. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes over a high flame.
When the baatis are done, drain and keep aside.
Heat a kadai with oil, gently drop the baatis into the oil and cook over sim flame till it is done.
Drain once it is cooked on both sides.
Arrange the baatis on a serving plate, break each baati into two pieces and pour melted ghee on the baatis.
Notes:
The baats can be cooked on grill of the tandoor or in Ovan. In Tandoor you can cook for 20 - 25 mins (without boiling them).
Alternatively bake the boiled baatis in a pre-heated oven at 200°C (400°F) for 10 to 15 minutes turning them over occasionally.
Or even deep fry them in hot ghee instead of cooking them in a tandoor.
Choorma / Churma
Adapted from Priya
Ingredients Needed
Wheat Flour - 1 cup
Sooji - 2 tbsp
Besan - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Milk as required to knead
Ghee - about 2-3 tbsp
Mixed Nuts like Raisins, Cashew, Almonds
Ghee for deep frying
How to make Choorma
In a bowl take the wheat flour, sooji, besan, pinch of salt and mix in milk to knead to a stiff dough. Pinch out small balls and flatten the balls.
Heat a mix of ghee, oil, fry the buts and keep it aside.
Then fry these balls. Once the balls cool down, grind them to coarse powder in mixer.
Add about 2 tsp ghee and the sugar to the fried balls. Keep some fried nuts for garnish and rest for grinding along with the fried balls.
How to serve:
Take the above prepared choorma mixture in a serving bowl and garnish it with some mixed nuts.
As per the sources, Choorma is usually eaten with Dal and Baati as well
To serve the whole thing, you got to break the baatis, pour ghee, next pour Dal and eat the choorma on the side. Else you can also mix some dal with the choorma and enjoy. This of course is an acquired taste. However the Dal Baati was a classic combination.
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To all my ICC members, please link your post to Mr. Linky
Recipe
Dal Bati Churma ~ Rajasthan Special Step by Step | Indian Cooking Challenge - January
Tried this recipe?Mention @spicingyourlife_ or tag #spicingyourlife_!
Preeti Garg says
Look Delicious... I'm also using boiling nd frying method for bati... lovely taste..
Nivedita Thadani says
hi Valli,
Thanks for choosing this one dear, I always thought of making it and could not. You pushed me to make this and I really enjoyed the whole feast 🙂
Priya says
Omg, wat a spread, you have done simply fabulous..Loving ur stepwise pictures,mine will be posting tonite.As am yet to make churma.
Nutan says
Looks awesome! I have posted mine. I enjoyed making this dish.
divya says
looks delicious...
kausers kitchen says
Wonderful post dear, dal bati looks delicious.
Harini-Jaya Rupanagudi says
Just linked my entry..We thoroughly enjoyed the Rajasthani spread for dinner the other day. I appreciate your effort in doing the step wise pictures. I could never do it 🙂
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
such a well explained and detailed post!! very helpful stepwise as usual!!
Padmajha PJ says
Enjoyed being your partner in crime Srivalli. Loved the trio 🙂
Chef Mireille says
I know I'm late in posting - it will go up tomorrow - I still have to edit photos, etc. I just finished making it today but I just have to say it was SO DELICIOUS - Today my lunch was amazing because of you 🙂
Chef Mireille says
mine is finally up and posted...thx
Pravina Parikh says
step by step pictures so easy to
make thanks