Many people are passionate about cooking and eating. They want to try new dishes every other day. A single ingredient can be used to create a variety of dishes. Similarly, lentils are used to make many dishes, such as pakodas, sambar, etc. You can make dal dhokli from pigeon peas.
When it comes to cooking, this task mostly falls to the women of the household. And the biggest irony is that women who can prepare a wide variety of dishes for their families and relatives often choose to make something light and eat it when they have to cook for themselves.
Because women are so tired of cooking for others that they choose the simplest dishes for themselves. These simple, yet quick-to-prepare dishes include khichdi and curd rice, along with a truly unique dish called dal dhokli. While this dish is a part of Gujarati cuisine, you'll find variations of it in different regions of the country.
Today, we're telling you the story of dal dhokli, whose roots range from ordinary housewives to royal families.
The story of Prithviraj and Sanyogita
Dal Dhokli has been a part of Gujarat's culture and heritage for generations. It is a staple dish, a staple in every household in Gujarat, from small to large. The origins of Dal Dhokli are as fascinating as the dish itself.
It is said that when Prithviraj Chauhan, the Rajput king of Delhi, abducted Princess Sanyogita of Kannauj from her swayamvar, he was pursued not only by the army of Kannauj but also by the army of Mohammad Ghori. By that time, Mohammad Ghori had begun to establish his foothold in India, and Prithviraj posed his greatest challenge.
At that time, the kingdom of Ajmer was under siege, and the supply of fresh vegetables and meat to the kingdom was cut off. Legend has it that an elderly cook in the palace kitchen was deeply troubled by this situation. It was his responsibility to serve a nutritious meal to the royal family.
And with a new queen arriving at the palace, how could he not prepare something delicious? The clever cook then thought that whatever lentils were available could be mixed with leftover rotis, and this experiment resulted in a very early version of dal dhokli, which was modified over time to take its current form.
'Afternoon Ladies Lunch' is Dal Dhokli
Besides being a historical dish, Dal Dhokli is a very special dish for the women of the house. Dal Dhokli is a perfect combination of health and taste. Yes, Dal Dhokli is as good for health as it is tasty.
Dal Dhokli is her favourite among Gujarati dishes and some lazy person has made this dish. Dal dhokli is an "Afternoon Ladies Lunch." This is a time when most of the family is out and the women are at home. So, they wouldn't bother to make anything special for themselves, but would quickly make something and finish the work.
Often, four or five women from the neighborhood would gather together at someone's house to make and enjoy dal dhokli. However, dal dhokli has now spread from the streets of Gujarat to many parts of the country, and you'll find different versions.
While the typical Gujarati dal dhokli is sweet and sour, the dal dhokli made in Kathiawar is quite spicy. Rajasthan produces a savory dal dhokli with spices. Some health experts have even started making gluten-free millet dal dhokli.
Dal Dhokli is easy to make and tastes amazing. You should definitely try this Gujarati dish once. Learn how to make it.
What do you need to make dal?
- 1 cup arhar dal
- 2 teaspoons peanuts
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- Half teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 pinch asafoetida
- 1 whole red chili
- 5-6 curry leaves
- 1 finely chopped onion
- 1 finely chopped tomato
- 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
- Half teaspoon turmeric
- Half teaspoon red chili powder
- Half teaspoon cumin powder
- Half teaspoon coriander powder
- Half teaspoon garam masala
- Jaggery
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Finely chopped coriander leaves
- What do you need to make Dhokli?
- 1 cup wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon carom seeds
- Salt to taste
- oil
How to make Dal Dhokli
How to make dal:
- To make dal, first wash the lentils 2-3 times. Then, add 1 cup of lentils, 2 cups of water, peanuts, and 1 teaspoon of oil to a pressure cooker and cook for 3-4 whistles. Mash the lentils.
- In a pan, add 1 teaspoon of ghee, a pinch of asafoetida, 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds, 1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds, 1 whole red chili, and 5-6 curry leaves.
- Fry finely chopped onions. When the onions turn golden brown, add finely chopped tomatoes and ginger-garlic paste and fry.
- Add the boiled lentils, 1 cup of water, and mix well. After mixing, add turmeric, chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and garam masala.
- Stir well, then add jaggery, salt, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Bring the lentils to a boil again.
How to make Dhokli:
To make Dhokli, first, add 1 cup wheat flour, turmeric, chili powder, carom seeds, salt, and 2 teaspoons oil in a vessel. After mixing the spices, knead the dough.
Do not knead the dough too tight. Now make a ball of dough. Roll it into the desired shape.
If you want, you can also shape it like Namkeen. Now add the Dhokli pieces to the boiling lentils and mix well.
Add the Dhokli, cover the lentils, and cook for 10-15 minutes. Finally, add finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve with roti or rice.
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