Instant Dokhla

Nothing says kemcho quite like a Dhokla does !

What is Dhokla ? It is a soft and fluffy savory snack , traditionally made from fermented rice and split chickpeas. This version is made from semolina making it instant and easy.

A saying goes …as many Gujarati homes that exist, so too does a Dhokla recipe. This is my family recipe ( and I’m not even Gujarati ) . It’s an easy , super quick recipe that can be whipped up , eaten and polished within the hour. It’s an all day firm favorite.

It makes for a perfect Diwali breakfast or centre piece to a tea spread . It’s steamed so ticks off the no fried food box and can be made in advance so a great stash away for unexpected guests too. I also think it’s a great savory option to take to the office to wow your colleagues – it’s subtle and pleasant flavours will be a winner.

Worry not if you don’t have a Dokhla steamer ( yes they exist ) , I use a high pot , half filled with water . I steam the Dokhla in a 20cm cake tin – it sits in a springform cake tin ( minus the base )

In a mixing bowl add the following ingredients:

• 1 cup semolina
• 1 cup yoghurt ( maas/inkomasi)
• ¼ cup oil
• 3 TBSP Creamstyle corn
• 1 TBSP chana flour – can be opted out
• Salt ( +- ¾ Tsp )
• ½ tsp dhania&coriander powder
• 1/4 tsp hurdee ( turmeric powder)
• fresh grated ginger ( ½ tsp)
• Green chili ( optional)
• 1 tsp  Baking powder
• 1 sachet ENO (fruit salts ) reserve till end – see method below.

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• Mix together – lightly grease baking tin and prepare pot for steaming
• Add 1tsp ( or 1 sachet) ENO ( fruit salt ) to mixture and mix quickly allowing it  to activate. You do not want to keep the ENO standing in the batter for too long as the batter will become rubery.
• Immediately pour in tin and steam for 15min with pot lid closed and another 5min with pot lid open. Insert a knife to check it’s cooked through

Braise :

• Oil
• Black mustard seeds
• Dry Red Chilli
• Curry leaves
• Sesame seeds

• Heat a little oil in a frying pan – add black mustard seeds , curry leaves and a red chilli – allow to crackle – add sesame seeds
• Spread this Braise over cooked dokra ( no need to put all the oil on – just seeds)
• Ready to enjoy with as is or with a green chutney or yoghurt

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If you are new to Dhokla , I hope you intrigued enough to try it out and if you love dhokla as we do give this simple recipe a try !

Once you try it , you’ll understand why this snack is revered so and how truly satisfying it is.

Upon the rare occasion there are leftovers ( I usually double up and do 2 batches if I want extra as my kids can polish the one tray on a good morning) you could try Dhokla , a green chutney , a dollop of yoghurt and a crowing glory of crispy sev. If you want to take that one step ahead…Dhokla Chaat. Yes , you read right. I’ll leave you thinking .