Dhokar Dalna (ধোকার ডালনা)

Fried lentil cakes in a spicy tomato-based gravy — a unique Bengali vegetarian dish bursting with flavour.

Cuisine: Bengali (West Bengal) · Style: Curry · Protein: Lentils · Total time: 60 minutes · Difficulty: hard · Servings: 4 · Spice: 3/5

Ingredients

• 1 cup chana dal, soaked 4 hours
• 1 tsp cumin paste
• 1 tsp ginger paste
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 2 tomatoes, pureed
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 3 tbsp mustard oil
• Salt to taste

Steps

1. Grind soaked chana dal to a coarse paste with ginger and cumin.
2. Steam or microwave the paste until set firm. Cut into diamond shapes.
3. Shallow fry the dhoka pieces until golden on both sides.
4. In another pan, heat oil, temper cumin and bay leaves.
5. Add tomato puree, turmeric, chilli powder, and sugar. Cook 5 minutes.
6. Add water to make a medium gravy.
7. Add fried dhokas and simmer 10 minutes.
8. Serve hot with steamed rice.

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