Dhokar Dalna | Lentil Cakes Curry | SN Challenge for Month Of May | Traditional Bengali Dish

Once again a Happy moment I am going to share you all. SNC - South North Challenge which became really a popular Event among us. The founder of this ethnic idea is Only our Lovely Foodie Friend Divya Pramil owner of "You Too Can Cook- ". Thanks a lot Divya for such a beautiful thinking. Now it seems you all will agree with me that SNC is a lovely Family where apart from challenging, we are sharing recipes to each other groups. Really it is good learning technique for us.By the rules South people challenges North and North people challenges to South. Great Right!!  So Dear... Visit to join This .

And I am really grateful to Divya that she has given a chance to me to host for this Month. Its really a great feeling to me . To get this beautiful opportunity I did not take more than one minute that what will be my hosting recipe. Its none other than a Bengali Delicacy. A Traditional Bengali dish Lentil Cakes Curry  pronounce like Dhokar Dalna here Dhoka is Lentil Cakes and Dalna means Curry. For your kind information in Bengali or you can say in Sanskrit language Dhoka means "to Cheat". But how this name signifies to this recipe, this is just a Mystery! (if somebody knows, let me inform)But Dhokar Dalna is a favourite recipe for all the Bengali. In category It is purely satvik or vegetarian dish where no onion and garlic are using at all. Basically it seems little tricky to do for beginners but once you did it then you will win... My mom is an expert in it. For the first time after marriage when I tried I messed it up... But one proverb is there "Practice Makes Perfect". Finally it worked for me. Then I tried so many times and it became super to superb day by day... But Dearies do not get scare ... You can do it. You all are so expert in cooking so do not give up.Try it. Keep patience.Once you done I know you will like it definitely. Basically It serves with warm plain Rice . So a rich gravy is waiting for you. Keep following...

Recipe by Nabanita Das
Prep time: 2 hours
Cook time: 30 mins

Ingredients

For Lentil Cakes

• 1 and 1/2 Cups Bengal Gram Lentils / Chana Dal
• 1/2 Cup Matar Dal/ Split Peas Dal
• 1/2 Cup Grated Coconut
• 1 tbsp Ginger Paste
• 1/2 tsp  Asafoetida
• 2 tsp Onion Seeds
• 3 Green Chili Chopped
• 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 tsp Baking soda
• Salt to taste
• Oil to fry + 1 tbsp

For Curry

• 3 Potato Medium size (cut into cubes)
• 1 Tomato(chopped)
• 2 Cups Coconut Milk (lightly thicken)
• 1/2 Cup Grated Coconut
• 1 tbsp Ginger paste
• 1/3 tsp Asafoetida
• 2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 2 Bay Leaf
• 3 Green Chili Slit
• 2 tbsp Cumin Powder
• 2 tbsp Garam Masala Powder (see important note below)
• 1 tsp Red Chili powder
• 1 tbsp Turmeric Powder
• 4 tbsp Cashew Raisins Paste
• Salt to taste
• 5 tbsp Oil for gravy(Mustard Oil preferable)

Cooking Directions 

Note : Follow Clockwise 

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1.  Soak Chana Dal and Matar Dal for 4 hrs.
2. Put Dals in to mixi grinder.
3. Grind it into a course paste.
4.  Arrange all spices except oil and asafoetida for Dhaka Batter.

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1. Mix all the dhoka spices into batter mix well.
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a Kadai.
3. Add asafoetida .
4. Add batter, stir continuously until batter turns into a dough and leaves the bottom of the kadai. (most important)

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1. Grease a plate with oil.
2. Spread the dough evenly over the plate.
3. Cut into barfi style .

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1. Deep fry barfi until color turns into light brown color.
2. Keep aside.

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1. Cut potato into cubes.
2. Arrange all spices for curry.
3. Heat oil in kadai.
4. Fry potato cubes with little turmeric powder and salt until golden color.

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Optional

1. Heat oil in kadai.add asofoetida,cumin seeds,bay leaves.
2. Add slited green chili to it.
3. Add Ginger paste fry little.
4. Add chopped tomato again fry.
5. Add all dry spices like red chili powder,cumin powder, 1 tbsp garam masala powder, turmeric powder.
6. Fry for a while until oil comes out.
7. Add grated coconut and coconut milk mix them.
8. Add cashew raisins paste and mix well. 
9. Add fried potato cubes and mix well.
10. Add warm water and adjust seasoning.Bring into boil. (curry will be little medium consistency)
11. Add fried dhoka or lentil cakes.
12. Sprinkle rest of the garam masala powder,cover and switch off the gas.
13. Dhokar Dalna is ready to serve.

Some Important Notes : 

1. To fry batter add only 1 tbsp of oil. do not use more than this otherwise dhoka can be broken during fry.
2. When frying dhoka, fry with caring touch.
3. Some may be broken. do not be upset.It happens:)
4. When curry is ready, do not put all the dhoka at one time, otherwise all the curry will be soaked by dhoka. Keep dhoka and curry separately. When serving add dhoka into curry and serve.
5. To make garam masala - Use 2 inch cinnamon sticks(2 pcs ), 3 green cardamoms, 4 cloves and grind them into mixture. Use this ratio only.
6. To enhance taste add one tsp Pure ghee. (I will suggest only cow milk's ghee i.e. brown color). Otherwise do not add ghee. Still it will be fine.
7. Serve carefully .
8. Serve with plain rice. 

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