What to say about dhoka r Dalna . It's a signature Bengali Dish. Dhoka depicted lentil cakes. This dish is traditionally prepared totally vegetarian - even without using onion and garlic.
Let's not waste time and straight go to the recipe that I got from my Mom.
Ingredients:
To Make Dhoka / Lentil Cake:
3/4 cup Bengal gram (Chana Dal)
1/4 cup Yellow split pea (Matar dal)
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon asafoetida (hing)
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cashew paste
1 tablespoon raisin paste
Bengali Garam Masala powder (Mix -1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder, 1/8 cinnamon powder, 1/8 clove powder)
1 teaspoon salt
Vegetable for Frying +2 tablespoons
Methods:
Soak both the lentils for about 4 to 6 hours (preferably overnight).
Then grind them in a blender to a smooth paste.
Then add everything else to the paste - sugar, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, chili powder, cashew paste, raisin paste, Bengali garam masala powder, and salt.
Mix together and keep it aside for 5 mins.
Then heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a saucepan pan and add asafoetida.
Add the lentil paste and cook for 4 to 5 minutes in medium heat and stir continuously so the mix does not stick to the bottom.
Cook until the moisture evaporates and the lentil mix gets dry.
Spread a foil sheet on a baking tray and pour the cooked dal paste all over the sheet.
Spread it and make it flat about 1/2 inch thick. Leave it for 10 minutes.
Cut Lentil Cake / Dhoka into small diamond-shaped pieces.
Heat oil in a pan and fry Diamond-shaped lentil cakes on medium heat until those turn golden brown in color.
Remove from oil and keep it aside. Fry them in 2 to 3 batches.
Making Dhokar Dalna or Lentil cake curry :
Ingredients :
15 good size diamond-shaped fried Dhoka / Lentil Cakes
1/2 cup green peas.
1/4 Tsp. asafoetida
1/2 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
2 dry red chillis
2 bay leaves
1 chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 Turmeric powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 tablespoon cashew paste
1 tablespoon raisin paste
Bengali Garam Masala powder (Mix -1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder, 1/8 cinnamon powder, 1/8 clove powder)
1 teaspoon of ghee (clarified butter)
2 tablespoons oil
Salt to taste
Methods:
Heat 2 tablespoon oil in the saucepan on medium heat.
Add whole cumin seeds, bay leaf, and dried red chilies, and asafoetida.
Add Chopped Tomatoes and peas and cook for 2-3 minutes on low flame.
Add ginger paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and cumin powder, coriander powder, cashew paste, raisin paste, and cook for 5 mins.
Add 1/4 cup of water to incorporate all the spices together and then cook for 5 more minutes unlit oil separates from the mixture.
Add Salt and Sugar to the mixture.
Now again add two cups of water and bring it to a boil.
Add the fried lentil cakes/ dhokas carefully and cook for 5 minutes on low flame.
Add Ghee and Bengali garam masala powder and cook for few more minutes.
Turn off the heat, when you are happy with the gravy consistency.
Enjoy Lentil Cake curry / Dhoka r Dalna with steamed rice.
