HOW TO COOK DHOKAR DALNA

INGREDIENTS:-
(SERVING FOUR)

• Cholar Dal (Bengal Gram Lentil) :- 150 gms.
• Rice (powder) - 50 gms
• Red chili powder - ( quarter tea spoon for dhoka + quarter tea spoon for gravy )
• White oil - 3 table spoon
• Potato :- two (washed ,peeled off and cut in cubes )
• Tomato -1 (cut in cubes)
• Garam Masala powder - 1 tea spoon
• Green peas:- half cup
• Cumin paste :- 1 table spoon
• Coriander paste:-  1 table spoon
• Ginger paste:-  1 table spoon
• Asafoetida - 1 pinch
• Red chili :- 1
• Bay leaf :- 1
• Black Cumin seed :- half tea spoon
• Clove :- 2
• Green Cardamom:- 2
• Sugar half tea spoon
• Salt to taste 
• Water - 1 cup

DIRECTIONS:-

Preparation of dhoka :-

• Soak cholar dal over night in water 
• Next day drain water and make a dry paste of it .
• Mix Cholar Dal and rice powder in a bowl.
• Add salt to taste .
• Add red chili powder (half tea spoon).
• Pour the mixture in a flat tray .
• Put the tray to a steamer and steam till it sets . 
• Let the tray cool down .
• Cut the solid set mixture into squares.
• Heat a frying pan and pour white oil in it .
• Shallow fry the squares and put them aside .

Preparation of gravy :-

• Deep fry the potatoes with a pinch of turmeric and salt in the used oil and put them aside .
• Add Bay leaf  , Black Cumin seed , Clove , Green Cardamom , Sugar to the oil .
• Add asafoetida and red/green fresh chili .
• Add cumin paste , coriander paste , ginger paste and red chili powder and saute for two minutes.
• Add tomato and some salt to taste and saute till oil releases .
• Add green pea and fried potatoes and fold in the mixture .
• Add water and cover it with a lid .
• Cook in low heat and let it come to boil .
• Add the fried dhoka squares and cook for five minutes more 
• Add garam masala powder .
• Serve hot with rice or roti . 
• Enjoy .

Note:- 

While preparing dhoka one may use besan instead of rice powder . The process of making dhoka also differs from family to family.Here the process which is followed requires less oil. One may even deep fry the squares while preparing dhoka.

In such vegetarian dishes the Bengalee generally add ghee just before pouring it from the pan .