Dahi bhalla
Dahi bhalla, from above
VegPunjab

Dahi bhalla

Soft lentil dumplings taking a long, cold bath in sweet curd. Living their best life.

60 minTime
12 gProtein each
mildSpice
4hPlan ahead. Soak for 4 hours first; the 60 minutes come after.
Holi's favourite snack3 chapters · 2 min read

Make it your way

Grandma's wayThe original. Handle with reverence.
The original
325kcalsame
12 gproteinsame
7 gfibresame
60minutessame

Per serving, worked out from the ingredient table.

Ingredients

6 servings
Urad dal (split black gram)¾ cup, soaked 4 hours
Moong dal (split yellow mung beans)¼ cup, soaked 4 hours
Ginger2.5 cm, grated
Green chilli2, chopped, plus 1 for the chutney
Raisins1 tbsp, optional
Cooking oil (vegetable oil)for deep frying (about 4 tbsp absorbed)
Curd (plain yogurt, natural yoghurt)2 cups, chilled
Sugar4 tsp
Tamarinda lemon size ball
Jaggery¼ cup, grated
Dry ginger powder (ground ginger)½ tsp
Mint leavesa handful
Coriander leaves (cilantro)a handful
Cumin powder (ground cumin)1½ tsp, roasted
Red chilli powder (indian red chili powder)½ tsp
Chaat masala1 tsp
Black salt½ tsp
Saltto taste

Method

7 steps
  1. 1Drain the dals and grind with the ginger, green chilli and very little water to a thick, smooth batter. Beat it with your hand for 3 to 4 minutes.
  2. 2Stir in salt and the raisins. Heat the oil to medium and drop in spoonfuls of batter. Fry, turning, until golden.
  3. 3Drop the hot bhallas straight into a bowl of lukewarm salted water and soak.
  4. 4For the saunth chutney, simmer the tamarind pulp with the jaggery, dry ginger, a pinch of chilli and salt until syrupy. Blend the mint, coriander, a green chilli and salt for the green chutney.
  5. 5Whisk the chilled curd with the sugar and a little salt until smooth.
  6. 6Press each bhalla gently between your palms to squeeze out water. Arrange, pour over the curd and chill.
  7. 7Before serving, drizzle both chutneys and sprinkle the cumin, chilli powder, chaat masala and black salt.
Serve it like this

Toss just before serving and bring it to the table cold, so it stays crisp.

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Make it a meal

What goes with Dahi bhalla: a bread or rice, a side, something to drink and something sweet.

On the side Baingan bharta40 min
On the side Aloo gobi35 min
To drink Sweet lassi10 min
To drink Kanji15 min
Something sweet Gajar halwa90 min
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