Recipe - Varan Phal / Dal Dhokhali (Diamond shape wheat cuttings with Tuvar Dal)

Recipe:  Diamond shape wheat cuttings with Tuvar Dal (Varan Phal / Dal Dhokhali)

Cooking time: 30 mins

Level:  Easy

Video: Varan Phal Recipe (Dal Dhokhali)

About the Recipe:  This dish is very popular in regions of Maharashtra. It is commonly known as ‘Varan Phal’. It is also known as ‘Dal Dhokhali’ in Guajarati cuisine. This is a very simple and easy to cook dish. It is a good option for weekend cooking. It can be used as evening snack or a light dinner option. Believe me it is a best option when you are running short of time and can’t prepare entire meal. This single dish will incorporate all the nutrients of a full cooked meal. I remember my Granny preparing this dish for my Grandpa and we all kids used to jump in…easily she used to make the servings from 2 to 5. I love this dish.     

Nutrient Benefit:  Wheat Flour is more nutritious than all purpose flour. Toor Daal (Tuvar Dal) is rich in Proteins. Entire dish contains little amount of Oil. Prefer Extra Virgin Olive Oil [EVOO] than canola oil or vegetable oil.  This is a common myth that EVOO is not for Indian Cooking style due to excessive heating. But EVOO can still be used as Oil for frying.

Ingredients:

Wheat Flour	1 ½ Cup
Finely chopped Onions	1 Cup
Chopped Coriander /Cilantro leaves	For garnishing
Toor Daal / Tuvar Daal (Pressure cooked)	1 Cup (raw Daal)
Garlic Petals	1 to 2
Red Chilli Powder	2 to 3 tbsp
Turmeric Powder	2 to 3 tbsp
Garam Masala (kala masala)	½ tbsp
Salt	According to taste
Sugar	Pinch or two
Mustard seeds	1 tbsp
Oil	1 to 2 tbsp
Optional
Asafoetida, jaggery in cooked dal, Lemon for Garnishing

Directions:

• Pressure cook toor daal with a pinch of turmeric powder, asafoetida and water.
• Take 1 ½ cup of wheat flour. Add 1 tbsp of red chilli powder. ½ tbsp of turmeric powder, pinch of sugar and salt according to taste to the wheat flour.
• Add water to the wheat flour to make soft dough. (Note: if the dough turns out to be sticky, add a little oil and mix it again.)
• Roll the dough to make it flat circular like a Roti but thicker. (thickness of about 2 Roti’s)
• Cut it into Diamond shapes and keep it aside.
• Heat a pan. Add 2 tbsp of olive oil (EVOO) into the pan.
• Add mustard seeds when the oil is hot.
• Add chopped garlic / garlic paste into the oil.
• Add chopped onions.
• Fry till the onions turn golden brown.
• Add 1 tbsp of chilli powder, 1 tbsp of turmeric powder, 1 tbsp of garam masala.
• Add the pressure cooked toor daal to the pan. (sizzle is expected). Add little water to thin the mixture. (If needed).
• After a quick stir add the diamond shaped wheat cuttings in the daal one after one.
• Let the mixture boil for 10 mins. Stir 2 to 3 times in between.
• Garnish it with raw chopped onion, chopped coriander and lemon juice (optional).
• Serve Hot! 

                               

Variations:

• We can prepare the dish with lentil soup as well. (Instead of Toor Daal.)
• Can add some chopped spinach in the toor daal mixture while pressure cooking.
• While serving add some butter or ghee on top of it. It enriches the taste of the dish.