Rajasthan on your plate: Try this dal baati churma recipe
Dal baati churma is a quintessential Rajasthani delicacy that has won hearts across India. This traditional dish is a combination of spicy dal, baked baati, and sweet churma, offering a perfect balance of flavors. It's not just a meal; it's an experience that takes you through the rustic lanes of Indian culture. Follow this easy, step-by-step recipe to cook it at home.
Step 1: Gather the following ingredients
You will need one cup of mixed lentils (toor, moong, chana), two tomatoes, one onion, and a melange of spices including turmeric, cumin seeds, and garam masala. For the baati, you will need two cups of wheat flour, ghee (clarified butter), and a pinch of salt. Lastly, for the churma, keep aside some additional wheat flour, sugar, and cardamom powder.
Step 2: Crafting the spicy dal
Begin by rinsing the lentils thoroughly and cooking them in a pressure cooker with water until soft. In a separate pan, heat ghee and add cumin seeds until they crackle. Saute chopped onions and tomatoes with turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder until they meld into a rich gravy. Pour this tadka over the cooked lentils and simmer.
Step 3: Baking the baati
Mix wheat flour with salt and enough water to form a stiff dough. Divide into lemon-sized balls and flatten them slightly. Traditionally baked in a chulha or over cow dung cakes, you can use an oven or tandoor as well. Bake at 200 degrees Celsius for about 20-25 minutes or until they turn golden brown with a hard crust outside but soft inside.
Step 4: Time to make the churma
For churma, take some of the baati dough and roll it out thicker than usual baatis. Cook it in the same manner as baatis but crush it while still warm to create a coarse crumbly texture. Add powdered sugar along with cardamom powder to this mixture after it cools down slightly. Mix in some more ghee until it reaches a luscious consistency.
Step 5: Assembling the ensemble
Serve this majestic trio by placing dal on one side of the plate accompanied by two or three glistening baatis next to it. Crown your plate with a generous helping of sweet churma on the other side. The contrasting textures and flavors are meant to be enjoyed together savor each bite dipped in dal or sweetened by churma for an authentic taste of Rajasthan.
