Friday 8 May 2015

DAL POORI WITH SPICED POTATO



This Dal Poori takes me back to the 80's. I was in the middle school, and very much friends with my maternal youngest aunty. As soon as my vacation started, I used to go to my grandparent's home, some 100 km away from Kolkata. I keep mentioning about this in a couple of my posts because I was born there, grew up there. The place and the environment shaped my childhood. Some mornings, a dal poori seller used to visit the neighbourhood, attracted people towards him 'Dal Poori nebe Dal Poori, gorom Dal Poori meaning "do you want hot dal poori? The plump, greedy me used to be on my toes. My aunt would ask me to stop him at the gate, herself would run to get her piggybank. In 5 leaps I was at the gate, shouting 'o dal poori wala  darao, amra kinbo', stop we will buy. 

I vividly remember he carried them in a squared glass box, still wonder how he carried such a heavy box. Aunt says one day he stopped coming. We  never even bothered to ask where his home was. We humans are self centric and forgetful creatures.

Ask me how  the vegan, hand rolled puffed bread tasted, I would say heavenly. I rolled each and took heavenly bites with no accompaniments. I never could forget the taste, never did follow any other recipe of dal poori because I still believe that man prepared the best dal poori ever. The little me never thought of asking him the recipe either. So for dal poori I follow my own recipe. Any form of poori n chapatis are favourite with my men. 




Yesterday I prepared dal poori with a chana dal stuffing and served with a spicy potato dry curry and home made pickle. 



INGREDIENTS[ for the stuffing ] :

Bengal Gram Dal : 1 cup
Onion : 1
Ginger Paste : 1 tsp
Coriander Powder : 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder : 1/2 tsp
Cumin Seed : 1/4 tsp
Coriander Leaves : 2 sprigs
Green Chilli : 2
Salt : As required
Turmeric Powder : 1/2 tsp
Oil : 1 tbsp

INGREDIENTS [for the dough] :

All Purpose Flour : 1 cup
Whole Wheat Flour : 1 cup
Salt : 2 pinches
Oil : 1 tsp + as required for deep frying

INGREDIENTS [for the spiced potato]

Potato : 2
Chopped Long Bean : 3-4 tbsp
Black Gram : 2 tbsp
Cumin Powder : 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder : 1/2 tsp
Chilli Powder : 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder : 1/4 tsp
Coriander Seed : 1/4 tsp
Dry red chilli : 1
Chopped Coriander : 2 tbsp
Salt : As required
Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
Oil : 2 tbsp



METHOD 


THE SPICED POTATO :




Peel and wash the potatoes. Cut into cubes. Add the washed & chopped long beans to it. Apply salt and turmeric and keep aside for 10 minutes.

Heat oil in a wok. Temper with coriander seeds and dry red chilli. Add the potato & long bean mix discarding the marinade. Stir and cover.

After 3-4 minutes add the cumin, red chilli and coriander powder. Stir and cover.

Better to check every 1 minute. Uncover after 4 minutes. Add the garam masala powder, chopped coriander and stir. Adjust the salt if required.

THE FILLING :

Wash and soak the chana dal in hot water for 1 hour. Pressure cook upto 1 whistle.

Chop and wash the coriander leaves and green chilli. Peel, wash  and slice the onion.

Heat oil in a clean wok. Temper with cumin seeds. Add the sliced onions.

As the onions turn brown, add the ginger paste, salt and turmeric powder. 

Add the dal and stir. As it starts drying, add the cumin and coriander powder. Stir.

As it dries, add the chopped coriander leaves and green chilli.

Stir for a while, its done.

THE POORI :

Take the two flours, salt and 1 tsp oil in a big wide mouthed vessel. Rub well for 1 minute.

Add little water at a time and prepare a dough. Cover the dough with a clean wet cloth for 1 hour.

Shape into round balls, make hollow space and fill with the dal mix and close it.

Roll into poori as shown below :




Heat enough oil in a wok. Fry one at a time. When one side is done, flip over.

Serve hot with the spiced potato and pickle of your choice!!!












12 comments :

  1. Loved reading about such sweet childhood memory of yours.. Love the dal poori.. delicious!!

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  2. Subha thanks so much ...meri rasoi....your rasoi is very attractive too

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  3. Your daal poori dragged me to your post, Soma! Love to try this recipe soon! and loved reading beautiful story attached to it!

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  4. it dragged me too :) I'm feeling so connected now. thanks for sharing :)

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  5. Soma, your narration has taken me to my childhood where my grandma used to make Alu paratha for us with mint rainta, almost everyday. Total indulgence for us.

    This poori is called dal kachori in our region and was a rare affair since its heavy and all. But whenevr we had it, it was amazing

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  6. Who doesn't like spiced potato. Mine all time favorite:)

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  7. Your post made me nostalgic,my mother used to make this

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