Mokli Dal(Vatli Dal)/Dry Chana Dal

Preparation time : 2 Hrs to soak dal                            Cooking time : 12 Min              Serves : 5

This dry chana dal is often made in Maharashtra on festivals.

Ingredients:

Chana Dal(Gram lentil) - 1/2 Cup

Oil - 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Green chili - 1

Ginger paste - 1 Tsp

Red chili powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1 Tsp

Asafoetida - a pinch

Salt - 1 1/2 Tsp or to taste

Sugar - 1/2 Tsp

Lemon Juice - 1/2 Tbsp

Shredded coconut - 1 Tbsp

Cilantro - a few to garnish

Method :

1) Wash and soak chana dal for min 2 hrs in lukewarm water. Drain excess water and grind it coarsely by adding little water with green chili, ginger and cumin seeds.

2) Heat oil in pan and crackle mustard seeds. 

3) Add asafoetida, turmeric powder, red chili powder and ground chana dal. Fry well stirring continuously on medium flame.

4) Add salt,sugar and lemon juice mix well and put the lid and let it cook for 5-7 min on low flame.

5) Garnish with coconut and fresh cilantro and serve.

Vatli Dal/Mokli Dal

Til Gul Poli

Preparation Time - 30 Mins                   Cooking Time -  30 Mins           Serves - 4 

This is a Maharashtrian recipe for til-gul poli, generally made on Makar Sankranti.

Ingredients :

For Stuffing :

Til (Sesame Seeds) - 1/2 Cup

Gul (Jaggery) - 2 1/4 Cup

Gram Flour (Besan) - 1/4 Cup

Cardamom powder - 1/4 Tsp

Nutmeg powder - 1/4 Tsp (Optional)

Oil - 2 Tsp

For Cover :

Wheat Flour - 3/4 Cup

All purpose flour (Maida) - 3/4 Cup

Oil - 2 Tbsp

Method :

1) Fry sesame seeds on low flame till golden in color and keep aside. Grate jaggery and keep aside.

2) In a bowl mix wheat flour and all purpose flour. Heat 1 Tbsp oil and add it in the flour.

3) Add water to flour and knead a dough.

4) Cover the dough with wet cloth or paper napkin and keep aside.

5) Grind sesame seeds coarsely in mixer.

6) Heat 2 tsp oil in pan and add gram flour in it. Fry well for 3-4 mins on very low flame.

7) Add grated jaggery in it and mix well for 2-3 mins till jaggery start boiling.

8) Add cardamom powder,nutmeg powder and sesame seed powder mix well,switch off stove and keep this mixture aside.

9) Take a ball of dough and flatten it, place the stuffing and close all edges slightly. Flatten it carefully into circle of 6 inches diameter and fry both sides well on hot griddle.

10) Serve hot by adding a tsp of ghee on poli (chapati).

      You can add poppy seeds or ground nuts with sesame seeds if you like.

Til Gul Poli