Gujarati people are known to be food lovers and most of them are vegetarians. They prepare different types of tasty snacks for their breakfasts and evening meals. Dhokla is one such fine example of a Gujarati snack, which is made of a batter prepared from ground Chickpeas gram and rice. Different spices, like ginger, garlic, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, turmeric, chilli, and asafoetida are added to this batter. Sometimes, green peas, yogurt, tomato, and some juicy fruits may be added for rendering extra flavour to the dhoklas.

Various details about tasty dhokla recipe

Dhokla Recipe

Dhokla strongly resembles a piece of cake, due to its soft and fluffy texture. However, it is salty and has a white or pale yellowish colour. Many non-Gujarati people consider the bright yellow-coloured Khaman as dhokla, as both snacks are similar in shape and size. However, Khaman is made of only Chickpea gram or Chana dal, for which it gets the vibrant yellow shade.

Dhokla is an ancient food that was mentioned in many old scriptures written in the Gujarati language. Some early Jain scriptures wrote about a snack called Dukkia that was made from gram and it is believed that dhokla eventually evolved from this food. Hence, it also represents the rich tradition of Gujarati people.

Dhokla is a light food that can be digested easily and thus, it is recommended in the diet of patients and aged people with feeble digestive power. Moreover, hardly any oil is used for dhokla preparation, making it an ideal food for overweight and health-conscious people. As it is made of rice and gram, it fulfills their appetite, without adding extra calories to their bodies.

Since the batter of ground rice and Chana dal is fermented overnight, the fluffy texture of dhokla is naturally obtained without the use of any extra ingredient. However, a little amount of baking powder is also added to this batter, to ensure faster cooking of this delicious snack.

Usually, it is steamed for 10 – 15 minutes in a low or medium flame, for which the food values of all its nutrients are preserved. Now, people can also prepare this food in the microwave, by spending a shorter time and effort in this cooking process.

Usually, curry leaves and mustard seeds are used for garnishing this snack. It is served with sweet and sour chutney or a paste of coriander leaves, for adding to the taste of this salty snack. Moreover, people have now come up with innovative ideas of making Meetha dhokla, Khatta dhokla, and Cheese dhokla, for bringing variations to this traditional Gujarati recipe.

When dhokla is made of black grams, it is known as Idada that is also very popular in Gujarat. Dhokla recipe is now followed all over India and this food is a favourite among lots of people of all ages.