Recipe for Vati Khaman/Chana Dal Dhokla

The Indian state of Gujrat, as much as it is famous for some of the most famous and successful people who come from there, is also known for its wonderful and vibrant culture and cuisine. Many delicious foods such as Khaman, Dhokla, Thepla, etc., which have become household names now, originate from this state. Today, the recipe I am sharing is one of my favourites. It is tasty, healthy and easy to make. It requires a little bit of planning though, but once you have taken care of that aspect, you are good to go.

Khaman is a fluffy steamed food made by grinding Chana Dal ( Split Chickpea lentils). The batter is fermented overnight. Then various spices are added, and the batter is steamed and finally tempered and garnished before it is served. It is a protein-rich, healthy vegetarian breakfast/snack recipe.

So, let us start:

If you plan to make Khaman for breakfast, you have to do the preparation the previous night. Read the recipe to understand it better. Also, please read my notes at the end of the recipe. I have shared some tips and tricks, which, if you follow, you will surely get the best results. I have also shared the recipe for mint coriander chutney that pairs well with Vati Khaman.

Ingredients needed to make Vati Khaman/Chana Dal Dhokla:

• 1 Cup Chana Dal (Split Chickpea lentils)
• 3 tbsp Sour Curd/Yoghurt
• 1 Cup Water ( approximately)
• ½ Cup Besan (Gram Flour)
• 1 tsp Ginger Paste
• 1 tsp Green Chilli Paste
• 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1½ tsp Salt
• ½ tsp Asafoetida
• 1 tbsp Oil
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tbsp Water
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• Oil for Brushing

Ingredients needed for Mint Coriander Chutney

• 1 Handful of Fresh Mint Leaves
• 1 Handful of Fresh Coriander Leaves
• 2-3 Pieces Steamed Khaman
• 2-3 Green Chillies
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
• ½ tsp Salt, or to taste
• 1 tsp Sugar
• ½ tsp Black Salt

Method to Make Vati Khaman/Chana Dal Dhokla:

• Wash and soak chana dal for 2 hours in 2 cups of water.
  
  
  
• After 2 hours, discard the excess water. Grind chillies and ginger in a mixie.
  
  
  
• To this, add the soaked chana dal and grind it to a coarse batter. Transfer this batter to a mixing bowl.
  
  
  
• Beat besan and yoghurt/curd in a mixie so that they get well blended. Add this to the Chana Dal Batter.
  
  
  
• Add turmeric powder, asafoetida and salt. Now mix this batter well. Cover and leave it for overnight fermentation.
  
  
  
• The next day, the batter should be well fermented.
  
  
  
• In a steamer, add water and let it come to a boil.
• Meanwhile, add oil, lemon juice, baking soda and a little water (about 1/ cup) if the batter looks thick. Mix. Using a whisker, whisk the batter for about a minute to incorporate air.
  
  
  
• Grease a baking mould. Then pour in the batter to half the height of the mould.
  
  
  
• Place it in the steamer. On high heat, steam it for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, insert a toothpick and check if it comes out clean. If it does, turn off the heat, remove the mould and let it cool. Suppose the toothpick doesn’t come out clean, steam for a few more minutes and check again. When done, remove the mould and let it cool.
• Let it cool for at least 15 minutes before you de-mould it.
  
  
  
• After de-moulding, cut the Khaman into cubes.
  
  
  
• Prepare the tempering by heating oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds ( not shown in the picture, but you can add them), slit green chillies, curry leaves and asafoetida.
  
  
  
• Put this tempering on the Khaman. Use a big mixing bowl to do this. Toss the Khaman and the tempering so that everything gets mixed well. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve with Mint Coriander Chutney.
  
  

Method to make Mint Coriander Chutney:

• Put all the ingredients in a mixer and grind them. If it is thick, add a few tablespoons of water.
  
  
  
• Transfer to a serving bowl.
  
  

Serve Vati Khaman with Mint Coriander chutney.

Some important notes:

1. Don’t soak chana dal for more than 2 hours. Soaking for a longer time will lead to the dal absorbing more water, which will, in turn, affect the texture of the khaman.
2. When you grind the dal, it should not be fine. It should be course, resembling soaked semolina.
3. The curd/yoghurt should be sour. If you don’t have sour yoghurt, add salt and keep it outside for about 2 hours. It will become sour.
4. For steaming, first, let the water come to a full boil. Then place the batter in the steamer. When you steam the khaman, don’t open it in between to check it. Open only after 15 minutes to check if it is done. Steam on high heat.
5. Once the khaman is cooked, remove it and let it cool completely before you de-mould it. The khaman will disintegrate if you invert the mould before it cools down.

About Ingredient sourcing in Germany: While you will get some of the ingredients needed for this recipe from a German Supermarket, you can get all the ingredients from any Indian shop near you or the online store of Spicelands. They are a big store in Frankfurt, delivering all across Germany.

Alternatively, you can even buy these ingredients from amazon.de. Links are given below:
Chana Dal: https://amzn.to/3BKOVLL
Yoghurt: https://amzn.to/42hkOab
Ginger: https://amzn.to/3IzrGIn
Turmeric Powder: https://amzn.to/3M6pCrX
Salt: https://amzn.to/3ACstDM
Asafoetida: https://amzn.to/42B0Oj6
Besan: https://amzn.to/3o68Oth
Oil: https://amzn.to/42NHyhY
Cumin Seeds: https://amzn.to/41EPjWD
Mustard Seeds: https://amzn.to/41E1z9y
Curry Leaves: https://amzn.to/3pBZygV
Lemon: https://amzn.to/3M68Vx5
Sugar: https://amzn.to/3W3zLdy
Coriander: https://amzn.to/3AZWU76
Mint: https://amzn.to/42cKSTY

Equipment needed for the recipe:
Please note that I use all these in my kitchen. I am happy and satisfied with these products, and hence, I recommend these to my readers.

Mixing Bowl: https://amzn.to/3V8ZPU
Baking Mould: https://amzn.to/3BujULC
Mixer:
Option 1 Bosch: https://amzn.to/3LzMbGF (Perfect for Indian cooking, with great reviews)
Option 2: Preethi: https://amzn.to/3n9XCLH ( I use this. It is perfect for Indian cooking, but priced higher than Bosch)
Cutting Board: https://amzn.to/3n9IXjM
Knife Set (includes a bread knife): https://amzn.to/3Lg64Bj

Here is the recipe in printable format:

Please note that this article contains affiliate links. If you buy using these links, I receive a small commission. This has no effect on the price for you.

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