The Secret to making the best Instant Rava Dhoklas

Young or old, Kitty party or your child’s birthday Party, meal or just a tea time snack – Dhoklas are everybody’s best friend. Given that this Semolina or sooji dhokla recipe is so simple, that you will find yourself making it right away!! So let’s hop on to the ingredients:

• 1 Cup Sooji or rava or Semolina
• 1 Cup Curd 
• Salt as per taste
• Red Chilly powder as per taste
• Turmeric powder 1 tsp
• Chopped Coriander 
• Sugar ½ a teaspoon (optional)
• Finely Chopped green chillies (Optional)
• Curry leaves – 8 – 10
• Mustard seeds  1 tsp
• Refined Vegetable oil 2-3 tbsp

Procedure

Step 1: Mix the curd and Rava (Sooji) together. Whisk it a bit to ensure that they are both well mixed. It is a good idea to take slightly soured curd (good option for times when the curd has become sour and no one wants to eat it as it is.) Prepare a somewhat thick batter. We don’t want it to be too runny. If it seems runny, add some more Rava (sooji) to it.

 
Step 2: Add salt, chilly powder and turmeric to this batter. I used chilly powder as I was making it for my children. You can choose to add chopped green chilies instead. You can also add some sugar if your family likes a somewhat sweetened dhokla. Mix these ingredients well. 

 
Step 3: Now add chopped coriander to the mix and whisk it well.

 
Step 4: Now keep a utensil with water in it and bring that water to a boil. This is in order to steam the Dhokla. If you have a separate utensil for steaming, do use that instead. On the other hand, Grease the tray or plate in which you wish to steam the Dhoklas. Make sure that the utensil is not too deep, as the Rava dhokla may not cook deep through a thick layer of batter.

 
Step 5:Just as the water for steaming comes to a boil, add the Secret Ingredient to the Batter – one sachet of ENO. Eno aerates the batter, helping it become spongy and lighter when cooked.

 
Step 6:Transfer the contents to the greased tray or plate immediately. Place this plate on the top of the utensil with boiling water to steam it. Now cover with another plate or a lid, so that no air can escape out of the utensil. Let this mixture steam cook in this setting for about 20 minutes, or until a greased knife poked in the middle comes out completely clean. The mixture will also leave the container from the sides, indicating that it has cooked. Once done, bring the mould off steam and stop cooking.

 
Step 7: In a pan, heat the oil and then add curry leaves and mustard seeds to it. As the mustard seeds begin to pop, pour this mix on top of the prepared dhoklas. Let it cool, then cut, de-mould and serve. Do not remove the dhoklas from the mould before it has cooled down, or they may break and lose shape. 

Enjoy this yummy treat with friends, kids, family or all by yourself with a cup of tea!

_{All photographs in this article are original and contributed by author (except banner image)}

_{Source for banner image: indianexpress.com}

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