Dahi Bhalle/ (lentil dumplings in yogurt)

Whenever you think of Indian street food, the first thing that comes up is chaat papdi, dahi bhalle, and so on…,coming to think of it, the scene is actually totally dominated with “chaat” and it’s variants, the sweet,sour,salty taste of chaat is loved by all. I love to have all these chats by roadside.When i was in India.

For bhalle:
1-cup urad duli dal (split black gram)
Pinch of hing
Salt to taste
Oil for frying
1-tsp chopped kaju/ cashews
1-tsp kishmish/ raisins
1-tsp grated coconut

For the dahi/ Yogurt:

• 2-cups yogurt or Vanilla flavored (yogurt should taste little sweet)
• 2-tbs sugar( only if you are using plain yogurt)
• 1-tsp dry roasted jeera powder
• 1-tsp blak salt
• 2 -tbs sweet tamarind chutney

Instructions:

• Soak the dal for 2 hrs in water and keep aside.
• Then take out extra water and grind it into a mixture. Now add cashews, raisins and coconut.
• In a pan heat oil for frying.
• With moistened hands, make Bhalla with daal batter into 2" discs.
• Place them in the hot oil and fry then till golden crisp.
• Now dip them in some water for ½ hour.
• Beat the yogurt and add little water,sugar and salt to it.
• Gently squeeze water from the bhalle and place them in half the beaten yogurt mixture.
• Now in a serving plate lay out the dahi and bhalla and then pour some beaten dahi on them and sprinkle some jeera powder and black salt powder and some sweet tamarind chutney.
• Garnish dahi bhalle with sev and serve immediately.

Note: For best results the vadas have to soak for at least a couple of hours in the yogurt before serving. To add more flavor it can be topped with chaat masala.