Chickpea Flour Dhokla

A steamed chickpea cake with a light, spongy, honeycomb texture. The contrast between the soft batter and the crunch of sautéed mustard seeds provides a sharp, dynamic mouthfeel.

• Prep time: 15 min
• Cook time: 20 min
• Difficulty: Medium
• Calories: 310
• Protein: 14 g
• Carbs: 32 g
• Fat: 13 g

Ingredients

• 200 g Chickpea flour ( sifted )
• 150 g Sweet yogurt or fermented milk on a bed of fruit ( beaten )
• 100 ml Mineral water
• 1 piece Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. ( juiced )
• 1 tsp Ginger powder
• 1 pinch Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Baking soda
• 1 tsp White sugar
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 10 piece curry leaves
• 1 pinch asafoetida
• 1 piece Hot chili pepper ( finely chopped )
• 2 tbsp Sunflower oil
• 20 g Fresh cilantro ( chopped )
• 1 tsp Gray sea salt

Instructions

1. Preparing the batter

   In a mixing bowl, combine chickpea flour, yogurt, water, ginger, turmeric, salt, and sugar. Whisk vigorously until the batter is smooth, coating the spoon without any lumps.

2. Activating the batter

   Fold in the baking soda and lemon juice. The chemical reaction should cause the batter to foam immediately, nearly doubling its volume. Mix gently to preserve the air bubbles.

3. Steaming

   Pour the batter into a greased mold. Place in the steamer for 15 to 20 minutes. A knife tip should come out clean and the surface should be firm to the touch.

4. Tempering (Tadka)

   Heat oil in a small pan. Toss in mustard seeds until they pop. Add curry leaves, asafoetida, and chopped chili. Pour this sizzling mixture over the unmolded dhokla.

5. Finishing

   Cut into even squares. Sprinkle with chopped fresh coriander. The tempering should lightly soak into the top crust without making the core soggy.

Chef's tips

• The secret is speed: once the baking soda is added, steam immediately to avoid losing the effervescence.
• Never lift the lid during the first 15 minutes of steaming, or the cake will collapse instantly.

Storage

Keep for 2 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat for a few seconds in a steamer to restore its softness.