INDIAN CLASSICS # 3 DAAL BAATI CHURMA

If you ask anyone one about Rajasthani food, the first thing that you will hear is Daal baati churma.  The most popular item on the Rajasthani Menu. Simple yet beautiful combination of lentils. This particular combo consists of the Panchmel Dal (made of five lentils but here i used 4) and the Baati (a hard flaky bread usually baked over firewood or over kandas - ie cow dung cakes). Baatis can be baked in a gas tandoor or an electric oven as well (which is what I did). The steamed version of the Baati is known as the Bafla baati. And irrespective of their cooking technique they are always served dipped or i can say drenched in ghee (I have avoided that here) and accompanied by the Panchmel dal and choorma (deep fried or baked dough, crushed and mixed with sugar or jaggery and mixed nuts). This trio makes for a delicious, filling & satisfying meal.

For making Daal you will need :

Chana daal - 1/8 cup
Tuver daal - 1/4 cup
Urad daal - 1/3 cup
Green split moong daal - 1/3 cup
Oil/Ghee - 2-3 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp 
cloves - 2
Bay leaf - 1
Asofoetida - a pinch
Turmeric powder - 
Chopped onions - 1 medium
Tomatoes - 1 medium sized (chopped)
Ginger-Garlic-Green chili paste - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Garam masala - 2 tsp
Red chili powder - 2 tsp
Coriander cumin powder (Dhanajiru powder) - 2 tsp
Lemon juice - 1 tsp

Method

1. Wash the daals in running water 2 to 3 times.
2. Add about 3-4 cups of water. Pressure cook the daals till the daals are cooked perfectly. (it takes 3-4 whistles)
3. Heat Oil/ghee in a pan.(ghee adds the authentic flavor to the daal but u can cut down calories by adding oil)
4. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds.Once they start spluttering add cloves, bay leaf and asofoetida and onions.
5. Cook till the onions are tender then add tomatoes.
6. Mix well. Add Cooked daal, turmeric powder and salt. Adjust the consistency by adding water. 
7. Let it cook on medium flame for 10 minutes.
8. At the end add gharam masala , Red chili powder , dhania jeera powder and lemon juice and cook for another 5 minutes.
9. Daal is ready!! 

For making Baati you will need :

Coarse wheat flour - 1 cup
Fine Sooji - 2 tbsp
Carrom seeds(Ajwain) - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds (Jeera) - 1/4 tsp
Baking powder - 1/4 - 1/2 tsp
Yogurt - 1 tbsp
Ghee - 2 tbsp
Water - As needed

(Note: If coarse wheat flour is not available, you can use regular whole wheat flour. then measurement of sooji will vary:
flour - 1 cup
Sooji - 1/4 cup)

For making Churma dough you will need

Coarse wheat flour - 1/2 cup
Ghee - 1/8 cup or 2 - 3 tbsp
Cardamom seeds powder/Elaichi powder - 1/4 tsp
Mixed nuts - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Ghee - 2 tbsp at the time of mixing 

Method

1. Take all the ingredients except water in a deep bowl. Mix exerything with hands to make a crumbly mixture. This step is important before kneading as it will make your baati crumbly yet soft from inside.
2. Then slowly add water to make a semi soft but more on firm side dough.
3. Cover and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile you can make churma dough too.
5. In another bowl Mix flour and ghee to make a crumbly mixture. Add water and make a semi soft dough.
   
6. Once both the dough are ready, Preheat oven at 350 º F.
7. Grease the baking tray. 
8. Make golf ball sized rounds from the baati dough and arrange them on the plate.
9. From the churma dough, its ok if you dont make rounds. make any shape u like.  At the end we are going to crush it in the blender. 
10. Bake for 15 minutes. Check the baatis and turn upside down. you will see a nice golden brown color. Apply ghee and bake for another 15-20 minutes.
11. Baatis are ready. Let it cool on a wired rack.
    
12. Now in a blender mix all the nuts, Sugar, cardamom powder & ghee. Pulse them once or twice to form a crumble but not a fine powder.
13. transfer to a bowl. Now break the churma baatis and pulse them in a blender too.
14. Mix both the nuts mixture and baati mixture together. Add ghee if required and mix well with hands.
15. The churma is ready to serve too.
    
16. Assemble everything and serve with papad, onions and fried garlic on side.

[How to eat: In a bowl break baatis into small pieces. Add daal on top. Sprinkle onions and Enjoy!!]

Without oven

[If you dont have oven you can make baatis by frying them. After you make the dough balls Heat some water in a deep pot. Once it starts boiling drop the baatis in there. Cover and steam for few minutes till the balls starts floating.Donot stir otherwise it can break.

Remove in a tray  and let it cool. once its cool you can fry them ]

Happy cooking!!