Dal Baati & Churma - Rajasthani Delicacy!

Dal Baati Churma is a very popular Rajasthani food. This is one of my most loving dish. I don't really remember that I always have the liking or it developed with time. As I stayed in Jaipur, Rajasthan for ten years. For every special occasion this is counted as a special menu. Chokhi Dhani is the best place to enjoy rajasthani delicacies.

Dal Baati Churma is considered as one whole meal. Dal (Lentils) Baati (Whole wheat stuffed dumplings) Churma(Baked crushed whole wheat).

The below recipe is just like my mom makes it. The only difference is, she uses tandoor for Baati and I use Oven.

Ingredients:

Baati:

1. Wheat flour - 2 cups
2. Semolina - 1/2 cup
3. Gram flour - 1/4 cup
4. Ghee (clarified butter) - 1/2 cup
5. Yogurt - 1/2 cup
6. Baking Powder - 1/2 tsp (optional)
7. Salt as per taste
8. Water (lukewarm) as per requirement

Stuffing:

1. Boiled Potato (Mashed) - 4 medium 
2. Green Chilli - 2 chopped
3. Red Chilli - as per taste
4. Mango Powder - 1/4 tsp
5. Pomegranate seeds - 1 tsp
6. Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
7. Salt - as per taste
8. Cilantro - chopped (optional)

Dal:

1. Bengal Gram (Chana) - 1/2 cup
2. Green Gram (Moong) - 1/4 cup
3. Split Black Gram (Urad) - 1/4 cup
4. Yellow Pigeon Peas (Arhar) - 1/2 cup
5. Ghee - 2 tbsp
6. Asofetida - pinch
7. Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
8. Dried Red Chilli - 3
9. Tomato - 3 medium chopped
10. Green Chilli - 2 chopped
11. Ginger - 1/2 inch minced
12. Garlic - 3 cloves minced
13. Red Chilli - 1/2 tsp
14. Turmeric - 1tsp
15. Coriander powder - 1tsp
16. Mango Powder - 1/2 tsp
17. Garam Masala - 1 tsp
18. Cilantro - chopped
19. Salt - as per taste
20. Water
21. Lemon juice - freshly squeezed

Churma:

1. Wheat flour - 2 cups
2. Semolina - 1/4 cup
3. Ghee (melted clarified butter) - 1 cup
4. Baking Powder - 1/4 tsp (optional)
5. Water (lukewarm) as per requirement
6. Sugar - 2 cups
7. Dry Fruits (Cashews, Almonds, Raisins, Cardamon powder)

Method:

Stuffed Baati:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients.
2. Now add yogurt & ghee and kneed it.
3. Slowly add lukewarm water to make it a dough (stiff).
4. Kneed it for 5 mins. Cover it and let it sit for 30 mins.
5. Preheat the oven at 350 degrees.
6. Mix well all the filling ingredients and keep aside the mixture.
7. Rub oil on your palms and make small balls.
8. Do the stuffing and close it.
9. Shift it into the oven and bake it for 40 mins.
10. Take it out brush it with ghee and serve it hot.

Dal:

1. Wash and soak the lentils for an hour with double amount of water.
2. Pressure cook lentils with salt for 1 whistle and let it sim for few minutes.
3. Heat the ghee in a pan. Add asofetida, cumin, dried red chillis.
4. Once it crackles, add green chilli, ginger, garlic and fry it until it becomes light brown.
5. Now add tomatoes and mix little salt in it. 
6. Let it cook for few minutes. Then add chilli powder, turmeric, coriander.
7. Fry it until it leavens some oil in the sides. That means tomatoes are cooked.
8. Add the cooked dal, mango powder and garam masala. 
9. Bring it to boil and add water for the right consistency. Switch off the stove
10. Add lemon juice and garnish the dal with freshly chopped cilantro and cover it for few mins.
11. Your dal is ready to be served with baati, rice, chapati, or parantha.

Churma:

1. Kneed the dough with the (1-4) items just like baatis.
2. Divide the dough into small balls and press it between your palms.
3. Preheat the oven at 350 degrees and bake it for 40 mins.
4. Let it cool and then coarsely grind the pressed balls. 
5. Then add coarsely chopped dry fruits and sugar.
6. Now mix them all together and add some melted ghee which is optional just for taste.
7. Store it in an air tight container and refrigerate. You can enjoy it for 3-4 weeks.
8. Serve it with Dal Baati or have it just like a dessert.

Substitutions:

1. You can make churma laddoo instead of Churma by adding extra melted ghee.
2. Jaggery can be substituted for sugar.
3. Coconut can be added if you like.
4. Olive Oil can be used instead of ghee. There will be little taste difference but it will be healthy.

Tips:

1. My baati and churma dumplings took 40 mins to bake. But it all depends on the oven temp.