Bhatura Recipes

BHATURA

Steps:

• Sift the flour, salt and baking soda into a large bowl; beat the egg and add it to the flour with the sugar, yogurt and water.
• Mix to a fairly soft dough, adding more water if necessary.
• Add the ghee and knead the dough until it is smooth and pliable; put it back in the bowl, cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place for about 4 hours to rise.
• Knead the dough again and divide into ten balls; roll out each one on a greased board to a circle about 4 inches in diameter.
• Heat the oil in a deep frying pan or wok and fry the bhaturas, one at a time turning them so that they tur that they turn pale golden on both sides; drain on paper towels and keep warm while you fry the remainder.
• Note: This cookbook has a picture included of the bhaturas frying in a large deep frying pan that seems to contradict the instruction to fry one at a time.
• In the picture all ten are frying at once.
• My guess is that the instruction is meerly to make sure you have enough room to be able to turn them over and brown the other side.
• The 5 hours prep time includes the 4 hours rising, and the 30 minutes cooking time is an approximation that will depend on how many you try frying at a time and how quickly they brown.

CHANNA BHATURA

Steps:

• Mix the flour, fenugreek and a pinch of salt in a large mixing bowl. Slowly add the milk until it comes together, then tip onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until you have a soft, pliable dough. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and set aside to rest for at least 2 hrs or overnight in the fridge.
• Meanwhile, strain the tea and discard the leaves. Tip in the chickpeas and leave to infuse for at least 1 hr.
• Melt the ghee in a large saucepan, then add the onions and cumin seeds. Fry over a low heat for 20 mins or until the onions are caramelised. Add the black cardamom and fry again briefly, then add the ginger, garlic and chillies, and cook until fragrant. Add the cinnamon, fenugreek, coriander, ginger, chilli and anardana (if using), and fry for 1 min.
• Tip in the tomatoes and tomato purée, and cook again until the tomatoes have broken down, about 20 mins. Add the turmeric and chickpeas along with the brewed tea. Sprinkle in the kala namak, pepper and a pinch of sea salt. Let it come to the boil, then turn down the heat to low and leave to simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 mins. Add more water if you would like the curry to be looser.
• Fill a large pan a third full with sunflower oil. Heat to 180C on a thermometer or until a cube of bread sizzles immediately when lowered in and browns within 30 seconds. Take golf ball-sized chunks of dough, roll into balls, then flatten and roll out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface until you have a saucer-sized disc, about ½cm thick. Gently lower into the hot oil with a slotted spoon and let it rise to the surface - it should puff up. Fry for 1-2 mins until golden, then drain on kitchen paper. Serve with the channa, red onion, a little yogurt and a sprinkling of coriander.