Dumplings In Yogurt Sauce Recipes

LENTIL DUMPLINGS IN YOGURT (DAHI BHALLA)

Steps:

• Drain both lots of lentils using a sieve and discard the soaking water. Tip into a food processor and add the ground cumin, peppercorns, ginger and green chillies. Blitz to a soft paste, adding 1-2 tbsp water as required.
• Spoon the lentil mixture into a bowl and beat vigorously for 5-7 mins, or until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. It's easier to do this in a food mixer fitted with a beater.
• Heat the oil in a wok or karahi over a medium heat, ensuring it is no more than two-thirds full. Stir the bicarbonate of soda into the lentil mixture, then use two dessert spoons to gently scoop and shape dumplings about the size of a small walnut. Working in batches, lower the dumplings into the oil using a slotted spoon.
• Fry the dumplings for 3-4 mins on each side, turning with a slotted spoon, until golden. Lift out and drain on kitchen paper. You should have 22-24 dumplings when all the batter is used up. Set aside.
• Whisk the buttermilk with an equal quantity of cold water in a large shallow baking dish. Coat the dumplings in the buttermilk mixture and leave overnight in the fridge (they will soften as they soak).
• The next day, gently press the dumplings to remove any excess buttermilk and arrange on a serving plate.
• To serve, whisk the yogurt with the sugar and enough milk to create a consistency that is just thick enough to coat the dumplings. Coat the dumplings with the yogurt and sprinkle with the ground cumin and chilli powder. Drizzle over some coriander relish and date & tamarind sauce, then sprinkle with the coriander leaves.

DUMPLINGS IN YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• For dumplings, sift the chickpea (gram) flour into a large bowl. Add chili powder, 1/2 tsp salt, baking soda, onion, green chiles, and cilantro. Mix. Add water and form a thick paste. Heat the oil in a skillet. Put teaspoonfuls of the paste in the oil and cook over medium heat, turning once, until crisp golden brown. Set aside.
• For yogurt sauce, put yogurt in a bowl and whisk with the gram flour and water. Add all spices and 11/2 tsp salt. Mix well.
• Press mixture through a large strainer into a pan. Bring to a boil on low heat, stirring constantly. If it becomes too thick, add water.
• Pour the sauce into a depp serving dish and arrange all the dumplings on top. Set aside but keep warm.
• For dressing, heat the oil in a skillet. Add the cumin seeds and chiles and fry until darker in color and giving off an aroma. Pour the dressing over the dumplings and serve hot.

CHICKPEA DUMPLINGS IN YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Put 1 cup of the chickpea flour, some salt and pepper, the cayenne, asafetida, 1 teaspoon of the turmeric, the coriander, baking soda, and 1/2 cup of the yogurt in a food processor and pulse a few times to combine; scrape the sides of the container if necessary. With the machine running, gradually add warm water, a tablespoon or so at a time, until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Process, stopping to scrape the sides of the container if necessary, until the mixture is smooth and light.
• Add at least 2 inches of oil to a pot (a narrow pot will allow you to use less oil, but a broader one will allow you to cook more dumplings at once). Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the oil to about 350°F (a pinch of the chickpea batter will sink about halfway to the bottom before bouncing back up to the top when the oil is ready). Drop in the batter by teaspoons (it's easiest to pick up a bit of the batter with one teaspoon and scrape it off with another). Do not crowd; turn the dumplings once or twice and cook them until nicely browned, just 2 or 3 minutes. As the dumplings finish, transfer them to a bed of paper towels to drain.
• Now make the sauce: Combine the remaining chickpea flour and yogurt in a blender with 1 cup warm water; turn on the blender and process until smooth. Combine this mixture in the blender if it is large or in a bowl with another quart of water.
• Put 2 tablespoons oil into a saucepan or deep skillet and turn the heat to medium. A minute later, add the chile, cumin, fennel, cinnamon, coriander, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon turmeric and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is soft, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and add the yogurt-chickpea flour mixture, along with a large pinch of salt. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. (You can prepare the dish several hours in advance to this point; cover and set aside until you're ready to eat.)
• Taste and adjust the sauce's seasoning; it should be mild with a touch of heat and quite fragrant. Fish out the cinnamon stick and the chile (you can eat the other spices). Add the dumplings and re-cover; cook just until they are heated through, 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with the cilantro and serve.