So this recipe is from Jyoti who blogs at The Veggie Hut. In the original post, she talks about her life in Kolkata or Calcutta, as it used to be called in the past...I enjoyed reading about her favorite street food stalls in Kolkata...that made me relate to my own college years when my friends and I would take advantage of the convenient location of our college near a busy shopping area in Calcutta and rush off, after classes to gorge on the chaats/street foods which were aplenty in Russell Street or in the stalls outside AC Market. And the temptations were many...there was phuchka(pani puri), jhaal muri, ghughni, rolls and then of course, the heavenly chilled kulfi...sigh!!
I wonder if all those stalls still exist because it has almost been 15 years or maybe more, since I last went to Kolkata...but that is how I remember the city...with it unhurried and relaxed pace, wonderful foods and friendly people.
Anyways...coming back to the recipe...it is one for Moong dal chilla(a savory crepe loaded with lovely veggies)...I have eaten it many, many times at friends' homes and my mom has made it in the past...but I had never tried it myself , even though I do make a variety of dosas at home...so when I saw Jyoti's recipe...I immediately bookmarked it and now...with the beginning of my series...I had a chance to make it at home.
It is extremely easy to make...the dough/batter being wonderfully easy to work with(once you have the right consistency)...plus it is super healthy because it does not need any rice! Just protein-rich moong dal(lentils) and of course, the vegs.
I served it with a tomato chutney that we all love in my family, last weekend... though it would taste great with any kind of chutney/dip/sauce...the kids demanded more of it the next day and luckily I had refrigerated some batter and we enjoyed it a second time, too!!
Notes/Variations to original recipe: I followed the original recipe as much as possible...however I did add some shredded cabbage also to the veggie mixture and additionally, a tsp each of coriander powder and cummin powder to the spice mix...being that I am a spice maniac!
Awesome recipe, Jyoti and thank you for it!!!
Links: original post
Recipe for Moong dal Chilla(as posted on The Veggie Hut):
This recipe makes 6 chillas:
Ingredients:
1 cup washed split moong dal(lentils)
1 onion chopped finely.
1 large tomato chopped finely.
½ cup bell pepper chopped finely.
¼ cup coriander leaves chopped finely.
2 green chilies deseeded and chopped finely.
¼ turmeric powder.
½ red chilli powder.
1 ¼ cup water.
1 tsp salt or to taste.
Oil for shallow frying.
Process:
Soak the moong dal for 2-3 hours. It will double in its volume. Drain off the water and add 1 ¼ cup of fresh water and churn in the mixer to form a liquid paste. Add turmeric powder and red chilli powder. Add the salt just before making the 'Chilla'. The batter should have a dropping consistency just like dosa.
Keep the chopped veggies aside.
Heat a non stick pan. Grease it lightly. Take a ladle full of batter and drop it on the pan and quickly spread it on the pan in a circular motion to form a 6 cm radius circle. Sprinkle all the veggies all over it.
When the chilla changes color turn it over with a spatula and cook on the other side.
When done transfer it on a paper towel. Continue with the rest of the batter.
Serve hot with chutney and ketchup.
