Dal Pitha is a traditional and popular Bihari Cuisine made from rice flour dumplings. It is prepared using fresh rice flour and flour dumplings are filled with spicy masala lentil. This popular snacks is loved by people of all age groups and it is a vegan, gluten free and steamed dish which are high in proteins. Here's a easy recipe of how you can make this delicious Bihari Dal Pitha:
Ingredients of Bihari Dal Pitha:
Ingredients for making Rice Dough:
- 1 cup rice flour
- 1/2 cup water
- A pinch of salt
Ingredients for Dal Stuffing:
- 1/2 cup chana dal (split Bengal gram)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon asafoetida (hing)
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder (You may use according to your taste)
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 green chili, finely chopped (may use more according your spice preference)
- 2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander leaves
Ingredients For Assembling:
- Oil for greasing and cooking
Instructions of Making Dal Pitha:
Preparation of Dal For the Filling:
1. Wash the chana dal thoroughly and soak it in water for about 2 hours.
2. After soaking, drain the water from the dal.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan or kadai over medium heat.
4. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and asafoetida (hing). Let them splutter.
5. Add the grated ginger and chopped green chili. Sauté for a minute.
6. Add the drained chana dal and sauté for a couple of minutes.
7. Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt. Mix well.
8. Add enough water to cover the dal, and then cover the pan. Cook until the dal becomes soft and is cooked through. If require, you may add more water during the cooking process.
9. Add chopped fresh coriander leaves when the dal is cooked and the mixture has dried up. Mix coriander leaves well with dal and remove it from the heat and let it cool completely.
Preparation of the Rice Dough:
1. In a saucepan, take 1/2 cup of water to a boil.
2. Add a pinch of salt when the water start boiling.
3. Reduce the heat to low, and slowly add the rice flour while continuously stirring to avoid lumps. Keep stirring until the mixture of rice flour comes together as a dough.
4. Turn off the heat when the dough is ready and cover the saucepan. Keep the dough aside for 10-15 minutes and let it cool to some extent.
5. After resting, knead the dough until it becomes smooth and pliable. If the dough is too dry, you can add a little more water, and if it's too sticky, you can add a bit more rice flour.
Assembling the Dal Pitha:
1. Take a small portion of the rice dough and roll it into a small ball.
2. Flatten the dough ball into a small disc using your fingers or the palm of your hand.
3. Place a spoonful of the prepared dal filling in the center of the disc.
4. Carefully fold the edges of the dough over the filling, sealing it to form a semi-circular or crescent shape.
Cooking the Dal Pitha:
1. Heat a steamer or a large pot with a steaming rack. Grease the rack with oil to prevent sticking.
2. Place the assembled dal pitha on the greased rack, leaving some space between them.
3. Steam the pitha for about 15-20 minutes or until the outer rice covering becomes translucent and firm.
4. Remove the cooked pitha from the steamer and let them cool for a few minutes.
Serve the Bihari Dal Pitha hot with green chutney or tomato chutney. Enjoy your homemade traditional Bihari snack!
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