It's amazing how I like to challenge myself in the kitchen these days. It's like a fun workout for me. Sometime the exercises ends in a fabulous result which makes my day a whole lot brighter and sometime, there are those bad times when I cry...almost like a kid!
The unsuccessful experiment creates a disaster and mess in the kitchen that makes me really mad! But thankfully it makes me more curious and stubborn. Call it attitude if you may, but it helps me to finally nail the dish!
Making Khandvi was not easy and it took multiple attempts to get it right. It's definitely not one of the easiest snacks to prepare. It needs a lot of time and attention but at the end, you will certainly not regret the effort.
This finger food snack bite comes from the state of Gujarat in India and it's made with plain sour yogurt and chickpea flour.
Getting the batter ready was the quick and easy part. In fact, the whole process should not take more than 15 mins. The first tricky part was to cook it to the right consistency, so that it was easy to spread evenly into a thin layer.
Then comes the second tricky part - making the rolls. The thin layers are very delicate and if you hurry, it will break apart. You need to be really careful and patient while rolling the layers.
Patience is not always my strong point!
Once the rolls are ready, the job is almost done! Now, all you need is some tampering and it's ready to be served.
There is hardly any spice in this dish, which gives it a very mild taste, and it is buttery at every bite! Tamper it with mustard seeds, some green chilies and curry leaves to add that robust flavor and finish it off with chopped fresh cilantro as garnish.
There is always a certain sense of pleasure that I get out of such challenges and it's always worth the effort after I see a smile on Arvind's face as he enjoys the dish.
Today, I am sharing this savory delicious finger food with my friend Tamara Novakovic who lives in Croatia. She is a freelance food writer and an amazing photographer. Visit her blog Bite My cake and you will know what I mean. We met though Honest Cooking where she has her own column called "Cooking Croatia".
I felt so honored when she asked me to be a part of her food event 'Eat Global Series' where she is gathering recipes from all across the globe. She loves spices, wild strawberries and colorful candy. Her favorite hobby is baking cakes and in her blog, you can see all the gorgeous food that she makes.
Let's get to know her more and head over to Bite My Cake to learn how to make Khandvi the easy way!
Note: After doing some study on how to make Khandvi, I realized that you could either cook the batter on the stovetop or in the microwave. I tried both and clearly the microwave version is much easier method - it takes less effort and it's much simpler.
Khandvi (A healthy finger food from India) – Guest Post for Tamara @ Bite My Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup chickpea flour/besan
- 1 cup sour yogurt
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon asafoetida/hing
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 inch ginger (grated)
- salt
for tampering
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 2 green chilies (finely chopped)
- 1-½ tablespoon oil
- freshly chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Arrange some steel plates/glass chopping boards or cookie sheets to spread the batter. You can also spread the batter on the counter top. I used back side of a cookie sheet and two wooden chopping boards.
- Brush the back of the cookie sheet and the wooden boards very lightly with some oil. Then, rub it using a kitchen paper towel to make sure it's not too oily.
- Keeping the spreading utensils ready is very important as you have to spread the batter immediately while it's hot. Once the utensils are ready, start with the batter.
- Add water and sour yogurt in a microwave proof bowl and mix it properly.
- Then, add asafoetida, chili powder, turmeric powder, grated ginger and give it a mix.
- Sift the chickpea flour to the bowl and whisk until it's mixed properly.
- Add salt and mix it one last time to make sure that there are no lumps.
- Put it in the microwave without the lid and let it cook for 4 minutes in high heat.
- Take it out and whisk it properly. Put it back in the microwave for 3 more minutes.
- Take it out and whisk it once again. At this point, the consistency should be thick enough.
- Spread the thick batter quickly on the back of the cookie sheets or chopping boards. Spread it as thinly as you can.
- Let it rest for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Using a knife, cut 1 inch long strips and very gently roll the strips. Place each roll in the serving plate.
- For tampering, heat oil in a small skillet and add mustard seeds, curry leaves and chopped green chilies.
- In about few seconds, it will start to splatter and release the flavor.
- Stop the heat and spread it evenly on the rolled Khandvi.
- Garnish it with chopped cilantro and serve immediately.
Nutrition
My very good friend Prerna along with two other amazing bloggers Barbara and Kathy started the event Indian Food Palooza, celebrating Indian food. I love the concept of the event and guess what!! There are prizes to win too 🙂 What are you waiting for?Head up here and read more about it and start linking Indian food.
I am sharing this snack bite for this month's entry.
Soni
One word,Gorgeous!!I've gotten these from the Indian Stores, but, never knew it was made this way.Microwave version looks much easier though!Might try it sometime 🙂
Joanne
Oh wow these definitely look like a labor of love, but in a good way. Delicious and oh so tasty!
Tes
I've seen these things everwhere but have never tried them. It sounds so yummy and easy to make 🙂
hemalata
Awesome recipe,looks so inviting n nice photography.
nisha
i have heard so much about this dish, but never made it. I love how cute they look and the pics as usual are beautiful 🙂
Ansh
Wonderful and artistic photography! these pictures do say a thousand words and more! And great texture on the khandvi.
Baker Street
I love khandvi more than dhokla! You are such a perfectionist Kankana! 🙂
Marsha @ The Harried Cook
Oh I have eaten these before, and they are delicious! Love this post... Thanks for the recipe! And Kankana - your photographs are breathtakingly gorgeous! SO much I can learn from you... Awesome post!
Cheryl and Adam @ pictureperfectmeals.com
Wow! Your photos have become works of art! We haven't visited with you for a while because we've been completely swamped with work, it's ll we could do to get our posts up, let alone spend the time to follow our favorite blogs, but here we are back again and it's such a delight to see your beautiful images. Needless to say the recipe looks delicious, although it does seem to try the patience, but you prepared it beautifully. Congrats oncthe Top 9, most well deserved!
Elif
looks nice, will try it asap. i think this is original recipe, may be it could be changed by adding some tahini it could taste like hummus but in different form... like it!
Rose ( Magpie's Recipes)
Omygosh! simply fantastic girl!
sonia
Hey kankana, the khandvi is rocking around and the pictures are super gorgeous.........wonderful post !
Kala
Kankana, these photographs are terrific. And the rolls look so tasty.
Harini
My favourite Gujju recipe, Kankana. You have presented them so delightfully. Off to read your post now.
rebecca
these look great and I can relate to your kitchen adventures i have had a few failures 🙂
Sandra
These look like they took lots of time and patience. However, they look worth all of the effort. Congrats on Today's Top 9!
Daisy@Nevertoosweet
Congratulations for being Top 9 today on Foodbuzz 😉 These look amazing!!!! I've never seen anything like this before ~ would love to try one!
Liz
These are gorgeous...as are all your photos!!! Congrats on the well deserved Top 9!
FictionsFactsFractiousness
Flavouring and texture looks a bit like dhokla with the tempered curry leaves, chilli etc- I've never come across these, though! Looks like a fun dish for a get-together to wow everyone with 🙂
Nami | Just One Cookbook
Oh looks like you are on Top 9 today! Yay congrats Kankana! I saw this via email but didn't see it on my computer school yet till now. WOW girl, you did such a beautiful job here. Every single picture is breathtaking. I love your photography work, and I know you put so much effort for each styling and taking pictures. Very, very nice job!!