Day five has the letter E at the Blogging Marathon. While there are a few recipes from E like Eggplant or anything that begins with Ekadashi. But then, I chose Gujarat as the state for this week, and it dawned on me that there is Ek Toap na Dal Bhaat.
This recipe is very famous in the interiors of Gujarat as a one pot meal for dinner. While stuffed vegetables are used to make a delicious sabzi, this recipe uses stuffed vegetables along with rice and dal to make a meal that has everything; vegetables, rice, dal and spices. Enjoy it with a glass of buttermilk to cool down from the spiced rice dish.
Ek toap na dal bhaat can be termed as a Gujarati version of pulao. While the punjabi version of rice has punjabi spices, this one has distinct flavor of coconut, lots of cilantro and Gujarati spices. The traditional recipe requires mini onions, baby potatoes and baby brinjals. I could not lay my hands on mini onion and potato, so I made do with pieces of the big ones. You can add the baby versions if you can get them easily. The taste however does not change.
For our meal, I made a big batch of the rice. Served it with criss-cross cut vegetable salad, garlic flavored dahi raita and some mirchi pickle. It turned out to be a perfect weekend meal that was not only filling, but also wholesome and tasty!
Ingredients
For the Dal Bhaat
Toovar/ Arhar Dal ⅓ cup
Rice 1 cup
Onion 1 medium
Potato 1 medium
Small Brinjals 2-3
Green Peas ¼ cup (Fresh or frozen)
Ghee 2 tbsp
Mustard Seeds 1 tsp, Cumin seeds 1 tsp, Curry Leaves
Ginger Chilli Paste 1 tsp
For the Masala
Grated Coconut ½ cup
Dhania Jeera Powder 2 tbsp
Cilantro ¼ cup chopped
Red Chilli Powder 1 tbsp
Turmeric Powder 1 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Sugar 1 tsp
Asafoetida a pinch
Oil 1 tbsp
Method
Adapted from here.
In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients of the masala and mix well. Cut the potato into 3-4 inches pieces. Cut onion into four quarters. Make slits in the potato pieces, brinjals and onion.
Stuff the vegetables with the masala and keep the extra masala aside. Boil the peas and drain the water. Wash and soak rice and dal together for 15 minutes.
Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Add mustard seeds, let them pop and then add cumin seeds. Add the curry leaves and ginger chilli paste and saute. Add drained rice and dal and saute for a couple of minutes. Add the excess masala and saute.
Now add the stuffed vegetables and green peas. Add a 2 cups of water and mix gently. Pressure cook for 3 whistles.
Once done, let the cooker cool. Open and serve with a side of raita, salad and buttermilk.
Gayathri Kumar says
That is a wholesome one pot meal. Love that stuffed Brinjal...
Unknown says
What a fantastic one pot meal wonderful and the picture looks too good specially the first one...
Srivalli says
Such a wholesome meal, the whole meal looks so inviting.
MySpicyKitchen says
This is a wholesome one pot meal. Thanks for sharing
Pavani says
OMG, I'm drooling looking at the photos Smruthi. That dal bhaat with veggies looks absolutely amazing. I love one pot meals (who doesn't) and this one looks to be a sure shot winner. Pinned!!
Srividhya says
Love that whole brinjals in there. Very interesting. Bookmarking this.
cookingwithsapana says
Such a delicious looking dal bhat Smruti.Love to eat it rite now from the bowl.I love your pictures and more the lightening in them .You should share your photography tutorials.
Suma Gandlur says
The rice sounds and looks wonderful, Smruti. I have bookmarked this long ago from Tarla Dalal's website and didn't have the opportunity to try it yet.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
What a wonderful one pot meal this is! Love to explore new cuisines and this one is very new to me.
vaishali sabnani says
Ek top na daal bhat is a perfect well balanced meal , you have made it really well with beautiful clicks .
Nisha says
Thats a delicious one pot meal Smruthi... Wonderful presentation...
priya says
Yummmicious recipe I must say ... Perfect one pot handy recipe
Amara’s cooking says
Love one pot recipes for weeknight dinners, this dal bhaat looks delicious, bookmarked the recipe:)
Priya Suresh says
Wat a one pot meal, delicious and nutritious. Excellent dish to prepare rite now.
Nalini's Kitchen says
Delicious one pot meal with veggies,brilliant clicks as well.
Padmajha says
During the time I started blogging, this dish was making its rounds in almost every blog! Since then, this has been on my list!! The dish is surely a flavorful one pot meal.Beautiful pics as always 🙂
The Pumpkin Farm says
hehe...nice idea to use this for E, lovely recipe and nice pictures as always
Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says
Looks amazing! ! Love the presentation. A complete meal with that garlicky rata and pickle!!
Chef Mireille says
what a fabulous weekend feast this would have been
Unknown says
Thats definitely a filling one pot meal. Loved the presentation and the clicks...
veena says
This is a lovely one pot meal. Looks very nice