Varan Phal - Repost Event......

I had written a post sometime back on one of my father's favourite dish,Varan Phal for an event but due to some technical snags in the blog, the photos could not be uploaded then..........
The recipe was posted sans photos and continues to be without them......
Then I heard about "the repost event" hosted by Jaya of Desi Soccer Mom, I thought that it was very unusual yet interesting concept. However, my wonderful record of posting after deadlines ensured that I had missed my bus for this event....but then I read that Jaya had very sweetly extended the deadline, and given "grace period for the repost event ", allowing Late Latiffs like me a chance to participate in her interesting event within her stipulated deadlines..........


The original post written by me can be found here.......
There are some lovely recipes of Varan Phal & Dal Dhokali as it is known in Gujarati and also Rajasthani version of the same.......which can be found here and of Gujarati Dal Dhokali which can be found here........ & Rajasthani Dal Dhokali can be found here..........

My father hails from the City of Oranges .......Nagpur.....Nagpur is geographically located in the Vidarbh region of Maharashtra, India and the lovely City of Oranges apart from its people, is also famous for its Varadi dishes(cuisine of Vidharbha region is known as Varadi cuisine) like Chandrapur Vada bhaat, VaranPhal :)) Varadi cuisine is spicy and famous spicy Saoji masala originates from here......

Who can forget the great Pu La Deshpande's legendary "Tumhala kay vayachay: Punekar, Mumbaikar ki Nagpurkar?" The literal translation meaning What will you like to become - Mumbaite, Punite or Nagpurite.........I coined this word I can't think of any other:)) A complete laughter riot specially if you happen to catch the kathakathan version(book reading by Pu La Deshpande)....

Coming back to Varan Phal, varan is marathi word for dal......so literal translation of Varan Phal would be Fruits of Dal :)) It is also known as Dal Dhokli in Gujarat and Rajasthan.......

Here's how Varan Phal looks ...............

& Here's how Varan Phal is cooked :

Ingredients : For the Varan : Toor Dal - one cup Water - 5/6 cups Turmeric powder - pinch Onion - 1 (finely chopped) For the tempering (tadka) : Ghee - 1 tablespoon 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds (rai) 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera) 1/2 teaspoon asafoetida (hing) 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder (dhania) 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder (jeera powder) 1/2 teaspoon goda masala powder 7/8 cloves of of garlic 2 inches of ginger 4-5 green chillis Curry Leaves - 6/7 Jaggery as per taste Tamarind pulp or paste ( 1 teaspoon) Salt as per taste.

For the Phal : Whole Wheat Flour ( kanik /atta) I generally use Sakas Sehore Atta - 2 cups Salt - pinch Oil water

Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

Method -

1. Pressure cook one cup toor dal with 5/6 cups of water and pinch of turmeric powder for 4/5 whistles. The more the whistles, the softer the dal is cooked.
2. Grind together, green chillies, ginger, garlic in a fine paste.
3. Heat a heavy bottom vessal (kadhai) and heat ghee in it.
4. When the ghee is hot, add the mustard seeds.When they splutter, add cumin seeds, hing and curry leaves.
5. Add onion and stiry fry in ghee till it changes its color. Then add turmeric powder and stir fry well.
6. Add the grounded paste and mix well. Add the cooked dal and excess water only if necessary.
7. Add dhania powder, jeera powder, goda masala and salt as per taste and mix well.
8. Add Jaggery and tamarind paste and let the dal boil.
9. Make a dough of atta,pinch of salt,oil and water(like the dough for chappatis)
10. Make small balls of kneaded dough and roll one small ball with a rolling pin till it becomes a big round.
11. Make horizontal and vertical cuts to the round of dough like we make shankapalis.
12. Take the small pieces and add in the boiling dal and let it boil till the atta is fully cooked.

Garnish the Varan Phal with fresh coriander leaves and add a dollap of ghee and the Varan Phal is ready to be eaten.

So, if its raining heavily or snowing badly, this is just the right dish for it.......

Like I mentioned in my earlier post, it wins my vote as it is simple and easy to make....... Tastes yummy and is a healthy and nutrious one dish meal.........

Do try it.......