Palak dhokla, instant Gujarati snack made with Gram flour and fresh spinach. A colorful snack made with fresh palak leaves, gram flour and spices. A nutritious and hearty snack.
Spinach dhokla | How to make khaman dhokla | Instant palak dhokla | Dhokla for snack | Gujarati Snack | Indian Chat | Gujarati Steamed Snack | How to make Instant dhokla | Palak recipe | Spinach recipe | Steamed snack with palak
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Khaman or Dhokla
Dhokla is a famous Gujarati savory sponge dish made with a fermented batter. The batter consists of a mixture of rice and usually Bengal gram/chana dal.
Khaman, on the other hand is also similar but made from ground chana dal or gram flour, mixed with lemon juice, semolina, and curd. This also called instant dhokla, where the original method needs fermentation, the instant version uses a leavening agent to get a soft, spongy texture.
Both khaman and dhokla are steamed in a mold, like a round tin or a flat plate, then cut into cubes and finally a delicious tempering is added.
The names khaman and dhokla, though mean different , yet is used together to refer the same snack. If you go order dhokla in any of the eatery in India or any Indian restaurant serving Chat, they will serve you bright yellow colored Khaman and it is also famously called Khaman Dhokla.
My Dhokla Story
There was once a time, when I used to by ready-made dhokla mixes. But, after trying Khaman Dhokla once, I realized, how silly of me to buy ready-made stuff, when it super easy to make it at home.
Now, I m trying different variations in Khaman, Check this super simple Beets Dhokla made with readymade dhokla flour. Green peas Khaman Dhokla, made with green peas blended with dhokla mix. Amiri Khaman, is a deconstructed khaman dhokla served with fresh toppings.
Today's recipe, Spinach dhokla, is an inspired from a Food Show. The original recipe had methi leaves/Fresh fenugreek leaves too, but I was a bit hesitant, worrying the final dish might taste bitter.
This bright green spinach dhokla is a great way to sneak greens into your kiddo's meal. I made it a little spicy and served it with some yogurt, oh yum, a filling breakfast.
Ingredients for Instant Spinach Dhokla
- Main Ingredient : Besan, gram flour along with sooji/semolina and fresh palak leaves.
- Spices : Green chilies, fresh ginger, fresh lemon juice along with salt and sugar.
- Leavening : I have used baking soda, you can also use a small sachet of Eno.
- Tempering ; mustard seeds, white sesame seeds tempered in oil along with curry leaves and asafoetida.
Stepwise Instructions to make Palak Dhokla
Please check recipe card below for exact measurements of each ingredient used and also for the detailed instructions
- Wash fresh palak leaves and drain them well. Take the palak leaves along with green chilies and ginger in a blender and blend it smooth without any water.
- To this now add rest of the ingredients except baking powder and whisk well .
- Add enough water to this and make a thick batter. To this batter add baking soda and give it a good mix.
- Now pour this batter into greased bowls or a greasted flat plate and steam cook them for 12-15 minutes.
- Once steamed remove the dhokla from the steamer. Heat oil in a tadka pan, splutter mustard seeds, add hing and curry leaves. Remove the tadka from the heat, add 2tbsp of water to this and pour it over the steamed dhokla.
- Once the dhokla are cool enough to touch, cut them into cubes and serve it with green chutney.
Palak Dhokla | Instant Palak Dhokla | Steamed Snack
Equipment
- Steamer
- Bowls for mixing
Ingredients
- 1 cup Besan/Bengal gram flour/Kadalai Maavu
- 2 fistfuls of chopped spinach/Palak leaves washed
- 1 ½ tablespoon semolina/Sooji/rava
- ½ cup water
- 3 ½ teaspoon sugar
- 2 green chilies
- 1 teaspoon shredded ginger
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon oil for greasing
- salt to taste
Tempering
- 1 teaspoon oil
- ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon white sesame seeds
- a pinch of asafoetida / hing
- 2 sprigs of curry leaves
Instructions
- Wash palak leaves in water and drain them completely in a colander.
- Take green chilies and ginger along with spinach/palak in a mixer and grind it to a fine paste, without adding water.
- Take this in a bowl, add rest of the ingredient, except the baking soda ,and mix well adding water to make a thick batter.
- Just before steaming, add the baking soda. Give it a brisk stir
- Pour the batter immediately into a greased thali. I used my stainless steel bowls for steaming. You can also use flat plates.
- Steam for 12 to 15 minutes or till the dhoklas are cooked. Once steamed, remove the bowls/plate carefully from the steamer and keep aside.
Let us add tempering
- Heat the oil in small pan and add the mustard seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the sesame seeds, and asafoetida, mix well and sauté on a medium flame for a second, while stirring continuously
- Remove from the flame, add 2 tablespoon of water and mix well. Pour the tempering over the dhoklas.Cool slightly and cut into equal pieces.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
I m not a Doctor or a Nutritionist The Nutrition information provided above comes from the plugin and is only an estimate.
MySpicyKitchen
I am yet to make dhokla at home. This is on top of my to do list. Spinach dhokla looks inviting with the bright green color.
Unknown
wow such an healthy and attractive dhokla looks so yummy !!
Priya_Srinivasan
Thanks manjula
Jayashree
Nice, healthy variation, Priya.
Priya_Srinivasan
Thanks jayashree
Simplyfood
Very healthy and delicious inviting you to link this to Lets cook with green veg event at simply.food.
Unknown
Healthy, delicious & tempting, Priya!
virunthu unna vaanga
Looks very spongy and yummy...
AparnaRajeshkumar
Its good to see the fluffy and cracked dhokla.. too good
Unknown
They look like an, 'savoury cake' 🙂 Love them
Harini R
Awesome spinach dhokla..looks so inviting..
Chef Mireille
WOW - what a gorgeous color and wonderful texture
Lifewithspices
wonderful addition to normal dhoklas..looks yumm
Unknown
this is on my list from the time i saw the show on the channel... this one looks so lovely and inviting
Nalini's Kitchen
Healthy dhokla and loved the vibrant color of the dhokla,feel like grabbing it..
Varada's Kitchen
It looks so spongy and colorful
Srivalli
I love that green colour Priya..so pretty!..I have something similar planned..:)
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
I have not made dhoklas before and this color is simply beautiful!
Pavani
Wow.. spinach dhokla looks so colorful and delicious. fluffy & perfect.
Archana
Looks fluffy delicious and perfect.