DHALL PITA
This Indian Recipe Serves 2-4
Dhall Pita is a dish consisting of yellow split pea dhall with bits & flour batter, exceptionally simple but extremely wonderful. As this is a dish that includes flour dough, simply like the preparation of roti.
Growing up, my grandmother (my dad’s mum) used to prepare this dish all the time as she is of the North Indian culture.
Yellow Split Pea Dhall, in some cases spelled dahl or dhal, & also known to many South Africans as Doll or Dholl, is a staple of Indian veggie lover cooking. This simple recipe is for an essential vegetarians & vegans.
Dhall Pita Ingredients:
For the Dhall:
- salt to taste
- 2 cups yellow pea dhall
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 dried chilies
- 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- fresh dhania (coriander) for garnishing
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 1 small jam/rosa tomato
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil + 1 additional teaspoon
- 1 sprig thyme (optional)
- 1 teaspoon jeera seeds (cumin seeds)
For the Pita (Dough):
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Pinch of salt
- ± 2 cups boiling water
Method:
- Add pea dhall to a bowl. Sift through the dried dhall to remove stones or blemished pieces.
- Rinse dhall.
- Fill the bowl with water & allow the dhall to soak for 10 minutes.
- Thereafter, discard of the water it had been soaking in. Place a pot on the stove & empty the dhall into the pot.
- Cover the dhall with water, add in the 1 teaspoon cooking oil & 1 teaspoon turmeric powder.
- Mix & bring to a boil.
- Add boiling water a little at a time when the water dries out.
- The dhall is cooked when it is soft & creamy.
- Empty into a bowl & set aside.
- Chop the onions & set aside.
- Chop tomatoes & set aside.
- Peel & chop garlic cloves & set aside.
- Use another pot & heat the remaining cooking oil on medium heat.
- Drop in the onions, jeera (cumin) seeds, garlic cloves, curry leaves, mustard seeds & thyme (optional). Break the dried chilies in halves & also add to the pot.
- Mix well & add in a teaspoon of turmeric powder to the pot.
- Stir & add in the tomatoes.
- Mix & simmer for about 5 minutes until tomatoes are cooked.
- Next, drop the cooked pea dhall into the pot of braised spices.
- Mix well.
- Allow to simmer for 5 minutes. At this point, if the dhall is too thick, add in a little boiled water at a time until you reach your desired consistency. If the dhall is too weak, allow it to simmer a bit longer until it thickens up.
- Turn off the heat & set the braised dhall aside.
- Add in a little dhania (coriander) & salt to taste. Mix well.
- Now it’s time to begin with the pita (dough). Add the flour, salt & butter to a mixing bowl.
- Rub in the butter using your fingers. The flour should resemble breadcrumbs.
- Now, gradually pour in the boiling water, making sure to stir the mixture with a spoon.
- Mix well until you get an incomplete dough.
- Place the mixture on a floured surface. Be careful, as the mixture may still be hot so try not to burn yourself. Allow it to cool if it is too hot to touch.
- Begin kneading the dough, making sure to combine all of the crumbled flour bits. After 5 minutes of kneading, the dough should be soft & pliable.
- Flour the surface once again & using a rolling pin, roll out the dough. The dough should be about an inch thick.
- Using a knife, cut lines horizontally across the dough & then vertically, to form strips. A cookie cutter may be used as well & the dough can be cut into shapes.
- Heat up the braised dhall on low on the stove-top & gently drop in the flour strips or shapes (pita) one at a time.
- When all of the flour strips or shapes (pita) are added to the dhall, gently mix & cover the pot with a lid so that the dough can cook with the steam.
- After 2 minutes, gently mix again & add a bit of boiling water if the mixture gets too thick.
- Allow to cook for another 4-5 minutes until dough is completely cooked.
- Garnish with fresh dhania (coriander).
- Serve Dhall Pita hot as is or if you prefer, you can have this meal with sides.
- Stores for up to a week in the refrigerator.
