Dhoka r Dalna

First soak chana dal for at least 6 hours Then wash it properly and grind with green chillies salt and sugar into a fine paste Grind the dal into two batches so that it grinds well add little water if required Then heat oil in a kadai on low heat then add coconut saute for a few seconds then add ginger paste and cook for a few seconds Now add jeera powder haldi and heeng mix nicely

Now add dal paste cook on low heat stirring continuously until it becomes like a dough Add crushed peanuts while cooking the dal paste

Then spread the mixture in a greased thali let it cool down completely Mark the cut lines on the mixture while it is still warm When it becomes completely cool then separate the pieces Make the slurry with maida and water

Dab the slurry on the dhoka pieces lightly so that it doesn’t break into crumbs Now heat oil for deep frying and fry the dhoka in small batches on medium high flame until it becomes brown and crispy

Fry all the dhoka pieces and keep them aside

Now we will prepare the Dalna or gravy

First prepare the paste of spices

In a mixing bowl combine together ginger paste haldi dhaniya jeera kashmiri red chillies powder and heeng mix them well and add little water if required

Heat mustard oil in a kadai until the smoke comes out and then make the flame low

Now add dried red chillies saute for a few seconds and then add bay leaves cardamom cloves cinnamon and jeera and let them splutter

Now add the diced potatoes cook on low heat by turning them at regular intervals until it becomes light brown

Then add grated coconut and saute for one minute then add the spices paste Mix nicely and then add salt and sugar and cook on low heat until the oil comes out Then add water tomato and slit green chillies

Let the boil come then add the dhoka pieces and mix it nicely but gently

Let it simmer for 5 minutes then add garam masala and ghee

Switch off the gas

It is ready to serve

Take an earthen plate place one clean banana leaf on it

Now serve plain rice on one side of the plate and serve dhoka r Dalna some over rice and some on the plate

Serve dhoka r Dalna in a separate earthen bowl Also serve noon/salt kaacha Lanka/green chillies ghee and paan without them a Bengali meal is incomplete