Himachali-Style Kachori

Once again we find ourselves in a snacking mood and this time we head high into the picturesque hills and valleys of Himachal Pradesh to savour one of their traditional snacks.

This is a snack called Babru, which is – in essence – a Himachali version of the Kachori and is made with black gram.

Here are the ingredients that you will require.

Ingredients:

1. Black Gram (Urad Dal): 500 grams

2. Flour (Aata): 1 kilogram

3. Mustard Oil: 100 millilitres

4. Baking Powder: Half a teaspoon

5. Salt: to taste

The quantities mentioned above are for five servings. Adjust the quantities proportionately to suit the number of servings that you require.

Preparation:

Place the black gram in warm water and let it soak overnight. The next morning drain the water and de-husk the black gram. Then grind the black gram into a coarse paste.

Method:

Take the flour in a mixing bowl and add the baking soda. Mix well. Then add water, a little at a time, to make dough. Knead it well.

Tear off small portions of the dough and use your hands to shape them into palm-sized balls. Use a rolling pin to roll each ball into a circular shape (don’t make it thin like a Chapatti.)

Add a portion of the black gram paste to the centre of each of the circular dough pieces. Then shape each piece into a ball again. Repeat the process of using a rolling pin to roll the stuffed dough balls into circular shapes that are around 3 inches in diameter.

Heat the Mustard Oil in a pan on a Medium flame. When the oil reaches its smoking point and starts emitting puffs of aromatic white smoke, turn the flame down to low.

Deep-fry the stuffed dough circles till they turn golden brown in colour. Keep turning the pieces over to ensure even frying on both sides. It’s best to deep-fry in batches to avoid burning the pieces.

Your Himachali-style Babru is now ready to be served. Traditionally it is eaten with any vegetable dish or with a pickle of your choice. It also makes an excellent accompaniment for hot cups of tea on a cold winter’s evening.

You can find more recipes at : https://www.purioilmills.com/recipes-in-english/

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