Appetizers
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Idna
When people think of Gujju food they often think about Dhokla, my understanding is that dhokla and idna are very closely related. My sister loves a plate of dhokla for lunch life gets too busy, it’s oddly comforting for her. These can be made a bunch of different ways, but this recipe is my favorite. I love it with whole chana dal for an added crunch. My family always makes their own rice flour and dal flours which has been a blessing for us all these years, but when I moved away I needed a dose of that comfort food. The dhokla flour from Swad is a great alternative if…
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Handvo/Bhakhro
Handvo/Bhakhro is one of my dad’s favorite tea time snacks, as I’ve grown older and moved away from home it is still one of the things I’m nostalgic for. Chai, bhakhro, and a big bowl of chevdo round out a perfect breakfast for me. So many people have a million ways to make it, but I think this way is the best and the easiest. I love baking them in cupcake tins or smaller trays so you get more crispy edge pieces. In addition to that I always try to bake it really thin so that you get this wonderful crunch all the way around. This dish can easily be…
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Spicy Jalapeño Poppers
Jalapeño poppers are every 90’s kid’s classic bowling alley snack. We used to get french fries, poppers, and pizza at birthday parties all the time. As I grew up I would always think about how I could update this snack to be more flavor friendly. Sunday Gameday’s are normally my chance to try out new appetizers on friends and family, so I decided to take the leap and make these! The crust came out so wonderfully crunchy and flavorful, the inside was piping hot and melty just how I was hoping for. Feel free to doctor up this recipe however you see fit it definitely is adjustable but this is…
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Dabeli
Dabeli are the perfect street snack in Gujarat. They’re tangy, spicy, a little sweet, crispy and crunchy around the edges but also buttery from the ghee. I can eat about 10 of these on the spot, the filling is just so lip-smacking. You definitely can’t stop at just 1. I started making these a few years back when I entered them in a food competition, and I’ve been hooked ever since. The only Dabeli Hardik had ever had were the frozen variety, I made these fresh for him when he was here for a visit and he’s a fan! I serve these up piping hot with a little bit of…
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Thikhi Puri
Both of my grandmothers always have a container of thikhi puri in their pantry. No matter what, my nose would sniff it out, even as a 5-year-old. Thikhi puri is one of those things that is really reminiscent of childhood for a lot of Gujarati kids. Even as we grow into adults, its something that reminds us of home. During quarantine, its all about making the day a little extra special. Hot puris are an easy way to create that little pocket of nostalgia in under 30 minutes! Ingredients: 2 c. wheat flour 3/4 c. water 1 tbsp. neutral oil 1 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. ground cumin (jeera) 1/2 tsp.…
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Bataka (Bateta) Vada
Bataka Vada is my dad’s favorite desi fried food. This with fruit salad is every Gujarati dad’s dream for lunch. It is probably the one food that they could eat in every meal of the day. My masi has the best recipe for these (shout out to Rita Masi!) but when she is not here us amateurs have to fend for ourselves. This recipe turned out delicious and we made Vada Pav the next day to close out our wonderful cholesterol filled weekend. Next time there is a rainstorm, hunker down and make some Bataka Vada. Ingredients: 3 Russet potatoes, peeled and boiled 1 cup frozen green garlic 1/2 c.…
