Her Circle Kitchens Of India - Gujarat Edition With Shital Kakad

Her Circle Kitchens Of India brings you home chefs who will take you on a culinary trip across India. An exclusive series where home chefs specialising in regional cuisine open their homes and hearts to the foodie in us - cooking traditional regional dishes and sharing recipes that are passed on through generations.

As we walked into Shital’s Food Cottage, we were greeted with a bright smile. Looking like a gorgeous Gujarati chokri in her traditional choli and skirt attire, Shital said “I wanted to look as traditional as possible for you’ll since we are going back to my roots.”

Mumbai-born Surti home chef Shital Kakad, is on a mission, a mission to prove that 'all Gujarati food is not sweet.'

With that in mind she decided to prepare ‘Tuver Na Dhekra’ a winter delicacy which is a lost recipe and is seldom prepared or heard of. A recipe inspired from her grandmother, these deep fried patties are a traditional Gujarati snack made with season winter ingredients like ‘tuver na dana’ green pigeon peas, sugarcane juice, and green garlic. The final result was a party of flavours and textures - crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, fresh and spicy with a very subtle hint of sweetness from the sugarcane juice.

An avid traveller she is also known for experimenting with global cuisine and turning them into vegetarian delights using local produce. When not developing recipes, or cooking up a storm for her next catering event, shital also rents out the space for budding home chefs.

Join us as we spend a beautiful afternoon with her cooking and chatting up on Gujarati cuisine.

DHEKRA RECIPE

Makes: 12-14 Dhekras

Ingredients:

1 cup Tuver Dana ( fresh pigeon peas )

1 cup rice flour

1/2 cup jowar flour

2 cups water

1 cup sugarcane juice

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ajwain / celery seeds

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 tablespoon ginger paste

1 tablespoon green chili paste

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh green garlic

1 teaspoon oil

Salt to taste

Oil to fry as needed

Method:

1. Take 2 cups of water and 1 cup of sugarcane juice in a deep pan & cook till it starts boiling.

2. Add in the tuver dana, baking soda and boil for 2 mins.

3. Add ajwain, ginger, chilli paste, sesame seeds, turmeric powder, oil and salt. Let it boil for a minute.

4. Now quickly add rice and jowar flour, while stirring continuously using a whisk or a wooden spoon. Keep stirring until well combined and there are no lumps remaining.

5. Turn off the gas, and add in fresh green garlic.

6. Cover with a lid and let it come down to room temperature.

7. Once cooled, knead well and make a nice, smooth dough

8. Make small flat balls (as shown in the video)

9. Deep fry on a medium flame until crispy

10. Serve hot with green garlic chutney