KACHORI

Kachori is a spicy snack common in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat and Utter Pradesh and also in Pakistan. It has flaky, crispy outer covering and filling made of dal, peas, or onion making it really tasty. It was a new dish to me. Srivalli suggested kachori for this month Indian cooking challenge. I was not sure how it is going to turn out in terms of taste, because I had not seen or eaten this dish. However I had recently succeeded in making moong dal halwa so I thought, why not, I can make this one also. With the help of my Google friend, I started looking for pictures and videos of kachori’s. I came to know that there two kinds of kachori’s one is flattened version common in Rajasthan and Utter Pradesh, where as in Gujarat it is round. I made flattened version, since it is easy to assemble. 

Initially I thought of making only khasta kachori, with moong dal for which I soaked dal and after 1 hour ground to make a coarse powder. However I end up grinding them too fine which I thought would result in compromised taste, so to be on the safe side, I decide to make a second set of kachori with onion filling. In the end result both kachori‘s tasted good. My feeling after tasting the kachori was that the filling amount given in the recipe was slightly less, so the next time when I make I will try to double the amount of filling.This kachori’s are going to be in our kitchen menu more often.

What you need

Adapted from Medhaa's Aunty and Tarla Dalal

For the Dough

All purpose flour / Maida - 2 cups

Canola oil/Ghee - 1/4 cup

Salt - 1/2 teaspoon

Chilled Water for kneading

Fillings

Khasta Kachori - Moong Dal Kachori

Split Moong Dal (yellow) - 1/2 cup

Cumin Seeds - 1 teaspoon

Hing / Asafoetida – 1/8 teaspoon

Curry Leaves - 2 tsp chopped fine (I didn't used as i have none)

Green Chilli - Ginger paste - 1 teaspoon

Saunf / Fennel seeds powder - 1 teaspoon

Garam Masala - 1/2 teaspoon

Red Chili powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Mango powder / Amchur - 1 teaspoon ( I used 1/4 teaspoon)

Oil - 1 teaspoon

Salt : 1/4 teaspoon or to taste

Pyaj Ki Kachori/Onion Kachori

For the onion filling

Onions: 2cup (finely Chopped)

Nigella seeds/Kalonji: 1 teaspoon ( I used one teaspoon)

Fennel seeds/saunf: 2 teaspoon (I used one teaspoon)

Bay leaves: 2

Green chilies: 1 ½ teaspoon ( finely chopped)

Bengal gram flour /Besan: 2 tablespoon

Coriander/Dhania powder: 2 teaspoon (I used 1 teaspoon)

Chili powder: 2 teaspoon ( I used 1/2 teaspoon)

Gram masala: 1 teaspoon (I used 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander leaves: 3 tablespoon( Chopped finely)

Oil: 2 tablespoon

salt to taste

How I made

Dough 

Mix the flour and salt, Add the oil/ghee and mix till you get a bread crumbs texture.

Slowly add Chilled water  to this mixture and make soft dough. Knead well for about 8 minutes.

Cover and keep aside to rest for at least half hour.

Filling : Moong dal

Wash and Soak dal in water for at least 1 hour. You can go upto 4 hours not more.

Drain the water well.Grind the dal to a coarsely. (Will resemble Idli Rawa, I end up grinding very fine)

Heat oil in a pan.Add the hing and cumin seeds.Once the seeds splutter add the curry leaves.Add the dal.

Lower the heat and keep stirring for 5 minutes till the dal stops sticking to the pan.

Cook for another 10 minutes on low till the dal turns slightly brown.Add all the masalas.

Cook for few minutes till the aroma of the spices hit you.Add Salt.

Remove from heat and keep aside to cool.

Onion filling

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the nigella seeds, fennel seeds, bay leaves, green chilies and onions and sauté till the onions turn light brown in color.

Add the gram flour, coriander powder, chili powder, garam masala and salt and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the chopped coriander and mix well. Remove the bay leaves and discard. Allow the mixture to cool completely.

Divide into 15 equal portions and keep aside.

To Make Kachori's

Make a small ball from the dough. Roll out into a 2 inch diameter  rounds . Flatten the rounds using your fingers having the center thick and sides little thin.Place about 1.5 tsp of the filling in the center of the rolled dough.

Cover the filling with the dough by slowly stretching it over the filling. Seal the ends and remove excess dough. Repeat with all the balls and keep aside for 5 -7 mins.

Then using your palm, flatten the balls by lightly pressing it, as using the rolling pin will make the filling come out. (See notes below). Keep aside covered. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Meanwhile heat some oil for deep frying. The oil should not become smoking hot. Test to see if the temperature is right by dropping a tiny ball of dough and see if it is rising slowly to the top.

Drop the kachoris in batches of 3-4 gently into the oil. It should rise up slowly. If you don't want to use lot of oil, use just enough for two or three at a time and fry them.After it rises up (about 2 minutes), turn it over.

Cook for about 6 to 10 minutes till the side down gets a golden brown color.

Turn and cook the other side for another 6 minutes or till its golden brown in color.

Remove when done, cool and store in airtight container.

Serve with coriander chutney and tamarind chutney.

Moong dal Kachori.

After having a bite
Onion kachori  looks like this

Special Tips / Notes for the dough:

Keep the dough covered at all times, if not it will dry up and not puff up when frying. If the dough is made right wet cloth can be used if not just a towel.

The dough could spring back for many reasons:

Dough is too cold (If wet cloth is used)

Dough is not soft enough.

Not needed for enough time.

Oil is less.

Not rested enough.

Special Tips / Notes for the filling:

The fillings have to be really dry if not when rolling they will ooze out when rolling.

 Adjust the masalas according to your taste. What is given in this recipe is spicy to the extent one can still enjoy.

 For idea on pressing the filled kachori, check out Manjula's method. If you try to press out using a rolling pin, the filling may come out and make holes in the kachori.

Fry the kachori's on medium low to get a crisp outer layer that is the key. For people using electric stove, the numbers can be going from 6 to 4.

Special Tips / Notes for making the Kachoris: 

 You can fry 3 kachori's at a time.

 The oil should be at a heat when you drop some dough it should come up slowly, if the dough comes up too fast the oil is too hot, if it does not come up then the oil is cold.

 It will not be crisp if the oil is too hot.

Resting Time for the Dough is app 1/2 hr - 1 hr. ( I kept my dough for 1/2 hr).

Frying time for the Kachoris - 20 minutes for each batch app.

Soaking Time for the Filling is app. 1 hr

Cooking Time for the Filling is app 15 minutes

Yields - 15

Verdict: Yummy

Will you make it again: I will

Swathi