The spiced lentil with dumpling recipe is made by cooking the lentils in spices and adding the dumplings made with wheat flour or chappati flour.

This weekend I felt homesick. It has been more than three years since I have been to India to see my family – my parents, sister and relatives. The weather is starting to cool down with rains already on the way in Seattle. It brought back memories of the monsoons in India. When it rains there, it pours, literally. The streets would be flooded with water to the point where everything would close down. We would watch the rains from our classroom windows hoping they would close the school early and let us go home. As kids, we loved the rain. There was just a different feel to the environment around us. We would run around in the rain and make paper boats and let them float in the water puddles on the ground.

Once the school was over, my sister and I would take the rickshaw home. Even though we had a raincoat and umbrella, we would still get wet since the rickshaw would be shared by 5 other kids. When we got home, I could smell the aroma of the food my mom was making for us. She would make us spicy dal (lentil) with dhokli (dumplings) in it. We would devour the food and would instantly warm us. Nothing like eating this recipe on a cold, rainy and bleak day.

In order to make the dough, use white wheat flour (chappati or roti flour is preferable). You should be able to get the chappati or roti flour in any Indian grocery store or you can buy it online

…continue reading Dal Dhokli (Spiced Lentil with Dumplings)