Handvo Recipe: A Savory Gujarati Snack Cake to sip with tea

Handvo is a popular Gujarati savory snack made from a combination of rice, lentils, and vegetables, spiced with a fragrant blend of seasonings. It’s typically baked into a wholesome cake. Here’s how to make Handvo:

Ingredients:

For the Handvo Batter:

• 1 cup rice (preferably parboiled rice)
• 1/4 cup chana dal (split chickpea lentils)
• 1/4 cup urad dal (split black gram lentils)
• 1/4 cup toor dal (split pigeon peas)
• 1/4 cup moong dal (split green gram lentils)
• 1/2 cup yogurt (curd)
• 1/2 cup grated bottle gourd (lauki/doodhi)
• 1/2 cup grated zucchini (optional)
• 2 tablespoons semolina (rava/sooji)
• 2 tablespoons gram flour (besan)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon asafoetida (hing)
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
• Salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

For Tempering:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 8-10 curry leaves
• 2-3 green chilies, chopped (adjust to taste)

Instructions:

1. Preparing the Handvo Batter:

1. Rinse the rice and lentils (chana dal, urad dal, toor dal, moong dal) together and soak them in enough water for about 4-6 hours.
2. After soaking, drain the water from the rice and lentils.
3. In a blender or food processor, grind the soaked rice and lentils into a smooth batter. Add a little water if needed. The consistency should be similar to dosa batter.
4. Transfer the batter to a large mixing bowl.

2. Preparing the Vegetables:

1. Grate the bottle gourd and zucchini, if using. Squeeze out any excess moisture from the grated vegetables.
2. Add the grated vegetables to the batter.

3. Seasoning and Tempering:

1. In a small pan, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
2. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and asafoetida (hing). Let them splutter.
3. Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and chopped green chilies. Sauté for a minute.
4. Pour this tempering over the batter.

4. Adding Semolina and Gram Flour:

1. Add semolina (rava/sooji) and gram flour (besan) to the batter. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
2. Add salt to taste and mix thoroughly.

5. Activating the Baking Soda:

1. Dissolve baking soda in lemon juice and add it to the batter. Mix well. The batter will become frothy due to the reaction with baking soda.

6. Preparing the Tempering:

1. In a small pan, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
2. Add mustard seeds, sesame seeds, and curry leaves. Let them crackle and become aromatic.
3. Pour this tempering evenly over the batter and mix well.

7. Baking Handvo:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Grease a round or square baking dish or a cast-iron skillet with a little oil.
3. Pour the Handvo batter into the greased dish.
4. Optionally, you can sprinkle some sesame seeds and chopped fresh coriander leaves on top for extra flavor and texture.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes or until the Handvo is cooked through and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The top should be golden brown.

8. Serving Handvo:

1. Allow the Handvo to cool for a few minutes before slicing it into squares or wedges.
2. Serve Handvo warm with green chutney, tamarind chutney, or yogurt.

Tips:

• You can add other vegetables like grated carrots, peas, or spinach to the batter for variation.
• Adjust the spiciness to your taste by adding or reducing green chilies and red chili powder.
• Traditionally, Handvo is made on the stovetop in a heavy-bottomed pan with a lid. You can cook it on low heat until it’s set and golden brown on the bottom, then flip it over and cook the other side until done.

Enjoy your homemade Handvo, a delightful Gujarati snack cake, packed with flavours and wholesome goodness!

Use Organic Ingredients and savour the true flavours of Indian Cuisine. Ingredients sourced from www.Praakritik.com Use referral code "AROMAS" to avail discounts