Instant Dhokla Recipe

Sharing my Instant Dhokla Recipe.

Ingredients:

       1cup - Besan (Chickpea flour)
       
       1/2 cup - Rava / Sooji / Semolina

       1 tablespoon - Sugar 

       1/2 tablespoon - Citric acid

       1 1/2 tablespoon - Fruit salt

       1 tablespoon - Oil

        1 teaspoon - Green chilly paste

        1 cup - Water

        A pich of turmeric powder

        Salt to taste

For Tempering:

        1 tablespoon - Oil

        1/2 teaspoon - Mustard seeds

        A pinch of asafoetida

For garnishing: 

        1 tablespoon - Chopped Corriander(Cilantro)

Pre-paration:
         
        You will first need to get your steamer ready.Add sufficient water in the steamer and place it on the stove.Do not put on the stove yet.Grease the tray with a little oil in which we are going to pour in the dhokla mixture.

Method:

       Mix the besan( chickpea flour),rava(semolina),sugar,citric acid,turmeric powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

       Now gradually add 1 cup of water to this mixture little by little to form a lump free batter.Add green chilly paste.Mix well.

      When you have a lump free mixture add 1tablespoon oil to it.Now put the stove on, to get the steamer ready on a high flame.

      Now its time to add fruit salt (Eno can be used).The mixture will start bubbling.Stir it well.The batter will become fluffy.Be quick after adding fruit salt.Once your done with mixing it well pour the mixture in the greased tray.

      Place the tray in the steamer,close the lid and steam it for 15-20 mins.After 15-20 mins open the steamer and prick into the tray with a knife and see whether the mixture sticks on to your knife once its pulled out of it.If the knife comes out clean your dhokla is ready to come out of the steamer.

      Remove the tray from the steamer.Let it cool for 4-5mins.In the meanwhile prepare tempering.Heat 1tablespoon of oil.Add 1teaspoon mustard seeds to it.Once the seeds start crackling add a pinch of asafoetida and turn off the heat.

     Add tempering over the dhokla.Spread it evenly with a spoon.Cut the dhokla into pieces.Drizzle chopped corrainder and serve with mint chutney.

     Some people also sprinkle water mixed with sugar on the dhokla before or after adding tempering.Depends on your choice if you want a little sweetness you can go ahead and do so.In that case take 1/2 cup warm water and add 1tsp sugar in it.Mix well and pour over the dhokla.

     Enjoy :-)

       

DHOKLA

DHOKLA

                   Made dhokla last night for dinner.Enjoyed it alone.I am a big fan of dhoklas :-)

                         

Winter Skin Care

The cold and dry weather during the winter makes our skin dry,flaky and itchy. Lets see how to take care of our skin during winter.

• Water-  Water is essential for hydrating your skin.Water must be the worlds oldest beauty secret.Water not only hydrates your skin but it also flushes out the toxins out of your body.8 glasses of water a day is said to be essential for our body.Drinking plain water all day can be boring so instead you can substitute it with fruit juices or green tea,avoid fizzy drinks though.Keep yourself hydrated.Because beauty comes from within..Application of products to make you look pretty is not a good option.

•  Exfoliate-In winter, our skin tends to become dry and flaky..thats the dead skin cell that needs to come off.Exfoliating your skin will remove all the dead and dry skin and it speeds up the growth of new skin cells thus revealing a new healthy and bright skin.All you have to do,to get rid of the dry skin is to give yourself a dry brush exfoliation before shower.For that purpose all you need is a soft natural bristle brush.There are many other simple ways to exfoliate like using sugar and lemon scrub on your body while taking a shower.

                     Exfoliate your body atleast once a week.Exfoliate your facial skin twice a week.Use natural ingredients like alomond paste in your facial scrub.You can even use exfoliating cleansers which do not dry your skin.Do it as you like is the mantra, but dont forget to exfoliate because if the dead skin cells keep building up they end up causing clogged pores.Always exfoliate gently and do not overdo it or it may damage your skin.

• Moisturise- Moisture your skin atleast twice a day.Moisturise not only your face but also your body.Choose the best form of moisturiser that suits your skin type.You can choose from oils,creams and lotions.Oils seal in the moisture into your skin very well ,but some people find it greasy.Creams are not as greasy but they get absorbed better in the skin.Lotions get absorbed quickly but they dont trap the moisture well.Alcohol is an ingredient in some lotions to get the moisture into the skin,but alcohol tends to dry the skin as well, so its better avoid moisturising lotions which contain alcohol.

                        The ingredient to look for in your moisturiser is hyaluronic acid,it acts like a sponge on your face which pulls moisture from the environment into your skin without your skin feeling greasy at all.. so its suitable for all skin types especially for oily skin. No matter what your skin type is you need to moisturise.Even people with oily or combination skin types need to moisturise their face and body as well.If you have an oily or combination skin you can use oil free moisturisers on your face. (Neutrogena Oil free Moisture,L’Oreal Dermo Expertise HYDRAFRESH All Day Hydration Aqua-Essence,Clean and Clear Skin Balancing Moisturiser.Dont forget your lips.Use chapsticks to retain their moisture.

• Hands and Feet- Hands and feet tend to become dry during winter.So its essential to keep them moist and soft.You can simply soak your hands and feet in luke warm water.After soaking for a few minutes dry them.Exfoliate.Massage them gently with your body lotion or any moisturising cream of your choice.You could also apply petroleum jelly if you have cracked heals.After the cream is absorbed ,wear hand gloves and socks.You can do this preferably at night.Dont forget to moisturise your hands and feet every night.

 

• Never use hot water for bath during winters.Though hot water feels good on your body but it tends to dry your skin.So immediately moisture your body after bath.

• Dont forget to use sunscreen lotion before going outdoors.

• Eat healthy.Include green leafy vegetable and seasonal fruits in your diet.Leafy vegetables and fruits are a good source of vitamins.Eat fruits like water melon,oranges which have a high water content.