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Dhokla is a Gujarati snack item traditionally made from rice and daal. Try this super simple, super quick recipe using Sooji (Suji, Semolina, Cream of Wheat). Next time some unexpected guests show up, serve this delicious “Instant Dhokla” with tea and impress them!
Ingredients:
Sooji (Semolina) - 2 cups
Oil - 2 Tbsp
Carom Seeds (Ajwain) - 1/4 tsp
Ginger - 1 tsp (grated)
Green Chili - to taste (finely chopped)
Salt - 1 tsp or to taste
Water - 1 cup
Yogurt - 1 cup, well beaten
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
ENO Fruit Salt - 2 tsp
Spray Cooking Oil
For the Seasoning:
Oil - 2 Tbsp
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Sesame Seeds - 2 tsp
Green Chilies - to taste, de-seeded and slit
Cilantro - 10 sprigs, finely chopped
Method:
1. In a medium bowl, add Sooji, Carom Seeds and Oil. Mix well until there are no lumps.
2. To the Yogurt, add Salt, Green Chilies, Turmeric Powder and Ginger. Mix well.
3. Add Yogurt mixture into Sooji and mix.
4. Add in Water and mix until a smooth batter forms and there are no lumps.
5. Allow batter to rest for 15-20 minutes.
6. In the meantime, prepare a stock pot or tall pressure cooker with 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water. Bring it to a boil.
7. Prepare Dhokla stand plates by lightly spraying cooking oil.
8. Once the Water comes to a boil, add ENO fruit salt to the batter and mix well. The batter will foam up.
9. Pour batter immediately into the Dhokla plates (filling only half way up) and place Dhokla stand into the stock pot. NOTE: If using a pressure cooker, do not place the weight or whistle on the cooker.
10. Cover the stock pot and cook the Dhokla on medium heat for 15 minutes.
11. Switch off stove and remove the Dhokla stand from the stock pot. Let is cool for a few minutes.
12. For the seasoning, heat Oil in a small non-stick skillet on medium heat.
13. Add Mustard Seeds and allow them to pop.
14. Add Sesame Seeds and allow them to pop (keep a cover handy to the seeds don’t pop at you).
15. Add slit Green Chilies and let them cook for 30 - 40 seconds.
16. Switch off stove.
17. Sprinkle chopped Cilantro Leaves on the Dhokla and pour above seasoned oil over the top.
18. Cut Dhokla into desired square pieces and serve with mint/coriander chutney.
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39 Responses to “How to make Sooji Dhokla - Indian Appetizer Recipes”
| Before you ask a question, we request you to scan the comments section to see if your question has been answered before. This will help reduce duplicate questions and the need to repeat the answers. We appreciate your support on this. |


June 9th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I have been trying a few a recipes from your website, most of the time every tried recipe comes out just good. About that dhokla recipe, just wanted to know, is there any substitute for Eno fruit salt. Thanks.
[Reply]
June 10th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
EN0 is basically 60% Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) and 40% Citric Acid. Citric Acid is available at Indian Stores.
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June 11th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
good how to make sweet dhokla?
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June 12th, 2008 at 4:14 am
We will work on a video for the traditional dhokla which are a little sweet.
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June 13th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
good
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June 15th, 2008 at 3:48 am
Awesome recipie.. I have never seen such an easy recipie for dhokla…thank you for telling us how to make dhokla when one doesn’t have a dhokla stand. Thank you so much.. appreciate your help in helping newbie like us.
[Reply]
June 15th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Hi Guys
I have tried some recepies from this website ands they have turned out good. I tried to make dhokla, they were nice and fluffy but were falling apart. Break easily, I am not sure what I did wrong. Can you suggest something so they don’t fall apart. Thank you
[Reply]
June 15th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Hi Vidhi,
Sometimes, the consistency of your yogurt could cause a change in the texture. Try replacing 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of extra yogurt (1 1/2 cups yogurt and 1/2 cup water). Also, it is very important to let the mixture sit and soak for minimum 15-20 minutes. Good luck!
[Reply]
July 27th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
hi wath is sesame seeds
[Reply]
July 28th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Sesame seeds are also known as til in India.
[Reply]
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Hi,
I had a question.
After putting the eno in the batter if we rest it for 5 mins or so will it cause the dhoklas not to puff.
[Reply]
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Hi Bhavika,
The ENO causes the bubbles that usually come with fermentation. If you wait after putting it in, the bubbles may pop and you won’t get the desired effect. A couple of minutes should be ok, but don’t wait too long.
[Reply]
August 30th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I tried this receipe and it taksed really good. However, the batter did not rise. It became more of a dhokla than a khaman. What did I do wrong ? I am perplexed. help!
[Reply]
August 30th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Hi Anuja,
This recipe is for dhokla, not khaman so the end product will not be as thick and porous. However, it should be soft and the batter should rise. The time you add the ENO usually has something to do with it. ENO should be added at the very end, just before steaming.
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
hi hetal,
I tried this receipe and it tasted really good.
But dhokla comes red color. I don’t have ENO fruit salt so i added baking soda. can u suggest something..
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Hi Roopa,
The dhokla should not be red. I think the baking soda may have caused it. ENO is a combination of baking soda (60%) plus citric acid (40%). This combo may prevent the color change.
[Reply]
October 26th, 2008 at 2:41 am
Hi
I prepared the dish following ur recipe and it turned out very well.
Thank you very much
[Reply]
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 am
There is nothing like indias dhokla!
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December 11th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Hey Hetal & Anuja,
I have made this recipe couple of times infact on idli stand as I don’t dhokla stand right now. It is amazing. I try with different chutney’s/sauces, must say it is instant, cheap price - full paisa wasool when are away from home working here.
Many thanks! Keep doing the good JOB!
[Reply]
December 15th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Dear Hetal and Anuja
Thanks a lot for the recipe of dhokla. I tried and tastes really good.I liked your website too. Useful and logical tips and also the video coupled with the details of the ingredients is good and novel. Usually, we find either the video or the details of the recipe. I also tried the idli recipe.It turned out soft, but the color of the idli was not white, It was more like off white. Why? Did I do anything wrong. Please let me know
[Reply]
December 17th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Hi Kamala,
A couple of things may make the idli off white. First, as you grind the urad daal, it becomes more fluffy as well as whiter in color. Maybe you did not grind it enough?
Second, the oil or butter or ghee which you use to coat the idli stand may leave a yellowish tinge on the idlis.
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December 30th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Hi Hetal/Anuja
Can you confirm if your used fine semolina or course semolina.
Many thanks and carry on with the good work.
PS can you show us how to make moori/mumra…i.e puffed rice?
[Reply]
December 30th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Hi Shelian,
For this recipe corse semolina is used. The fine suji will make it very pasty and gooey.
Take care
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January 6th, 2009 at 5:20 am
hi
can u guys just tell me how to make biscuits
that we use to buy from the bakery.
thanks
[Reply]
January 7th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Hi
Please give us more recipes on indian style pastas, like lasagna or canneloni
Thanks
[Reply]
February 15th, 2009 at 6:06 am
hey Hetal/Anuj,
I have only tray that I will be using. So I have to do the dhokla in batches. So how would I split the Eno quantity for the same measurements that you have mentioned above.
Thanks
Sanchitha
[Reply]
February 16th, 2009 at 3:56 am
Hi Sanchitha,
Would you be able to guess how much of the batter would fit into your tray? Suppose half of the batter fits - then, split the batter into two bowls and put one tsp of ENO in one bowl, mix and steam. When done, repeat with the other bowl of batter and another tsp of ENO.
Another option: You could use an idli stand.
[Reply]
March 9th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Hi girls
When we eat out, it gives some sugary spicy (yummy taste), how do I get that? It was more a dry thing that we should eat with some chutney, but delicious.
Please advise.
Thanks, your recipes are too good.
[Reply]
March 11th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Hi Vandana,
The dhokla that you mention are actually Khamman which are made with chana daal. They are very porous and actually have some sugar water mixed with the seasoning which is absorbed by the khamman. We have khamman on our list to do. This recipe is a good instant version of the traditional rice and daal dhokla.
[Reply]
March 12th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Hi, is it possible to make this batter up ahead of time and wait until ready to cook to add the eno? Or use eno in half and save the other half of batter to the next day?
[Reply]
March 13th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Hi Judy,
Unfortunately, the batter does not do well if kept for more than 30 minutes. The sooji soaks up too much moisture and becomes gummy. You could go ahead and steam the dhokla and keep them in the fridge and add the seasoning when you’re ready. This gives a fresh taste to the dhokla. They can easily be re-heated in the microwave.
[Reply]
Niki Reply:
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Hi, that’s what happened to my dhokla. It didnt’ rise and it was sticky and gooey. I think I let the batter sit for longer than an hour though. I will try it again and leave it only 15-20 minutes.
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March 23rd, 2009 at 2:46 am
Hey Hetal and Anuja,
Today I made this dhokla, and they turned out superb!! It is a perfect recipe. Thanks a lot gals for the recipe.
Can u guys also please work on a video for saurashtra lamba fafda?
Appreciate and thanks,
Jayshree Shelat-Bhatt
[Reply]
April 6th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I tried the dhokla recipe but it didn’t rise at all. Is this because I use 0 fat yogurt or I let the batter sit for over an hour?
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hetal Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Hi Niki,
Did you mix in the ENO and then let it sit or did you mix the ENO immediately before steaming it? The fat free yogurt should not matter.
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Niki Reply:
April 8th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Thanks for replying. I put the ENO just before steaming it. Any other suggestions as to why dhokla didn’t rise at all?
Thanks
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May 15th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Dear Hetal and Anuja,
Love all your recipes !! They are simple yet delicious. Always a big hit in my parties.Thanks for sharing with us.
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June 12th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Hey friends…
Thanks for the lovely recipes.
However, just wanted to know, if this dhokla recipe could be made in microwave as well.
Cheers
[Reply]
hetal Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 5:08 am
Hi Angel,
Some people have good results using a microwaveable idli steamer but unfortunately, we have not tried it. If you decide to try it, please share your feedback.
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