January 31, 2018

Dal Faraa


After Bihari cuisine ( click HERE to view my Bihar special Spinach Dal Pithi ), We the members of Shhh Secretly Cooking Challenge group got a lovely chance to explore Chattisgarh cuisine and their food culture. It's amazing to know that there are wide varieties of healthy recipes used in Chattisgarh cuisine and most of the traditional recipes are made up of using Rice, Rice flour, Dal and green leafy vegetables. The few popular Chattisgarh recipes are Muthia, Aamat, Bara, Bhajiya, Chilla etc.

For January month, I was paired with a lovely blogger Sharanya Palanisshami who blogs at Sara's Tasty Buds and I was given Masoor dal and Red chilli powder as my secret ingredients by her. Using those lovely ingredients, prepared a delicious and super healthy dish called Faraa. Faraa is nothing but a healthier version of desi style Momos. The outer covering is prepared using wheat flour and the stuffing is usually prepared using chana dal. Since I got Masoor dal as my ingredient, I had included it along with the chana dal and yeah, it indeed made the dish more healthier. I had to mention that this dish was a super hit among family members and in-fact, I am planning to prepare it again using more varieties of dal to make it more healthier. This dish can be served as a healthy breakfast or an evening snack along with tea / coffee / green tea. The steamed ones can also be served as such but the seasoning enhances the taste of the dish. This delicious dish goes perfect with Momos chutney or any spicy chutney.

Here are my few suggestions of chutney varieties to go with this healthy Faraa...

Tomato - Garlic Chutney 

Mint - Tomato Chutney 

Mint Curd Chutney 

Click HERE to view other interesting chutney recipes.


Friends, check out my partner Sharanya Palanisshami's page to view her recipe prepared using the secret ingredients given by me.

Ingredients :

For Wheat flour Dough :

1/2 Cup Wheat flour 
1 Tsp Oil 
Salt to taste 
Water, as needed 

For Stuffing :

1/4 Cup Chana dal
1/4 Cup Masoor dal
1/2 Tsp Cumin seeds / Jeera Seeds
2 Green chillies
2 Garlic Pods
1/4 Tsp Turmeric powder
1/4 Tsp Red chilli powder
A pinch of Garam Masala powder
Salt to taste

For Seasoning / Tadka :

1 Tsp Oil 
1/2 Tsp Mustard seeds
1/2 Tsp Cumin / Jeera seeds 
A pinch of Hing powder 
2 Dry red chillies
Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method :

Add wheat flour in a bowl along with a required amount of salt, water and oil.

Combine together and knead well to form a soft dough. Cover and keep aside.

To prepare the filling, soak both the dals for couple of hours in a water.

Drain the water and add it to a blender along with garlic pods, cumin seeds, green chillies, turmeric powder, chilli powder, garam masala powder and the required amount of salt.

Grind into fine paste and keep aside.

Now divide the prepared wheat flour dough into equal sized balls.

Take one ball and roll into a circular shape using rolling pin.

Stuff it with the prepared dal mixture and seal the edges like we do for Somas / Karanji / Kozhukatai / Momos.

Steam it for about 15-20 minutes and allow the prepared Faraa to cool.

Once cooled, cut each faraa into 3 - 4 pieces and keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.

Once it starts spluttering, add cumin seeds followed by hing and dry red chillies.

Add the faraa pieces and toss it for couple of minutes in a low flame.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.


Serving Options :

Serve with Tea /  Coffee / Green Tea.


21 comments:

  1. Absolutely loved the recipe. The masoor dal filling is just so amazing and flavourful.

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  2. Healthy and tasty dish. Like to try this one.

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  3. The mixed dal stuffing in a steamed snack sounds interesting and you have done it so beautifully !

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  4. I have no words for this great recipe!I am going to try this very soon!Yummy!

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  5. The snack looks so good. Dal based snack are always nice and tempting.

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  6. Isn't amazing how many healthy steamed snacks are a part of the Indian cuisine. Love your recipe and have bookmarked it.

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  7. Im amazed at the Chhattisgarh cuisine and its variety. Healthy dishes, all from different flours and lentils. I specially liked the concept of adding masoor and chana dal together in this Faraa! Im saving this for trying out at the earliest. Sujata Shukla

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  8. Ooooh! These look absolutely yummy! :)

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  9. Dal faraa looks absolutely filling and super nutritious.. Wish i get that bowl rite now.

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  10. Steamed snacks are my first choice. Use of lentil stuffing makes it more healthy........

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