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Dinde
Steamed chana jaggery parcels
दिंडे: steamed chana-jaggery parcels for Nag Panchami, when nothing is fried or chopped
IndianOn Nag Panchami in Maharashtra, women draw snakes in turmeric, offer milk and lahya at anthills, and by custom nothing is cut, chopped or fried on the tava that day, so the festival sweet is dinde: wheat-dough squares folded around puran (chana dal and jaggery) and steamed. They are soft, a little chewy and fragrant with nutmeg and cardamom, eaten warm with ghee. Common mistake: wet puran that leaks; cook the dal and jaggery until the mixture is thick and a spoon stands upright in it, then cool before filling. Chef's tip: steam the dinde on a greased banana leaf or plate and keep the seams down, so they keep their square shape.
- Total time
- 80 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the puran
- 5 ½ oz chana dalsoaked 1 hour
- 2 cups water
- 5 ½ oz jaggerygrated
- ½ tsp ground green cardamom
- ¼ tsp grated nutmeg
For the dough
To serve
- 3 tbsp gheemelted
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Simmer 5 ½ oz chana dal in 2 cups water for 30 minutes until soft enough to squash between your fingers. Drain very well.
30 minStep 2: Meanwhile, knead 7 oz whole-wheat flour (atta), 1 pinch salt, 1 tbsp oil and ½ cup water to a soft, smooth dough. Cover and rest for 20 minutes.
5 minStep 3: Return the dal to the pan with 5 ½ oz jaggery and cook on a medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 10–12 minutes until it thickens and a spoon stands upright in it. Mash it smooth, stir in ½ tsp ground green cardamom and ¼ tsp grated nutmeg and cool.
12 minStep 4: Divide the dough into 12 pieces and roll each into a 12 cm round. Put a spoonful of puran in the centre and fold the four sides over to make a square parcel.
15 minStep 5: Steam the parcels seam-side down on a greased plate for 12–15 minutes until the dough looks slightly translucent and no longer sticks to your finger.
15 minStep 6: Serve warm, drizzled with 3 tbsp ghee.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does dinde take?
- About 80 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of jaggery?
- Dark brown or muscovado sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of ghee?
- Butter, same amount (keep the heat a little lower, butter burns sooner).
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