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Spinach Dhokla The Fluffy, Green, Steamed Breakfast Cake

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • For the Spinach Dhokla
  • 1.5 cups fresh baby spinach tightly packed
  • 1 cup fine semolina cream of wheat, rava, or farina
  • 1 cup plain whole milk yogurt
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 fresh green chili roughly chopped (serrano or jalapeño)
  • ½ inch piece fresh ginger peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 sachet Eno fruit salt unflavored
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper
  • For the Tadka Spiced Oil Finishing
  • 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil vegetable or avocado oil
  • 1 tablespoon black mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
  • 10 fresh curry leaves
  • 2 fresh green chilies slit lengthwise

Instructions

  • Step 1: Blend the Batter
  • Place spinach, semolina, yogurt, green chili, and ginger in blender
  • Blend on high speed until completely smooth
  • Mixture should be vibrant green with no visible chunks
  • Batter should be thick and pourable like pancake batter
  • Step 2: Rest the Batter
  • Transfer blended batter to large mixing bowl
  • Cover loosely with plastic wrap or kitchen towel
  • Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes
  • This allows semolina to absorb moisture and swell
  • Do not skip this step
  • Step 3: Prepare for Steaming
  • After 30-minute rest, add salt and red chili powder to batter
  • Mix well until evenly distributed
  • Taste and adjust seasoning
  • Fill steamer bottom pot with water and bring to boil
  • Grease steaming plate or tin lightly with oil
  • Step 4: Add Eno (Work Quickly)
  • Add full sachet of Eno fruit salt to batter
  • Mix quickly and thoroughly
  • Batter will immediately foam and bubble
  • Pour foaming batter into greased steaming plate immediately
  • Spread evenly to uniform thickness
  • Place in steamer without delay (within 30 seconds)
  • Step 5: Steam
  • Steam on low to medium flame for 25 minutes
  • Do not open steamer during first 20 minutes
  • After 25 minutes, test with toothpick in center
  • Should come out clean with no wet batter
  • Surface should be set and slightly springy
  • Step 6: Cool and Cut
  • Remove from steamer
  • Cool in plate for 10 minutes
  • Cut into squares or diamond shapes while in tin
  • Cooling prevents crumbling when cutting
  • Step 7: Make Tadka
  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in small pan over medium-high heat
  • Add mustard seeds, let splutter and pop completely
  • Add cumin seeds, sizzle 15 seconds
  • Add sesame seeds, toast 15-20 seconds until lightly golden
  • Add curry leaves (will crackle dramatically)
  • Add slit green chilies, fry 30 seconds
  • Pour hot tadka immediately over cut dhokla pieces
  • Step 8: Serve
  • Arrange dhokla pieces on serving plate
  • Serve immediately with green mint chutney or coconut chutney
  • Can be served warm or at room temperature