Dhal Poli

Poli is a traditional dish in south India prepared on Bohi - a day before Pongal. Poli is a flat bread with sweet filling inside which is called puran.

Ingredients - Serves 4

• Bengal gram dhal - 1 cup
• Jaggery - 1 cup (I used brown sugar)
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
• Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
• Wheat flour - 1 1/2 cups (or maida)
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Salt - pinch
• Ghee - 3 tbsp

Method

• In a wide bowl mix wheat flour, turmeric powder and salt
• Add  water little by little and make a soft pliable dough
• Apply a teaspoon of ghee over the dough, cover and let the dough rest for 15 to 20 minutes
• Wash the dhal and pressure cook it for 2 whistles or until soft but not mushy
• Drain excess water (remove the water from the dhal by using clean kitchen towel )
• Power the dhal in a mixer
• Heat the pan with brown sugar and add little water (add water till brown sugar is immersed)
• Allow it to boil and add grated coconut & cardamom powder (if you are using jaggery bring it to boil and strain it to remove the dirt)
• Add the powdered dhal and cook until you get a thick puran
• Now take a golf ball sized portion of the dough and roll it out with the rolling pin

• Take a spoonful of filling / puran and place it in the centre of the rolled dough

• Close the dough as shown in the picture  above
• Dust with flour and roll it out carefully with the rolling pin to make a thick poli

• Heat the tava and place poli on it and cook till golden brown spots appear on both sides by spreading a teaspoon of ghee
• Ready to serve 

Nutritional Information

• Bengal gram dhal is low in fat & cholesterol, high in dietary fiber and rich in protein
• Each poli = 110 calories approximately