Monday, April 6, 2009

Instant Handvo

Handvo is not much known outside of Gujarati home cooking; it's a savoury lentil snack which comes from the Kathiawad region. I have had the traditional recipe for handvo for a long time now, but have never got around to actually making it. Then when I was visiting my best friend last year, on my annual trip to Mumbai, I had this for breakfast at her place. Which was when I decided I had to make it - it was so delicious.

Of course, it took me a whole year to actually make it, since I initially wanted to make it by soaking and grinding it the traditional way. Finally, I gave up and decided to make an instant version of it - which was anyway the version I had at my friend's place - and it tasted great. Her version was cooked directly on a tava - I wasn't that brave so I tried pouring the batter into my muffin pan and baked it.

It made a really great breakfast served with some spicy coriander chutney - next time when I am a little more organised, I will make the longer version - till then, try this one, it makes for a really tasty and filling breakfast or snack.

I have made this a couple of times more after that first time and by cutting down on the green chillies in part of the batter, have managed to invent a lunch box item for my daughter who just started "big school" this week. This goes to this month's edition of Monthly Mingle - Meeta's wonderful event - which is being hosted by Srivalli who has decided to go with Kid's Lunches as the theme.

I am also sending this to Joelen's Tasty Tools event - the tool of the month is Muffin Pans

Instant Handvo (Savoury lentil cake)


1.5 cups semolina (sooji/rava)
1/2 cup gram flour (besan)
1 cup yoghurt
Pinch of asafoetida
salt to taste

Paste:
Green chillies - 3
Ginger - 1" piece

Grated bottle gourd (ghiya/dudhi) or pumpkin - 1/2 cup

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
oil - 1 tsp

1 tsp baking soda

1. Mix the semolina, gram flour and yoghurt together till smooth.
2. Add the paste and the grated vegetable along with the salt and asafoetida.
3. Pour some water if needed to make a thick batter. Mix in the baking soda.
4. Heat the oil and add the mustard seeds till the splutter. Pour over the handvo batter.
5. Drop spoonfuls of the batter into a greased muffin pan and bake covered with foil, in a preheated oven at 180 C (350F) for about 15 minutes till a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
6. Serve warm with green chutney.

14 comments:

Soma said...

I have heard so much about this, but never got the opportunity to eat it, nor see it. Thanks for sharing this.

Varsha Vipins said...

I love traditional dishes like this Miri..the lentils in muffin pan looks gorgeous..Bet u had a great time having this..:)
Thanks for the visit n comment..Pls keep visiting..:)

bee said...

my mom used to make this often. thanks for the instant version. i used to love handvo.

Miri said...

My pleasure Bee, Varsha and Soma! :)

Bong Mom said...

This instant version looks doable. Why the lauki, is it necessary ?

Miri said...

Sandeepa, the lauki is just part of the original recipe, some people even add grated cabbage. I guess you can omit it if you don't want it.

Raaga said...

I have been beaning to try this for ages... should give it a shot soon. Looks delish.

suvi said...

I am seeing handvo after an eternity...had gujju neighbours, they'd send this over sometimes. And so clever of you to bake it in a muffin pan!
Thanks for visiting, hope to see you often :)

Vaishali said...

Miri, you made me nostalgic with this recipe, but I am so glad to see your quick and instant version. Love handvo, and love your version.

Unknown said...

This one is amazing...i must try it...Hey Miri thanks for the info...I have a Godrej Micowave oven ..The only things that I try in the Convection mode are Pasta, Mexican dishes that need some baking...Cheers...Thanks for dropping in at my blog :)

Srivalli said...

Thats been on my long list of must try dishes Miri...yours sound so delish!..thanks for the lovely entry!

bhav said...

Sounds really interesting!

Shilpa said...

Hey The name Peppermill, itself made me stop and look around and then I HAD to bookmark it. Incidentally, I call my son miri.. his name being Mihir. U have some yummy recipes.. lemme start trying them for my Miri.. :-)) who, happens to be a picky eater,:(, keeps me on my toes and my brains racking. Thanks!

Miri said...

Thanks Shilpa for stopping by - my childhood friend growing up in Mumbai was named Mihir...Kids can be very demanding - keep trying :)