Fried Lentil Cakes

Step 1 : Preparing the lentil cake batter. Wash and drain the soaked chana dal and grind it with ginger, salt and green chillies with very little water. Make sure that you grind it well.

Step 2 : Steaming the lentil batter. Fill your rice cooker or steaming cooker with water and bring it to a boil with a lid covered. This might take 15 minutes.

Grease the steamer pan and pour the lentil batter into it. Once the water starts boiling, put the steamer pan into the cooker and cover it with a lid. Make sure that the lid is correctly placed and the steam does not escape.

Steam on high heat for 15-20 minutes or till it is firm and cooked. Check by inserting a skewer into the cooked mixture and if it comes out clean, then it is cooked. Remove, cool a little and cut into one-inch cubes or into diamonds.

Step 3 : Heat oil in a heavy deep bottom pan. The temperature of the oil should be such that a drop of the lentil batter dropped into the oil should come up at once. Deep fry the lentil cakes till it turns crispy and golden brown. Take it out on a plate and drain the excess oil by resting on a clean absorbent paper.

Serve the fried lentil cakes hot with tea.