obattu / puran poli using toor dal

Soft and yummylicious obattu , made with lentils and sweetened with jaggery.

​Ingredients
makes 18 medium ones

for the filling

1 cup toor dal
1.5 cups powdered jaggery (depends on sweetness)
1/2 cup fresh coconut
1 teaspoon powdered cardamom
2 teaspoon ghee/clarified butter

for the covering

1/2 cup all purpose flour/ maida
1/2 cup fine semolina
1/4 th teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 cup oil
water to kneed dough

 

Method 

• In a pressure cooker , add washed dal and water about 3 cups.
• cook for 2-3 whistles , until soft.
• Use a strainer , to drain the dal.
• The more water gets drained , the faster can the filling be made.
• in a bowl , add the drained dal, jaggery and coconut.
• Rest for 10-15 minutes , it allows more water to release.
• In a nonstick pan , add the mixture and cook while stirring continuously.
• it takes about 20 -25 minutes,depending on the amount of water.
• The filling is fine , when it forms a ball and doesn’t stick to the sides.
• add 2 teaspoons of ghee to give it a shine.
• wet your palms and when you touch the dough , it should not stick to the hands.
• If it does, continue to cook for a few more minutes.
• The colour of the filling depends on the jaggery used. Here I have used organic jaggery and hence the full is dark brown. If you use light colour jaggery, the filling will be light yellow.
• allow the mixture to cool completely.
• make medium sized balls and set aside.
• for the covering, in a bowl add semolina , maida , salt and turmeric.
• dry mix the ingredients and add water as required to make a soft dough.
• pour about 1/4 th cup of oil and make impressions with your fingers . This helps oil to distribute and the dough will not dry out.
• cover and set aside for 2-3 hours.
• after an hour check the dough, if all the oil has soaked up add another 1/4 th cup oil .
• to make obattu , tear a lemon sized dough.
• Place the filling in the centre and close the filling from all sides.
• press by hand and place on a rolling board.
• flatten the obattu , by applying even pressure and making a thin roti.
• the oil in the dough should be enough to roll this. But if the dough is sticking to your fingers, dip your hand in oil and work.
• place the obattu on a hot griddle and cook on both sides.
• use additional ghee while serving.
• the obattu keeps soft even after many hours due to oil in the dough.