Lentil Dumplings in Yogurt (Dahi Phulki)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup White Gram Lentils

2 tablespoons All Purpose Flour

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/2 teaspoon Red Chili Powder

1 1/2 tablespoons Sugar

2 tablespoons Chaat Masala (can be purchased at any Indian or Arabic Store)

3 tablespoons Green chutney (mint and green chilies blended together)

1 cup Plain Yogurt

3 cups Cooking Oil

Instructions:

1) Drain water from lentils and grind lentils in a blender or grinder. Add salt and red chili powder to the lentils and mix well. Add all-purpose flour, mix well.

2) Heat a wok with oil on low to medium heat until oil is well heated (do not over heat the oil otherwise the dumplings will burn from outside and remain uncooked from the middle).

3) While the oil is heating, separately, in a medium bowl take plain yogurt and add 1 1/2 tablepoon sugar and mix well (preferable with a whisk or blender). Blend well to make the yogurt creamy. Set aside.

4) Make little ball sized dumplings out of lentil mixture and add to the oil to fry. As the dumplings fry, they will start to come to the top of the wok as they cook. Fry the entire lentil mixture until dumplings turn a golden red color.

5) Separately in a large bowl, take some cold water and add the dumplings to cold water immediately after removing from oil. Dip the dumplings into water as to make sure they are wet from all sides, let them soak for 2 minutes.

6) Remove a few dumplings at a time with a bare hand and lightly squeeze to drain any excess water (don't squeeze too hard or they will break). Place soaked dumplings in a serving dish. Add the yogurt on top of the dumplings by coating each one.

7) Finally add chaat masala or green chutney seasoning on top of dumplings.

*Makes 8 to 10 servings*