Steamed lentil dumplings is a healthy south Indian dish prepared with mixed lentils like toor dal, chana dal and moong dal, It is flavored with herbs like dill, coriander, green chilies, and coconut with simple spices, to make a delicious and healthy snack. These dumplings are loaded with protein and rich in fiber. Do try and enjoy as a evening snacks with coconut chutney or tomato-sauce.

Preparation time – 20 min

Cooking time – 15 min

Soaking time for lintels – 3 hr

Serves – 4

Ingredients – 

Chana dal / Bengal gram – 1 cup

Toor dal /pigeon peas –  1/2 cup

Moong dal/yellow lintels – 1/2 cup

Method 

Wash lentils and soak it for 3 hrs. After soaking drain the water in it and keep ready.

To grind –

Soaked and drained lintils

Coconut – 1/2 cup

Green chilies – 3 no’s

Garlic – 6 to 8 cloves (optional)

Ginger – 1/2 inch chopped

Clove – 4 to 5 no’s

Cinnamon – 2 small sticks

Salt to taste

Method for grinding – 

Add all the ingredients (except soaked lintils) in a mixer jar, and grind it to make a paste without adding water to it.

Remove the grounded paste in a dry bowl. Now add soaked (and drained with a colander)  lintils in the mixer jar and grind to a coarse paste

Collect the grounded paste in the same bowl and set aside.

Ingredients to mix with grounded paste – 

Onion – 3 medium finely chopped

Dill leaves – 1 bunch chopped

Coriander – 1 bunch chopped

Mint – 1 bunch chopped (optional)

Coriander powder – 2 tbs

Salt to taste

Method –

To steam or to prepare steamed lintel dumplings –

Add all the above ingredients to grounded paste, mix together, check the salt if necessary add salt to adjust to your taste and keep ready.

Divide the lentil mixture into small portions and shape them into small and equal round or oval shaped dumplings.

Grease a pan or steaming plate with little oil or ghee and place the dumplings in it. Steam the dumplings in a pressure cooker or steamer for  15 mins.

Arrange prepared dumplings so that it should not touch each other.

Steam it for 15 min in a medium flame.

Remove from the flame and rest it for 5 min in the steamer, before you serve.

Serve hot steamed hot lentil dumplings with coconut chutney or tomato sauce or with ghee .

Note –

You can substitute the moong dal with equal quantity of toor dal or chana dal.

You can add ginger and skip garlic or any other spices to adjust your taste and flavor.

Very important – grind the mixture without adding water.

I have used home made coriander powder which is dry roasted and powdered.