Handvo

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BM#85 Week 4 Day 1
updated 23/02/2018
What is Handvo?
The Gujarati Cuisine is well known for its huge variety snack dishes. Dhokla, Khandvi, Muthia, Gota, Idra, Kachori, Samosa, Arvi na paan, thepla, dhebra are some of the most popular snacks or farsan as they are called. These snacks are served as a light meal or along with the main meal.
Every Gujarati household will have their version of handvo. Some add only bottle gourd(doodhi) and fresh fenugreek. Some love it extra chili and sweet. Some love it with more oil. Handvo is one snack that is made when one is traveling, going for picnics or as a light meal or snack to be enjoyed any time of the day. Some like their handvo soft but my family loves it when there is a crust at the bottom and top. Everyone fights for the side pieces and the inner soft ones get left till the next day.
masala chai, handvo, drive-in
I remember my mum would make handvo (Indian savoury cake) nearly every Sunday. If we were going to Drive In to watch a movie or having a meal at home, Sunday would be handvo day. She would make it on a jiko (sigri) with more hot coal on top of the pan or sufuria. That handvo always tasted yummy and soft. Modern times and the charcoal stoves are out and in come the ovens. Not the same as the jiko one but I still make handvo as its one of my favourite snack.
As I mentioned everyone has their own recipe for Handvo. My MIL would add onion, carrots, cabbage, doodhi (bottle gourd) and so many other ingredients. My bhabhi adds cooked peas too. Any version and they all taste good. Make a thin layer or a thick layer, the choice is yours. Add whatever vegetable you like. The more the merrier! Ready made handvo flour is available in most shops but I prefer to make it with soaked rice and lentils.The handvo turns out softer. If you’re fighting for time then go ahead and use the ready made handvo flour.
Serve Handvo at Parties
Whenever I prepare handvo for tea parties I like to bake them like muffins. However, please do not use cake paper cups. I prefer using the silicon moulds as the handvo comes out easily. First time when I tried baking them like muffins, I used the normal aluminum moulds and though I had oiled them, it was a struggle to remove the handvo. I left them in the mould and we spooned it out when we had it.
Dietary Tips:
- For a Gluten free handvo avoid adding semolina and replace it with some cornmeal. Also do not use asafetida.
- For a Vegan version replace dairy yogurt with vegan yogurt or add lemon juice or tamarind. Let the batter ferment without the lemon or tamarind. Add just before baking.
- For a Satvik version, don’t add onion.
Serves 6 to 8 or 25-30 pieces
2 cups rice
¾ cup yellow moong (split green gram) or chana (chickpea) lentils
¼ cup tuvar (split pigeon pea) lentil
1 cup sour yogurt
¼ cup warm water
¼ cup semolina (sooji) (omit for gluten free option)
¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
2 cups chopped fresh fenugreek (methi)
1 cup grated carrot
1 medium onion, chopped finely
2 to 3 cups lightly packed grated doodhi (bottle gourd)
1 tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp clove powder
½ tsp soda bicarbonate (baking soda)
2 tsps salt
2 to 3 tsps sugar
2 tsps ginger paste
1 tsp green chilli paste
½ tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
½ to 1 tsp red chilli powder
for tempering (vaghar):
1 to 2 whole dry red chillis (optional)
¼ tsp asafoetida (hing)
2 tbsps oil for greasing
¼ cup sesame seeds (tal)
- Soak rice and lentils separately for 6 to 8 hours in lukewarm water.
- Drain out the water, wash the rice and lentils.
- Process the rice and then the lentils in a food processor into a grainy and coarse consistency.
- Mix both the pastes.
- Add yogurt, warm water and ¼ tsp methi seeds to the mixture and mix well.
- Cover the mixture and leave it to ferment in a warm place for 6 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Once it is fermented add the sooji, vegetables, salt, sugar and spices except for the baking soda.
- Mix the batter well.
- Heat oil for tempering in a small pan.
- When it is hot add cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, methi, dry chillis, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, carom seeds and finally hing.
- Pour the tempered oil into the batter and mix it well.
- Finally add soda bicarbonate and mix well.
- Grease a tray about 16X12 inches with the oil.
- Pour the batter into the tray and level it out with a spoon. The batter should be a bit runny.
- Sprinkle the sesame seeds over it.
- Put the tray into the hot oven and bake the handvo for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes increase the temperature to 200°C and bake further for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the top to becomes brown or place it under the hot grill or broiler for 5 minutes.
- Remove the handvo from the oven.
- Let it cool down a bit in the tray before you cut it into pieces.
- Serve with nice masala tea or milk.
- Add grated cabbage instead of doodhi or a bit of both.
- Add finely chopped spinach (palak).
- For a more crunchier top, add extra oil on top before baking.
- Adjust the amount of spices according to your taste.
- The size of the tray is just a guidance, use 2 small trays or any you prefer. As I mentioned before, depends on how thick or thin you want the handvo to be.
- Add grated zucchini along with the doodhi.
Pin for later:

A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
22 Comments
Shobha
February 24, 2018 at 10:27 pm
Handvo is a very healthy snack.. I make it often. I learnt it from my Gujarati friends in Brazil
Give Me Some Spice
February 25, 2018 at 8:00 pm
Love the colour of your handvo. I too usesilicon muffin cups now. You are right – the handvo we made on the sagri tasted so good.
Srivalli
February 26, 2018 at 10:20 am
Handvo is one dish I am yet to make..your cake looks so yum!
Priya Suresh
February 26, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Wow, new clicks rocks Mayuri, though handvo calls for a long list of ingredients i dont bother to make them soon at home. Irresistible definitely.
Sandhiya
February 26, 2018 at 8:53 pm
Such a healthy & tasty snack !!! Never tried my hands on handvo so far, bookmarked to try. Very inviting !!!
sushma
February 26, 2018 at 9:37 pm
Handvo looks too good. My next door neighbors are Gujarati's when ever they make these kind of snacks, they make sure I too get some of these.
Jayashree
February 27, 2018 at 5:30 am
This is one dish that I've been wanting to try for some time now. If I were to use handvo flour, should I just skip steps 1-4 and mix the flour with yogurt?
vaishali sabnani
February 27, 2018 at 1:33 pm
The handvo tea combo is such a classic Gujju combo..even we love it.
Usha
February 27, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Handvo has come out so good. Baked tray of handvo picture (last second one) is inviting. I recently made handvo at home from scratch, soaking rice & lentils. I totally loved it.
Jayanthi
February 28, 2018 at 3:27 am
I've heard about this dish from my Guju friends. Will need to try. Looks amazing
Sapana Behl
February 28, 2018 at 6:12 pm
I am yet to make handvo but have tried it several times at a Gujrati friend's house. The tray pics are so beautiful.
Harini R
March 1, 2018 at 4:34 pm
I am yet to try this much acclaimed Gujarati snack. The clicks look super inviting. I am tempted to make it today.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
March 2, 2018 at 3:18 pm
One of my friend always makes me tray full of handvo. We moved from that city and no longer get to eat hers. Love the recipe and your clicks make it so inviting!
Padmajha PJ
March 2, 2018 at 3:26 pm
Beautiful presentation Mayuri.Love the ones in the muffin mooulds.
Priya Srinivasan
March 9, 2018 at 5:02 pm
wow, just wow, that toppings is calling my name!! i love crunchy sesame seed topping!! Handvo is our favorite snack at home, baked version looks perfect!!!
Chef Mireille
March 12, 2018 at 8:20 am
made handvo a few years ago and loved it entirely – you are reminding me I should make it again soon
ARCHANA
November 15, 2019 at 2:18 pm
Wow!!! Such a lovely handvo. We love handvo and your handvo is call me to make immediately. Such a yummy handvo.
mayurisjikoni
November 15, 2019 at 6:13 pm
Thank you so much Archana.
greenbowl2soulgmailcom
November 17, 2019 at 3:50 pm
I have heard so much about handvo but never tried it. Now, your post has motivated me to try it soon. It looks delicious.
mayurisjikoni
November 18, 2019 at 3:52 pm
Hope you try Vandana, its an awesome baked savory dish.
Mireille Roc (@ChefMireille)
November 17, 2019 at 8:07 pm
I made it once using a variety of vegetables including chayote and carrot. Next time I will try this traditional version using only dudhi!
mayurisjikoni
November 18, 2019 at 3:49 pm
It must have turned out nice Miireille, when one doesn’t get dudhi any other veggies can be used.