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HANDVO |GUJARATI HANDVO

mayurisjikoni
Handvo, is a famous Gujarati savory snack that is baked. Grated bottle gourd, fresh fenugreek and other vegetables are added along with spices to the lentil rice batter. Handvo is mostly enjoyed as a snack but we love to have it for dinner.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Soaking and Fermenting Time 12 hours
Total Time 13 hours
Course Light Meal, Picnic, Snack
Cuisine Gujarati
Servings 25 pieces

Ingredients
  

For The Handvo Batter:

  • 2 cups rice
  • ¾ cup yellow moong or chana dal
  • ¼ cup split pigeon pea lentil optional
  • ¼ cup urad dal
  • 1 cup sour yogurt
  • ¼ cup semolina or cornmeal
  • ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
  • 2 cups fresh fenugreek chopped
  • 1 cup grated carrot
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 - 3 cups grated bottle gourd lightly packed
  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder
  • ½ tsp clove powder
  • ½ tsp soda bicarbonate baking soda
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 to 3 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp ginger paste
  • 1 tsp green chilli paste
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ to 1 tsp red chilli powder

For Tempering (vaghar):

  • ¼ cup oil
  • 4 to 6 cloves
  • 8 to 10 peppercorns
  • 2 one inch cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
  • ¼ tsp carom seeds
  • 1 to 2 whole dry red chillis optional
  • ¼ tsp asafoetida

Topping and Greasing:

  • ¼ cup sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp oil

Instructions
 

Preparation of The Handvo Batter:

  • Soak rice and lentils separately for 6 to 8 hours in lukewarm water.
  • Drain out the water, wash the rice and lentils separately in a sieve.
  • Process the rice and then the lentils in a food processor into a grainy and coarse consistency. Add just enough water to process the rice and lentils.
  • 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.
  • Add semolina, vegetables, salt, sugar and spices except for the  baking soda.
  • Mix the batter well.

Tempering:

  • 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.

Baking Handvo:

  • Grease a tray about 16X12 inches with 2 tbsp 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 completely in the tray before you cut it into pieces.
  • Serve with nice masala tea or milk.

Notes

  • Add grated cabbage or zucchini instead of doodhi or a bit of both.
  • Add finely chopped spinach (palak).
  • For a more crunchier top, drizzle some 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.
  • If you bake them like muffins, don't use the paper cups as it sticks to the mixture. Use muffin tray or silicon cake cups.
  • Cut handvo into squares, big or small according to how you want them.
Keyword handvo recipe, traditional handvo recipe