Bhatt ki Churkani

भट्ट की चुड़कानी

Traditional dish from the Kumaon region, Uttarakhand

Also spelled: bhatt ki churdkani, bhatt ki chudkani, bhat ki churkani

A Kumaoni curry of black soybeans, roasted until they pop and then simmered into a thick, dark, savoury gravy thickened with a little flour. It is warming winter food, rich in protein, and a fixture of the Kumaoni everyday table.

Ingredients

  • •Black soybean (bhatt), 1 cup
  • •Wheat or rice flour, 1-2 tbsp
  • •Mustard oil, cumin, fenugreek, asafoetida
  • •Ginger, garlic, turmeric, coriander powder

How it's made

  1. 1Dry-roast the bhatt in mustard oil until the skins split.
  2. 2Temper with cumin, fenugreek and asafoetida.
  3. 3Sprinkle in the flour and roast briefly, then add water and spices.
  4. 4Simmer long and slow until the gravy is thick and glossy.
This recipe is a general reference written for readers who want to know the dish. Quantities are to taste and every household cooks it a little differently.