The dabeli is the Gujarati substitute to the burger. The only difference is that the ingredients are not fried or full of the wrong fats. They are planned nutrients for the body and make a delicious fare when served well garnished. There are many other ingredients that you could include including carrots, peas, beans, lentils of your choice and even yam. Once these are mashed the spices added help you to flavor the filling into the most scrumptious and delicious turn out. The dabeli roti does not take up much of kitchen time and you can even fill normal slices of bread and cut the sandwiches into diamond shaped pieces to give the kids a great tea time or movie time snack. You could also wrap the filling into a roti and add dabeli to your travel time or office lunch.
Ingredients:
6 medium sized potatoes (boiled and mashed)
2 big onions chopped fine
1/2 tsp each of mixed spice or garam masala powder
Red chili powder and garlic chutney
1/2 cup of ground peanuts
1/4 cup of tamarind and jiggery paste
Salt to taste and cooking medium as per personal preference
Popular Accompaniments:
Dabeli is nutritious and very healthy. The taste appeals to every member of the family. You can jazz up the taste with a choice from among schezwan sauce, green chutney or even dry chutney of your choice. Between bread and roti it tastes very good and brings home all the goodness of veggies and taste. Instead of the tangy taste you could go in for the sweet or spicy mode by simply adjusting the ingredients and their quantities. Dabeli is great served with tomato sauce, flavored beaten yogurt, a sprinkle of mint or a dash of oregano. It can be eaten hot or cold but is most certainly to be put between the bread only prior to serving.
Main Cooking:
In a heavy bottom vessel, heat a little cooking medium.
Shallow fry the peanuts for around 5 minutes and once the peanuts get evenly brown, sprinkle them with all the spice ingredients – mixed spice or garam masala powder, red chili powder and garlic chutney, 1/4 cup of tamarind and jiggery paste and salt to taste.
Finally add the mashed potatoes.
Presentation:
This mix could be garnished with fresh coriander leaves or mint leaves or another excellent option is pomegranate pearls. You need to add the chopped onion only prior to serving it.
