Vaquas- Dahi Baray (The Best) are little fritters made up of two kinds of lentils that you deep fry. Mix in a delicious yogurt mixture. This recipe is very important to me because it defines my childhood Ramadan time in India. We'd always have it at our Iftar table. This recipe is very dear to me because my mom used to make it like this. This is a must on our Eid table as well. Lastly, This is a sweet version of the Dahi Baray recipe.
WHAT IS DAHI BARAY?
Dahi Baray is a very popular dish. It's two lentils fritter, mixed in with homemade masala and a very delicious yogurt mixture. This is the recipe of the sweet version of the Dahi Baray, as that's what we grew up eating. This is my mother's version of the recipe. For topping, I use Khatti Meethi Chutney and my homemade Dahi Baray masala.
HOW TO MAKE MASALA FOR THE DAHI BARAY
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On medium heat, In a medium size fry pan, Add in cumin seeds, button dried red pepper, corinander seeds, and black peppercorns. Dry Roast for one minute then take it off the stove.
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Let it cool to room temprature.
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Put the spice mixture, add in salt and black salt at this point in the coffee grinder and grind to powder consistency.
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Set aside.
HOW TO MAKE FRITTERS FOR THIS DISH?
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Soak both lentils separately overnight.
- DON'T throw all the water out keep like ¼ cup of water from each lentil.
- Drain all the water from the lentils.
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Set the lentils and water separately.
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Add the Urad lentil in the food processor then add ginger garlic paste and add 3 tsp of the soak water that was sitting overnight, let it come to a perfect consistency. (Remember it shouldn't be runny.)
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Now take the Moong dal and add that to the food processor; Only add 2 tsp of water and don't add ginger garlic paste this time.
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Mix both batters together.
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Add baking powder and baking soda
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Mix it for ten minutes by hand in the SAME direction for 10 minutes continuously.
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Add salt and cumin seeds.
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In a medium wok, on medium heat, heat the oil.
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Take a spoon and dollop the batter across the wok to make little fritters.
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Deep fry them until light golden.
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Now you put them on a kitchen towel to soak the excess oil then put them in the fritter water for 30 minutes.
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After 30 minutes, you put between your palms and squeeze the water out gently.
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Place them in yogurt mixture.
HOW TO MAKE A YOGURT MIXTURE?
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Add whipped yogurt in a bowl, add in salt, sugar, and dahi baray spice mixture.
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Mix well.
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Set aside.
OUR FAMILY SECRETS TO MAKE THE PERFECT DAHI BARAY
There are couple of secret methods in this recipe that I will run you through, so you can make the perfect Dahi Baray for your family:
- Lentils are soak separately overnight, the softer the lentil it will be easier to bring to a perfect batter consistency.
- Use the same water that you soak in your lentils in for the batter.
- Make each lentils batter separately.
- After combining both of the batters then mix together in the circular motion for ten minutes going in one single direction continuously. This would make the your batter airy and fluffy.
- After the fritters are done then you soak them in red chili powder and warm water. (make sure the water is WARM.)
In our household this is a perfect dish for Ramadan and Eid. I know this is one of the best recipes on the blog. We have Ramadan and Eid friendly recipes like: AUTHENTIC ALOO KI TIKKI , Instant Pot Shami Kababs (Easy and Authentic) and Keemay Ki Goliyaan (Fried Meatballs) . If you have any questions about our recipes, techniques, recipe request, or you just want to say hi! Please feel free to message us and As always, if you try any of our recipes be sure to tag us on instagram @twoclovesinapot. Find us on Pinterest too, @twoclovesinapot. Please subscribe to our newsletter. We value honest feedback.
LET'S MAKE DAHI BARAY!!!!
Dahi Baray (The Best)
Ingredients
Dahi Baray Spice Mixture
- 6 button dried red peper or long dried red peppers
- 3 tsp cumin seeds
- 3 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- ½ tsp black salt
- ¼ tsp salt
Fritters
- 1 cup urad lentils mash daal
- ½ cup moong lentils
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- ¼ tsp salt
- olive oil extra virgin (to fry)
Water for the Fritters
- 4 cups water
- ½ tsp red chili powder
Yogurt mixture
- 6 cups yogurt
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tsp dahi baray spice mixture
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
Dahi Baray Spice Mixture
- On medium heat, In a medium size fry pan, Add in cumin seeds, button dried red pepper, corinander seeds, and black peppercorns. Dry Roast for one minute then take it off the stove.
- Let it cool to room temprature.
- Put the spice mixture, add in salt and black salt at this point in the coffee grinder and grind to powder consistency.
- Set aside.
Water for the Fritters
- Take a bowl of warm water and add in red chili powder and set aside.
Yogurt Mixture
- In a bowl, add yogurt and whipped it well.
- Next add salt, sugar, and dahi baray mixture that you made.
- Mix well and set aside.
Fritters
- Soak both lentils seprately overnight.
- DON'T THROW all the water out keep like ½ cup of water from each lentil.
- Set the lentils and water separately.
- Add the Urad lentil in the food processor then add ginger garlic paste and add 3 tsp of soaked urad dal water that you saved earlier, and start the food processor. (Remember it shouldn't be runny.)
- Now take the Moong dal and add that to the food processor; Only add 2 tsp of water and don't add ginger garlic paste this time.
- Now you can discard remaining water from soak lentils
- Now Mix both batter together.
- Add salt,baking powde, and baking soda.
- Mix it for ten minutes by hand in the SAME direction for 10 minutes continuously.
- Now your fritter batter texture should be airy.
- Add salt and cumin seeds.
- In a medium wok, on medium heat, heat the oil.
- Take a spoon and dollop the batter across the wok to make little fritters.
- Deep fry them until light golden.
- Now you put them on a kitchen towel to soak the excess oil then put them in the fritter water for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, you put between your palms and squeeze the water out gently.
- Place them in yogurt mixture.
Topping
- Top the sweet dahi baray with dahi baray spicy mixture and Khatti Meethi Chutney.
Enjoy!!!
Hibba says
Me n my family Loved your recipe !
It feels like we’re having Bazari Dahi Bahaly.
Keep up the good work
Sarah Mirza says
Thank you so much <3
Zuleikha says
For the fritters, you have both baking powder and baking soda in the list of ingredients but you don't mention adding baking soda in the method.
Please clarify.
Thank you.
Sarah Mirza says
please check step 8 under fritters in the instruction.