I recently discovered this dish has many names. It is called Chikolia/ Chikolya/ Dhal Dhokree/ Chikolee. The last time I remember eating it must have been in my teens – which was many years ago. We usually never have “leftover” dhal because we eat the leftovers with rice. I find cooking dhal quite labour intensive, so when I do make it I tend to freeze half to save for another day. This time I made the full recipe and decided to make this from the leftovers and turn it into a new dish. I didn’t know exactly what went into it and went from memory of what I remember eating. It is a comforting, warm bowl and is very filling. You can easily make a vegetarian version of this too!
Ingredients:
- leftover dhal
- pieces of pur or roti
- water
- onion salad: onion, mint, coriander, green chili, vinegar, salt
Method:
- Heat up your leftover dhal in a pot, add water until you get your desired consistency.
- Break up the meat if you have any in it.
- Add bite sized pieces of the following: uncooked pur or cooked roti. Boil and adjust water if needed.
- Make the onion salad with 1/2 sliced onion, a small handful of chopped mint and coriander leaves, 1 green chili finely sliced and some salt to taste. Pour vinegar over, as much or little as you like.
- Serve Chikolia hot with onion salad in a bowl and some papadums on the side.
