‘With dal dhokli, I have scalded my tongue but satisfied my palate every single time’

The traditional lentil stew has strips of diamond-shaped dough simmering in it

Childhood memories are incomplete without food. “Do you remember how much you loved this?” is an oft-asked question in conversations with family and friends. What follows is unstoppable banter on the times gone by and the goodness cherished.

One such dish that brings a smile to my face is dal dhokli, a traditional lentil stew with strips of diamond-shaped dough simmering in it. It’s a comfort food in Gujarati households, and a perfect melange of sweet and tangy flavours. This one-pot dish can be had on its own, or with rice or papad as accompaniment.

As children, when we would walk into the house after our evening play, we would try to guess what’s cooking in the kitchen. The waft of simmering dal dhokli and the aroma of homemade ghee would pervade the house. The sound of roasted papad, being crushed and mixed with chilli powder and a dribble of oil, would add to the sensory mix.