Khaman Dhokla with chestnuts

Ingredients:

300g chestnuts, steamed and peeled

500g chickpea flour (a.k.a. besan)

1 ts asafetida

1 tbsp ground coriander

1 tbsp nigella seeds

1 ts ground (or freshly grated) ginger

1 ts ground cumin seeds 

1 1/2 ts caraway seeds

1 ts turmeric powder

zest of one lime

1 tbsp sea salt 

20g baking powder

550ml water (the dough should be like a cake dough so add more or less water if needed)

coconut oil (for greasing the baking pan)

Method:

Grind the chestnuts in a food processor until powdered. 

Place the chickpea flour in a mixing bowl and whisk to remove any lumps. Add all ground spices, the salt, lime zest, baking powder and whisk further until all dry ingredients are well combined. Add in the water and stir gently with the whisker until smooth.

Grease a baking tray pan with the coconut oil and pour the dough on it.  Steam it for about 35 minutes at 100°C in a steam-oven, or on medium-low heat if you are using a steamer on the stove. The cake should be fairly firm and a knife inserted in the center should come out clean when done.

Turn off the heat and let the cake rest for 15 minutes.  Invert the cake onto a plate.

Serve it with tomato chutney, or mint-yoghurt sauce.

Cut into squares and serve. 

Note: I used chestnuts since they are abundant at this time of the year where I live. The classic recipe is made entirely with chickpea flour and/or with fermented lentils (flour).