Love me...Love me not - Dhokla

Heat.

So, I bet you’re all wondering how my romantic evening with Suraj went and I can tell you that it was the most perfect evening, well kind of….I guess.... It took me 3 hours to get ready in the end. That’s the problem when you have too many outfits to choose from, and I was preparing food all day. I rushed to the market and back and started preparing immediately because I knew that it would take ages for me to dress up and because the phone would be ringing non-stop with relatives wanting gossip. I wish there was an easier way to meet someone.

Anyway we talked for what seemed like an eternity. Turns out that we have more in common than I would have thought. Yes, he does love cricket, so that’s a big tick but he supports Punjab in the IPL and not Delhi. Why would he do that, we are delhiites and Delhi is the best! If only I’d known earlier, I might have convinced my parents to look for a hardcore Delhi fan. But I guess it’s ok because I do like Maxwell and Johnson is not too bad either, both of whom play for Punjab. He loves travelling and has promised me that we will go on an adventure together across India by car - but I thought he was just saying yes to be nice. He did not look very convinced. Oh well, we shall see I guess. Of course we flirted and he commented on the sweet scent of my perfume and mentioned how beautiful I looked many times throughout the evening. My god, I could not stop blushing, thank you god I didn't act too shy. Or maybe I did....

He drank 4 glasses of chai and ate all the padpi chaat I made. I thought he was never going to stop. At least he has a good appetite. I do like a man who likes his food, but I don’t like it when they get fat. His parents both seemed really out of shape, I hope he doesn't become like that! He also loved my chai and said that it was almost as sweet as me… Oh how could I refuse him now. Jai Mata Di. God help me. Maybe it was the cardamoms that made him so warm and romantic. Next time maybe I'll add only one pod. I always add a little sweetness to my chai but in this case, he must have mistaken that sweetness for me. Haha.

I was right about my brother and sister gossiping and listening in to everything. I think my entire neighbourhood knows what happened. He tried to hold my hand a few times but ever time he tried someone would cough. I was so embarrassed. Anyway, the only bad tghing I guess was when I brought up opening a restaurant. he was very nice but that would be expected. His reply was a little wierd. He said it would be a lot of investment and that he earns enough and I don't need to work. I want to work!

My mother-in-law absolutely scares me. She said we would hang out together and even have girls nights and cook together. But she seemed so coniving and fake. Ughh....Maybe I will figure out a way to convince Suraj to get our own place an not live with the rents!

Well it is Suraj I have to spend my life with and not anyone else and I think he seemed like a nice guy. So all in all, everything is good. For our next meeting I am cooking him Dhokla, because we have managed to figure out meeting behind everyone's back. I guess I'll just add some Tamarind paste to it to turn up the heat in our relationship so he can't refuse me when I ask him if we can get our own place! I can try to convince him about my restaurant again too!

Ingredients

• 2 cups dhokla flour

• 1/4 cup sour curd

• 1 1/2 tsp green chilli paste

• 1 1/4 tsp oil

• salt to taste

• Serve with Tamarind paste

Method

• Combine the khatta dhokla flour, curds, green chilli paste,1 tsp of oil, warm water (approx 2 1/4 cups) and salt in a bowl and mix well. Keep aside to ferment for atleast 8 to 10 hours.

• Just before steaming, sprinkle the fruit salt and add 2 tsp of water over the batter.

• When the bubbles form, mix gently.

• Grease a 175 mm. (7") diameter thali using the remaining 1/4 tsp of oil.

• Pour 1/3 rd of the batter immediately into the greased thali and shake the thali clockwise to spread it to make an even layer.

• Sprinkle 1/2 tsp of black pepper powder evenly over it and steam in a steamer for 7 to 8 minutes or till the dhoklas are cooked.

• Cool slightly and cut into diamond shaped equal pieces.

• Repeat the steps 5 to 7 to make 2 more thalis.

• Serve immediately with green chutney.

• Handy tips

• To make dhokla flour, combine 1½ cups of rice and ½ cup of urad dal and grind it to make a flour at the nearest flour mill.

• Fermentation time of rice and urad dal may vary depending on the weather conditions.

• Add the fruit salt to the batter just before steaming and then mix lightly with your hands.

#dhokla #heat #arrangedmarriage #spice #tamarind