It comes from the Bhojpuri cuisine
I am so thrilled to have discovered this recipe from Chhattisgarh (a state in the center-east of India)! Steamed Bafauri is an easy to make vegan snack recipe from the Bhojpuri cuisine. They make this during festivals in Chhattisgarh. I stumbled upon this recipe while exploring through different Indian and International cuisines. Thanks to this quest of mine, I have come across many such amazing recipes that may be long forgotten today or are only made in some households and no one else has ever heard or got to taste it. This makes me want to recreate that recipe all the more and help spread the word that such an appetizing recipe exists.
Chhattisgarh Bhojpuri Cuisine
Until now, I only knew that Chhattisgarh has a rich heritage and that it’s known for its ancient temples, dense forests, and mesmerizing waterfalls. But when I began to read about their cuisine, I was pleasantly surprised. It has a healthy mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes. There is also some tribal influence in their cooking. I was pleased to find out that rice-based dishes are rampant in this cuisine which made me want to explore this cuisine even more. Each and every authentic recipe from this part of India has intrigued me and now I want to try them all in my kitchen. However, it was Bafauri that caught my eye first!
It’s a healthy Indian evening snack
It’s a high protein vegan snack made with chana dal lentils. It’s also high in fiber and carbs plus low in calories. Great for health-conscious people. Its a steamed dish so all the nutrients are intact and that makes it a zero-oil, low-fat recipe. It’s plant-based, nut-free and gluten-free. It is a toothsome and wholesome snack that can be made under 30 minutes using basic pantry staples. Suitable for kids as well. It is a very fine alternative to the oily pakoras.
How to cook lentils
Cooking lentils need not be very overwhelming. In fact, it is very easy to cook lentils. For today’s recipe, we need chana dal. It is very nutritious and easy to digest. Cooking them can be divided into 3 main steps.
Rinse - using a fine-mesh sieve under the faucet. While rinsing, make sure to pick out any bad lentils, debris or small stones which can sometimes sneak in. Soak - Lentils do not require it like other legumes and beans but can be soaked in order to reduce cooking time by about half. Depending on the recipe, they can be soaked for as little as 15 minutes to 8 hours. Cook - Lentils are very versatile and you can cook them using any cooking method. Here are some examples. You can make a crunchy snack. Cook it in an Instant pot to make the Indian Dal. Steam them to make Bafauri or Spicy & Steamed Vegan Lentil Balls. Use them to make pancakes. Mix them with other veggies to create a hearty meal. Use them to make fried fritters. Can use them to bake savory donuts.
Some Indian snack recipes with lentils for you
Crispy Moong Dal Pakora Baked Lentil Donuts (Dahi Vada) in Yogurt Sauce Spicy Quinoa & Red Pumpkin Adai | Lentil Dosa Kale Adai | Kale & Lentil Savory Pancakes
How to make it 🔪
This is a lentil-based Indian snack recipe and we will be cooking lentils a bit differently here.
Serving suggestions 🍽
Serve it with some spicy green chutney or ketchup along with your evening tea/coffee. This Indian snack recipe makes a great tea time vegetarian snack which also works as a pre/post-workout snack. I like to even have it for breakfast.
Tips to make this veggie snack
Recipe 📖
