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    Home » Power Breakfasts » Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri

    Published: Jan 29, 2019 · Modified: Mar 31, 2020 by Priya * This post may contain affiliate links.

    Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri

    Recipe Print
    a hand holding one Steamed Lentil Bafauri and dipping it into a bowl of tomato chutney and text at the bottom
    top angle shot of Steamed Lentil Bafauri in a platter with tomato chutney and text at the top
    close up shot of Steamed Lentil Bafauri with tomato chutney on the side and text at the top
    a hand holding one Steamed Lentil Bafauri and dipping it into a bowl of tomato chutney and text at the top

    Bafauri is an easy-to-make chana dal dish. Cooking lentils in a steamer makes it a healthy Indian evening snack. Try this vegan Indian snack recipe from the Bhojpuri cuisine today! It's a healthy alternative to fried pakoras, low in calories, high in protein, vegan & very delicious!

    top angle shot of Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri in a platter with tomato chutney

    Table of Contents

    • It comes from the Bhojpuri cuisine
    • Trending now
    • Chhattisgarh Bhojpuri Cuisine
    • It's a healthy Indian evening snack
    • How to cook lentils
    • Some Indian snack recipes with lentils for you
    • Recipe to make Steamed Bafauri
    • Serving suggestions
    • Tips to make this veggie snack
    • Steamed Bafauri - A Healthy Snack

    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.

    Trending now

    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!

    close up shot of Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri with tomato chutney on the side

    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. 

    chana dal in a bowl with a fork next to it before soaking it to make Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri

    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.

    a fork holding three Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri

    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

    Recipe to make Steamed Bafauri

    3 images showing how to make Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri

    3 image collage showing the steps to make Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri

    This is a lentil-based Indian snack recipe and we will be cooking lentils a bit differently here. 

    1. Soak chana dal/split chickpeas for 3-4 hours.
      • Drain the water and grind it to a smooth paste. Add little water while grinding if required.
      • Transfer this paste to a mixing bowl. It should resemble a thick lumpy paste.
    2. Then add finely chopped green chillies.
    3. Next, add sweet pea leaves and cilantro.
    4. Add chopped onions, ginger and garlic.
    5. Followed by baking soda, turmeric powder, chilly powder, ajwain/carom seeds, and salt.
    6. Then add oil and water, mix and prepare a thick batter.
      • Grease your steamer plate with some cooking spray if you want. I used an Idli cooker for this recipe.
      • Pour a spoonful of the batter into each mold and steam these cakes for 20-30 minutes on medium flame. Once done, open the steamer and de-mold the bafauri carefully.

    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. 

    a hand holding one Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri and dipping it into a bowl of tomato chutney

    Tips to make this veggie snack

    • Chana dal is the lentil to be used here. The English name of which is Indian split yellow chickpea lentils. You can find this daal in any grocery store. It's available on Amazon as well. You can experiment with other lentils too. 
    • You can substitute Indian green chillies to jalapenos. Remove the seeds from inside to reduce the spice level. The traditional recipe does not call for any other greens other than cilantro. But I like to add greens to make it even more nourishing. You can add any greens you have like spinach or kale. You can even skip adding any greens but cilantro. Carom seeds or ajwain have a distinct taste and is a good spice to have in your pantry. It's an excellent digestive with a rich aroma. You can find it on Amazon or in an Indian grocery store. 
    • Why add baking soda to batter - Baking powder and baking soda are both leavening agents. They lighten the batter by adding tiny bubbles of gas. Add only enough water to make it resemble a very thick batter. 
    • You can use any steamer available to you. I use an Idli cooker. But you can also steam bafauri in an Instant pot. The timings may vary depending upon the steamer and temperature. But approximately, it could take from 20 - 30 minutes for it to cook completely.
    • You can give it any shape you want. Steamed and fried Bafauri stays good for 4-5 days when stored in the fridge. You can also make the batter a day before and store it. If you notice the batter becomes a bit watery, add some chickpea flour to thicken it. 
    • You can enjoy this veggie snack once they are steamed or go a step further and turn it into a fried snack. Remove them on a serving plate. Cut them into medium size chunks. Fry or shallow-fry them in hot oil. Temper mustard seeds, curry leaves, and roasted peanuts in a teaspoon of oil and add the fried bafauri to it.  Lightly toss it all together and serve. 

    many Steamed Chana Dal Lentil Bafauri arranged on a platter with an orange chutney bowl in the centre.

    If you’ve tried this Steamed Bafauri or any other recipe on the blog please let me know how it went by commenting below, I love hearing from you!

    You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes and what I’m getting up to.

    close up shot of Steamed Lentil Bafauri with tomato chutney on the side

    Steamed Bafauri - A Healthy Snack

    Bafauri is an easy-to-make chana dal dish. Cooking lentils in a steamer makes it a healthy Indian evening snack. Try this vegan Indian snack recipe from the Bhojpuri cuisine today! It's a healthy alternative to fried pakoras, low in calories, high in protein, vegan & very delicious!
    4.41 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine: Bhojpuri, Indian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Soaking time: 4 hours
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 198.43kcal
    Author: Priya Lakshminarayan

    Equipment

    Idli cooker

    Ingredients 

    • 1.5 cups chana dal/split chickpeas
    • 1 onion
    • 5-6 bulbs garlic
    • 1 inch ginger
    • 2 green chillies
    • 1 tsp chilly powder
    • 1 tbsp ajwain/carom seeds
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp turmeric powder
    • 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
    • 1/2 cup chopped sweet pea leaves
    • 1 tbsp oil
    • water as required
    • salt as required

    Instructions

    • Soak chana dal/split chickpeas for 3-4 hours.
    • Drain the water and grind it to a smooth paste.
    • Add little water while grinding if required.
    • Transfer this paste to a mixing bowl.
    • It should resemble a thick lumpy paste.
    • Then add finely chopped green chillies.
    • Next, add sweet pea leaves and cilantro.
    • Add chopped onions, ginger and garlic.
    • Followed by baking soda, turmeric powder, chilly powder, ajwain/carom seeds, and salt.
    • Then add oil and water, mix and prepare a thick batter.
    • Grease your steamer plate with some cooking spray if you want. I used an Idli cooker for this recipe.
    • Pour a spoonful of the batter into each mold and steam these cakes for 20-30 minutes on medium flame.
    • Once done, open the steamer and de-mold the bafauri carefully.
    • Serve it with some spicy green chutney or ketchup along with your evening tea/coffee.

    Notes

    • Chana dal is the lentil to be used here. The English name of which is Indian split yellow chickpea lentils. You can find this daal in any grocery store. It's available on Amazon as well. You can experiment with other lentils too. 
    • You can substitute Indian green chillies to jalapenos. Remove the seeds from inside to reduce the spice level.
    • The traditional recipe does not call for any other greens other than cilantro. But I like to add greens to make it even more nourishing. You can add any greens you have like spinach or kale. You can even skip adding any greens but cilantro. 
    • Carom seeds or ajwain have a distinct taste and is a good spice to have in your pantry. It's an excellent digestive with a rich aroma. You can find it on Amazon or in an Indian grocery store. Add it to savory fritters, crepes, waffles, paratha, Chickpeas stir fry, etc. 
    • Why add baking soda to batter - Baking powder and baking soda are both leavening agents. They lighten the batter by adding tiny bubbles of gas. 
    • Add only enough water to make it resemble a very thick batter. 
    • You can use any steamer available to you. I use an Idli cooker. But you can also steam bafauri in an Instant pot. The timings may vary depending upon the steamer and temperature. But approximately, it could take from 20 - 30 minutes for it to cook completely.
    • You can give it any shape you want. 
    • You can enjoy this veggie snack once they are steamed or go a step further and turn it into a fried snack. Remove them on a serving plate. Cut them into medium size chunks. Fry or shallow-fry them in hot oil. Temper mustard seeds, curry leaves, and roasted peanuts in a teaspoon of oil and add the fried bafauri to it.  Lightly toss it all together and serve. 
    • Steamed and fried Bafauri stays good for 4-5 days when stored in the fridge. You can also make the batter a day before and store it. If you notice the batter becomes a bit watery, add some chickpea flour to thicken it. 
    •  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 198.43kcal | Carbohydrates: 32.76g | Protein: 7.83g | Fat: 4.59g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 268.96mg | Potassium: 55.63mg | Fiber: 13.01g | Sugar: 2.36g | Vitamin A: 393.24IU | Vitamin C: 4.36mg | Calcium: 86.7mg | Iron: 2.1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Share your creation by tagging me on Instagram @Cookilicious using #cookiliciousveg!
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    Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. For more information on my Affiliate and Advertising Policy, please click here.

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rakhee says

      November 06, 2021 at 9:34 am

      This recipe looks amazing and am keen to try it out. But I have never used sweet pea leaves before. Can I skip this? Or is there a substitute for it?

      Reply
      • Priya says

        November 07, 2021 at 10:53 am

        You can totally skip it. Or add any greens if you want. Hope this helps.

        Reply
    2. Nilina says

      February 15, 2021 at 1:19 am

      5 stars
      Was looking for a recipe in gluten free vegan..
      Perfect..
      Thanks for introducing me to a new world of recipes..

      Reply
      • Priya says

        February 15, 2021 at 7:44 am

        Thank you so much. Glad you liked it here. 🙂

        Reply
    3. pratima says

      November 25, 2020 at 11:35 am

      5 stars
      nice recipe , mai bhi try karoongi

      Reply
      • Priya says

        November 27, 2020 at 10:54 am

        Thank you. Let me know how it goes. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Annapurnaspices says

      September 21, 2020 at 4:17 am

      5 stars
      The recipe looks delicious. The recipe is good for health with good value of nutrition. I really like this recipe and thanks for sharing it. I am gonna try this recipe. Keep sharing more recipes.

      Reply
    5. Winnie says

      April 17, 2020 at 3:59 am

      5 stars
      Tried this recipe. Turned out so delicious. I have made this earlier by shaping into patties and deep frying. Was a bit hesitant how the steamed version would be. Besides being healthy was also very tasty. Also made the fried snack as mentioned. Either way tasted so good. Loved it. Thanks fir sharing.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        April 17, 2020 at 11:19 am

        Yes, it is a great snack! Thank you so much for trying. Glad you liked it. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Priya says

      April 15, 2020 at 7:35 am

      I love this recipe. I am from Bihar so you have 5 star review from a Bihari native. I just discovered your blog and love the way you make delicious healthy food.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        April 15, 2020 at 10:52 am

        Hi Priya, so glad to hear that! 🙂 Thank you so much.

        Reply
    7. Alison @foodbymars says

      April 01, 2020 at 4:52 pm

      5 stars
      I can smell these from here! What a delicious recipe, thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        April 01, 2020 at 5:47 pm

        Glad you liked it

        Reply
    8. stephanie says

      April 01, 2020 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a delicious snack and easy to make. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        April 01, 2020 at 5:47 pm

        Thank you.

        Reply
    9. Kacey Perez says

      April 01, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      These look super tasty and I am intrigued with this crunchy snack! I have never even heard of it before but the ingredients sound amazing!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        April 01, 2020 at 5:47 pm

        Yes, its different. DO give it a try 🙂

        Reply
    10. Ashley says

      April 01, 2020 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! These look delicious! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        April 01, 2020 at 5:47 pm

        Thank you so much

        Reply
    11. Anita says

      April 01, 2020 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      These look like a very delicious and healthy snack. Do you think it can work if I steam in a standard size muffin pan?

      Reply
      • Priya says

        April 01, 2020 at 5:48 pm

        Oh yes, you can steam them in any shape.

        Reply
    12. raji says

      December 04, 2019 at 5:51 pm

      wow ! looks very yummy. I'm going to try it over the weekend.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        December 05, 2019 at 12:12 am

        Thanks..do try it..its yum

        Reply
    13. Sheetal Totloorker says

      February 14, 2019 at 7:39 pm

      Hey Priya, came across your site today, tried this recipe. Was skeptical but liked the recipe. Loved going through your other recipes too.Can't wait to try them.Thanks

      Reply
      • Priya says

        February 14, 2019 at 7:50 pm

        I am so glad you did! Would love your honest feedback on the recipes you try. Thank you so much. 🙂

        Reply
    14. Jas says

      February 12, 2019 at 12:31 pm

      What kind of chutney u used in the pictures above...looks tempting.

      Reply
      • Priya says

        February 12, 2019 at 12:41 pm

        Its tomato chutney. https://cookilicious.com/green-chutney-dosa-with-spicy-tomato-almond-chutney/

        Reply

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