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Dhikri
Steamed rice flour dough shapes
ढिकरी (dhikri): steamed rice-flour dough shapes made by the Tharu of the western Terai for festivals
For Maghi, the Tharu new year in mid-January, and for Dashain and Atwari, families in Dang, Bardiya and Kailali sit together on the floor shaping dhikri, long pieces of rice-flour dough rolled and twisted into ropes, spirals, fish, birds and finger-marked ridges before they are steamed. The finished pieces are soft, smooth and chewy, with a clean, sweetish rice flavour that makes them a canvas for whatever is served alongside: a spicy tomato and sesame chutney, a lentil soup, a vegetable curry or, in many homes, a festive meat curry. Leftovers are sliced and fried the next day. The usual mistake is mixing the dough too dry, which cracks as you shape it and steams up hard. Chef's tip: keep the dough covered with a damp cloth while you shape, and dip your fingers in water if it starts to crack.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz fine rice flour
- 1 /2 tsp salt
- 1 ¼ cups boiling waterapproximately
- 1 tsp vegetable or mustard oil
To serve
- 4 tbsp tomato and sesame chutney (til ko achar) (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 10 ½ oz fine rice flour and 1 /2 tsp salt in a large bowl, pour in 1 ¼ cups boiling water and stir with a wooden spoon until no dry flour remains. Cover for 5 minutes.
3 minStep 2: Rub 1 tsp vegetable or mustard oil on your hands and knead the warm dough for about 5 minutes until smooth, soft and crack-free.
5 minStep 3: Pinch off pieces the size of a large walnut and roll them into ropes 12–15 cm long. Leave some straight, twist some into spirals or S shapes, and press finger grooves into others.
15 minStep 4: Arrange in a lined steamer without touching and steam over boiling water for 12–15 minutes until slightly glossy and firm, with no chalky centre when one is cut.
15 minStep 5: Serve warm with 4 tbsp tomato and sesame chutney (til ko achar), a lentil soup or a curry.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 250 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 54 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does dhikri take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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