Quick iftar chaat · No soaking daal
Dahi Phulki Recipe (Besan Dumplings in Yoghurt)
Whisk the besan. Small phulkis. Warm water soak.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenDahi phulki are small besan dumplings soaked in yoghurt, faster than dahi bhallay because there is no daal to soak and grind. They turn hard and rubbery when the batter is thick and unwhisked. The fix is whisking the batter until airy, frying small spoonfuls, and soaking them in warm water before squeezing.
The 3 laws of dahi phulki
Why this recipe works
Thick, flat batter
Soft phulkis.
Large
Cook through.
Straight into yoghurt
No hard centre.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Phulki
Yoghurt
The NineFoods phulki gauge
Is the batter right?
Drop a little into water.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Batter
- Whisk besan, water and spices; rest 5 minutes, add soda and whisk. Use the gauge above.
Fry and soak
- Fry small spoonfuls until golden; soak in warm salted water 10 minutes; squeeze.
Serve
- Add to yoghurt, top with spices and chutney.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Batter thick.
Fix next time
Whisk lighter batter.
Why
Too big.
Fix next time
Fry small spoonfuls.
Why
Oil cool.
Fix next time
Medium heat.
Why
Old yoghurt.
Fix next time
Add sugar.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Besan | Base | No substitute |
| Yoghurt | Sauce | Greek yoghurt thinned |
| Imli | Tang | Lemon and sugar |
| Frying | Cooking | Appe pan |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Iftar alongside pakoray.
Store
Fried phulki freeze 1 month.
Reheat
Soak frozen phulki in warm water.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 6 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the batter right) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Dahi Phulki FAQ
What is dahi phulki?
Small besan dumplings in spiced yoghurt.
How is it different from dahi bhallay?
Phulki use besan and are quicker; bhallay use soaked daal.
Why are my phulki hard?
The batter was too thick or not whisked.
Can I make them ahead?
Yes, freeze fried phulki.