Authentic Dal Baati Churma: Why Your Baatis are Hard

Step 1 (Baati Dough): Mix flour, 1/4 cup ghee, salt, and yogurt. Add warm water gradually to knead a very stiff dough. Rest for 20 minutes.

Step 2 (Baking Baati): Divide dough into lemon-sized balls. Make a small indentation in the center. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C or a traditional baati oven for 30-35 minutes until golden and cracks appear.

Step 3 (The Ghee Dip): While the baatis are hot, crack them slightly and dip them into a bowl of melted ghee for 1 minute. This makes them flaky and soft.

Step 4 (Dal Preparation): Pressure cook the mixed lentils with 4 cups of water, turmeric, and salt for 5-6 whistles until mushy.

Step 5 (Dal Tadka): Heat ghee in a pan. Add cumin, hing, cloves, and whole red chilies. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté. Pour this over the cooked dal.

Step 6 (Churma): Take 2-3 baked baatis and grind them into a coarse powder. Mix with powdered sugar, cardamom powder, and 2 tbsp ghee. Garnish with chopped nuts.

Step 7 (Serving): Serve the hot dal with ghee-soaked baatis and sweet churma on the side.