Desi~licious Easy Handvo Recipe | Healthy Indian Food

Moist, veggie-packed, and easy to pull off. Learn how to make handvo at home. My version of this traditional Gujarati savoury cake is made with a blend of semolina and chickpea flour and loaded with cabbage, peas, onions, and cilantro. An all-time favourite, it's one healthy Indian recipe that we devour — and make on-repeat!

I've made three Indian savoury snacks this past week: chaat salad with corn, kala chaat salad and this Handvo, and gobbled them down like nobody's business. 

And this handvo recipe is no exception.

Plus, it's quick and easy to make because you don't need fermented batter.

What is it, you ask?

Handvo is a traditional Maharashtrian recipe. It's a type of savoury cakeTypically, it is made by mixing all-purpose flour/Maida the dough with grated bottle gourd or lauki, roasted split urad dal (black gram), and a moong dal mixture. The handvo batter can also be made with rice and lentils, which are fermented overnight. The handvo batter is then steam-cooked in a special handvo steamer or a regular pressure cooker.

The history of handvo dates back to the Mughal time where it was one of the signature dishes for royalty. The tradition of eating handvo still continues, especially during festivals and celebrations.

Actually, we enjoy it regularly. Though it isn't exactly the same as the traditional Gujarati handvo recipe, it is easier to make and embraces the tried-and-true flavours of handvo.

How to make it - with step by step instructions

I love this recipe because it's easy to make, healthy, and most of the preparation is in one mixing bowl. Your hands mix the ingredients, so no special equipment is required. Here's how to make handvo in the oven:

The beauty about this baked handvo is that it's easy to make, healthy, and most of the preparation is in one mixing bowl. Your hands mix the ingredients, so no special equipment is required. Here's how to make handvo in the oven:

1. In a large mixing bowl, add semolina, chickpea flour, yogurt, cabbage, peas, onion, scallions, coriander leaves, chillies, salt, garlic, turmeric, and lemon juice and mix well (Images 1-5).
2. Next, temper the whole spices and sesame seeds in hot oil until golden - Image 6
3. Pour the oil and add it to the semolina-vegetables batter, along with half of the tempered curry leaves and seeds. Mix well. Save the remaining leaves and seeds for the topping (Image 7). Add the baking soda and ENO (fruit salt). Mix to combine.
4. Pour batter into a lined cake pan, using a flat spatula to spread evenly (Image 8).
5. Top with the remaining curry leaves and seeds and send them to bake for 50-60 minutes (Image 9).
6. Allow to cool before serving with your favorite chutney (Image 10)

What is handvo flour made of?

There are different versions of this recipe out there; it can be made using a blend of rice and various lentils. You can even buy ready-made handvo flour from specialist Indian grocery stores. I'm keeping things simple by using chickpea flour and semolina. I find this blend gives a beautiful texture to my vegetarian Indian savoury cake.

Chickpeas or garbanzo beans are an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein, folate, iron, copper, and phosphorus. Chickpeas also provide B vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, and, especially, vitamin K.

In 9 out of 12 studies, lacto-ovo vegetarians and vegans had higher overall diet quality compared to nonvegetarians.

Research suggests that vegetarian diets are associated with better health outcomes compared to diets in which animal proteins are prevalent. However, more research is needed to control for known confounders when determining the relationship between eating habits and health.

Desi~licious top tips

• The batter – The best part about handvo is that perfect golden crust accompanied by a moist interior. That's why I use the specific ratio of semolina to chickpea flour. Like with any baking project, exact measurements are vital to ensure success.
• The vegetables – Dice the onions and scallions into very small chunks. If they're too tiny, you'll lose the texture. If too large, they'll be crunchy, and you'll end up with big chunks in your mouth. The same goes with the cabbage; slice thinly. 
• The cilantro: Choose as fresh as possible. This makes all the difference and exudes heaps of flavour.
• Tempering leaves and seeds in oil – Make sure the oil is nice and hot before adding the whole spices. Keep an eye not to burn these; otherwise, the recipe will end up tasting bitter. You want them to be golden.
• Mixing the ingredients: Ensure all the ingredients are nicely mixed before baking in the oven.
• The cake pan: Use a high-quality non-stick pan and always line with parchment paper. I use the oil residue from the pan to oil the sides of my cake pan. 
• Baking time: This will vary depending on your oven and can be from 50-60 minutes. Always check with a fork and make sure it comes out clean to indicate that your handvo is cooked.
• Cool it down: Although it's tempting to dive in and enjoy your creation, let it cool for at least 20 minutes before removing from the pan and serving.

How to serve

Put the kettle on and make a nice cup of masala chai while the handvo cools. Chai and handvo is a stellar combo! We also cherish sipping this Golden Milk Coffee Latte while biting into a big slice.

Variations to try 

You can experiment with the recipe by replacing carrots with mushrooms, or other vegetables of your choice. Be creative and play around with spices and flavors – use different spice combinations (like garam masala + dry ginger powder instead of cumin + coriander) or try different seasonings (paneer masala or chaat masala etc).

Nutritional highlights

For our family, this handvo recipe makes ten servings (slices). One slice provides:

Calories - 237 calories

Fat Daily Value (DV): 15%

Protein Daily Value (DV): 16%

Carbohydrates Daily Value (DV): 10%

This recipe is:

• Reduced in sodium (salt)
• Lower in fat
• A source of fibre
• A good source of iron

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

More easy and healthy snack recipes you may like:

• Spicy BBQ Corn (Butta)
• Crispy Sweet Potato Wedges
• Tofu Chutney Recipe With Dill

What's your go-to snack to beat the afternoon slump? Have you homemade handvo before? Share in the comment section below!

If you try this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, rate it, or share a photo and hashtag with #desiliciousrd on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Can't wait to see your photos.

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