Patra and Handvo -- Authentic Gujarathi Dishes

There's nothing like luxury of having close friends living 3 houses apart.. I can speak volumes about the fun and the times we spend together and never mention the food we share.. They are from Gujarat and we are pakka Andhrites. My husband loves any North Indian food, especially their chats, rotis, sev and curries.. So they make sure they pack freshly made food( chats , curries, pooris , Sev, Pav Bahjis etc..,) and bring our home exclusively for both of us... This is what i call "Luxury of having Friends near by"... We appreciate each others culinary expertise( hehehe ) so much.. These guys love my dosas, sambar, chutneys, pulaos, cakes and curries... My Friend she would just ask for my sambar in a big bowl,,, yep just some sambar nothing else!! Love them, they are like a family to us!! Here are some authentic Gujarati goodies auntie brought for us and i couldn't stop myself clicking them when she explained how labour intensive those dishes were -- yep you guessed it right! They are Patra and Handvo.


Patra is made from colocasia leaves, besan( chickpea flour ) and some aromatic masalas.. Here's what i remember - Make besan mixture with water and apply the paste on a colocasia leaf and then place another leaf smaller than the first one on top and spread some batter and repeat the same until 4-5 layers.. Roll it and then cut into equals parts.. Steam these packets and then she made some tadka and added some lime juice, sugar(or gur ), grated coconut, cilantro and some seasonings... They were so moist and i could finish them as they were.. So good... they are spicy and sweet at the same time,, has that chat-pata flavour too.. Thanks aunty... absolutely loved them.. Oh, my MIL makes something similar with Colocasia leaves and besan -- Chamadumpa Badeelu( a Pakka Telangana Dish )



Here comes the next authentic Gujarathi recipe Handvo which needs fermentation and expertise.. I remember, She said you need to ferment besan mixture overnight and then add grated Bottle gourd( sorakaya ) .. Just fold the grated dudhi and bake it.. Add toasted sesame seeds and seasonings on top... It was so Good....


Along with these she even brought Besan Sev and Spicy small pooris( Khatta Pooris with ajwain ).. Oh they were sumptuous!! I would try to make these myself soon..