Dal bafle at Vrindavan

What makke di roti, Sarson ka saag is to Punjab, is what Daal Bafla is to Malwa, M.P. It’s a variant of Dal Bati that is the staple food ofRajasthan. Bati is flaky round bread of wheat, traditionally baked in tandoor or Kandas (cow dung, especially in villages) or over an electric oven & dipped in ghee. Bafla is like Bati that is cooked in boiling water (like a dumpling) and then baked.

Given its taste, it’s not surprising that it’s fame has spread well beyond these states. It’s USP is in its earthy flavors.

Its history is quite fascinating. Did you know ‘Dal Bati,’ was a ‘war food?’ Its first mention was during the time of Bappa Rawal ‘ the founder of the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan. Soldiers used to break the wheat dough into chunks & bury it under thin layers of sand so that it can bake under the sun & when they returned, they would find perfectly baked wheat globes that were then dipped in ghee and served.

It was the official ‘wartime meal,’ as it can be made with few ingredients and very little water which wasn’t available readily in barren lands of Rajasthan. This culinary invention evolved into a delight with two other items ‘ Dal and Churma ‘ over the years.

You can not visit indore and not eat Dal Bafle. It’s our specialty.

It’s in our traditions and it’s lip-smacking good.
I along with fellow bloggers at Indore bloggers association & Indori Zayka was invited for a food tasting at a vegetarian restaurant called ‘Vrindavan,’ situated in Vijay Nagar, near prestige college.

Interiors –

The interiors of Vrindavan justifies its name. There are big Shri Krishna’s paintings that adorn its walls, and the carpet is green, giving an appearance of grass, together creating a peaceful and soothing environment.

To beat the heat, the place boasts huge misting fans that blows a fine mist of water into the air, which absorbs heat & thus working as an air cooler.

It has traditional sitting on the floor over mats, cross-legged dining, bringing today’s generation closer to it’s roots. The food was served in huge copper thals that were quite heavy giving a royal feel.

FOOD –
We were served Baflas with tadke wali tuar dal, dahi kadhi, gatte ki sabzi, lassan & coriander mint chutneys, salad, and keri panna.

Bafle had the perfect golden crispy crust and friable inside with a buttery flavor. What I loved the most was the fact that they used just enough ghee to give it an authentic flavor & feel, making it ideal for health conscious people. They served extra ghee to please the foodies like me. Hence, a win-win for both.

The naughty recurrence of ghee is best explained by an Indian author, Chitrita Banerji, who wrote: ‘It is only natural that cooks from Rajasthan, a land where survival is a struggle and nature far from bountiful, will make the most of the non-perishable elements such as sugar and ghee ‘ to give tone, depth, and nuance to their food.’

Tadke wali daal didn’t work for me. It was neither bland, nor spicy. Good news is, it’s made with minimum amount of oil & there are so many options that you won’t even realise it’s taste after mixing it with kadhi, gatte ki sabzi and chutneys.
Dahi ki kadhi – Ah! This has to be my favorite. It was a perfect combination of sour, sweet & spicy & the goodness can be experienced with every spoon. It complements Dal bafle really well. Also, dahi kadhi is a refreshing accompaniment in summers.

Gatte ki sabzi – It’s a traditional Rajasthani dish. Cylindrical chickpeas dumplings are cooked in the spicy curry made with curd giving it an oomph factor. They were perfectly cooked, soft and spicy.

Fair warning – It’s more on the spicy side.

Lassan chutney – It’s really spicy and so good that you can’t help adding a big spoon to the mix and immediately regretting it because when it comes to lassan chutney, less is more.

Mint and coriander chutney – It’s summers, anything with mint is bound to blow your mind away.

Salad – I can’t eat food without salad, hence this was a must. Although, they added a bit of spicy chaat masala and I didn’t like it.
Laddoo – I don’t have a sweet tooth but these Laddoos were to die for. It took the platter to altogether a new level. These Choorma Laddoos were made with the same flour as bafle with sugar and nuts in the mix. Not too sweet, and so delectable.

Kerri Panna – came as a relief as it was, ‘thanda thanda cool cool,’ but it tasted more like Jaljeera than panna.

PROS –

– Vrindavan is the only restaurant in the city to provide this village style authentic Rajasthani sitting arrangement.
– Free home delivery.
– Food is value for money.
– Less oily.
– They serve ghee separately, in case you’re health conscious.
– Sitting arrangement aids in digestion.
– Misting fans to beat the heat.
– Ideal for family outing or picnic.
– Beautiful decor.
CONS –
– Available only on Saturday & Sunday.
– Panna could be better.
– Chaach can be added to the mix. It’s a better alternative to Kerri Panna.
– I love how they serve ‘khichda,’ with ghee and Jaggery in Rajasthani style thaals, hence I’m making a suggestion that they can add khichda to their menu too.

– Water that was served to us, was at room temperature. Since it’s summers, I think they should serve chilled water.
Ambiance – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Service – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Taste – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Presentation – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall – ⭐️⭐️⭐️.7
My verdict – this sit-down style restaurant is a ‘must have experience,’ in the city.  But do remember, this is a ghee-laden meal so go with an empty stomach, and keep the calorie conscience temporarily shut for the day.

Price – ₹200/-

Timings – 11am to 4pm.

Address – Vrindavan Premises, Scheme No. 78. Vijay Nagar.

If you have any queries or suggestions, you can contact me on Revaparihar@gmail.com

Till next time!

Source – http://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/indian-food-history/

http://m.thenational.ae/lifestyle/food/food-obsession-dal-baati-churma