Katachi Amti

Katachi Amti

(All ingredients are underlined)

When chana dal is cooked for making Puran poli, the water that stays on top of the cooked dal, is called 'kat'. Carefully pour it out in a separate vessel. Add 3 cups water to it. Many times it happens that the water gets used up when cooking the dal. In that case, add 1 tbsp Puran/cooked chana dal to 3 cups of water and mix well in a mixer. And use this as 'kat'. Soak tamarind, size smaller than half a lemon, in water. Roast 1 tsp cumin seeds and 1 tbsp dry grated coconut till it gets a brown color and a nice aroma, and grind into a fine powder. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a vessel, and add 1 tsp mustard seeds. When they crackle, add 1/2 tsp hing(asfoetida), 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 bay leaf, 1" piece of cinnamon stick, and 4-5 curry leaves. Now add the 'kat'. Add salt and red chili powder to taste. Add 2 tsp Kala/ Goda masala. Squeeze out the tamarind juice from the soaked tamarind and add to the 'Amti'. Add about 2 tbsp jaggery(add only 1 & 1/2 tbsp if using puran for 'kat, as it already has some jaggery in it). Bring it to boil and let it boil for 2-3 minutes. Serve hot. This 'Amti' is always prepared with 'Puran Poli'.