Pumpkin and dates bakshalu (sweet chapati)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Indian
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 cups - fresh cooked, mashed pumpkin or squash. I used buttercup squash.
  • 1 cup - fresh ground date paste. It is ok if it is a bit chunky. You can replace with jaggery or honey.
  • ⅛th tsp - fresh ground cardamom
  • 2 tbsp - ghee
  • Dough ingredients
  • ½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • ¼th cup water
Instructions
  1. Prepare dough. Add all-purpose and whole wheat flour to mixing bowl. Slowly add water little by a little while kneading. Make the medium hard dough. Keep aside for at least an hour.
  2. Cut pumpkin into large pieces. Remember not to over-cook pumpkin. If you overcook, it retains a lot of water and is not hard enough to stuff. If you are not sure how long to cook pumpkin, cut pumpkin into big pieces. Either cook in pressure or in a pot. In the pressure cooker, Don’t wait for a whistle. When whistle starts wiggling turn stove off. If they are not cooked, Let them cook in same water till slightly soft. If cooking in a pot, submerge large pieces in water. Boil for 15 mins. Prick with fork and test to see if pumpkin is soft. Turn off once it is a bit soft. If it is a bit under-cooked, that’s ok. You have another round to cook with dates anyway.
  3. Once cooked, remove and discard skin. After cooked, the skin comes off easily with hand.
  4. In a pan, add ½ tbsp ghee, add mashed pumpkin. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir every 1 minute.
  5. Now add ground dates paste or jaggery and cardamom. Cook till all water evaporates and consistency is hard to stuff. It should be equal to dough consistency. Let them cool. Make 2 inch balls. Keep aside.
  6. Heat griddle on medium.
  7. Make 2 inch balls out of dough. Roll with pin till 6 inches in diameter.
  8. Place stuffing ball in the middle. Close dough from all sides.
  9. Sprinkle flour on top in preparation to roll. Sprinkle more if the dough is sticking.
  10. Roll with pin slowly. Or press with hand.
  11. When balls are flattened like naan, slowly remove and place on griddle. To easily remove, few of them press on a ziplock bag or parchment paper. This way you can lift ziplock and reverse on the griddle to safely place.
  12. Cook both side with more ghee until golden brown.
  13. Serve hot with ghee and milk.
Recipe by Ujwala's Delicacies at https://www.ujwalasdelicacies.com/pumpkin-bakshalu-poli/