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    Recipe Index » Dals / Beans » Goan Varan bhaat recipe (Varan recipe with coconut)

    Goan Varan bhaat recipe (Varan recipe with coconut)

    Published: Sep 3, 2013 · Last Modified: Jul 13, 2018 by Kanan Patel / 4 Comments

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    Goan varan bhaat recipe - a simple dal recipe made from arhar dal and flavored with fresh coconut. This is no onion no garlic recipes. So it is very simple, healthy and satvik food.

    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    There are no spice powders are added except the turmeric powder. Hence it has mild flavors. All the flavors are coming from coconut and curry leaves.

    Addition of ghee aka clarified butter also plays a major role to make it flavorful. I would not recommend substituting the ghee with oil. You can use oil if you are vegan. Many likes to drizzle little bit of ghee on top at the time of serving.

    There is another version of making varan bhaat (Maharashtrian style). There is no coconut added in that. But this recipe has subtle flavor of coconut. If you translate it in English then Varan=lentil stew and bhaat=cooked rice.

    It is part of Naivedya or bhog (food offered to god as part of worship) on Ganesh Chaturthi. Other dishes include poori bhaji, modak, sheera, rice poori, rishi panchami bhaji, boondi ladoo.

    Chef Sanjeev Kapoor mentioned in one of his articles that Goan wedding meal never completes without Varan bhaat.

    Check out other dal recipes
    Gujarati dal  //  Punjabi arhar dal  //  Andhra pappu  //  Home style dal fry


    How to make Varan bhaat recipe (Step by Step Photos):


    or Jump to Recipe

    1) You can check out this step by step recipe to cook the rice. Or you can follow your own method.

    2) Wash the toor dal under running cold water till water runs clear. Add washed dal to the pressure cooker along with 1 ½ cups of water. Close the lid and turn the heat on medium. And let it whistle 7-8 times on medium heat.
    Gujarati dal recipe

    3) While dal is cooking make the paste from coconut and turmeric powder.
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    4) Let the pressure go down by itself. Then open the cover.
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    5) Add another 1 cup of water to cooked dal. Make smooth puree like consistency by using immersion blender or grinder.
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    6) Now heat the ghee in small pan. Once hot add mustard seeds and let them pop. Then add cumin seeds, let them sizzle.
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    7) Then add slit green chilies and curry leaves. Sauté for 30 seconds.
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    8) Add coconut paste and salt. And sauté for 2-3 minutes.
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    9) Add this tempering to the dal.
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    10) Mix well and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes. Add more water if needed to adjust the consistency.
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    11) varan is ready to serve.
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    Serving suggestion: as the name says, serve the warm varan with cooked rice aka bhaat. Drizzle some ghee on top if you like. It adds extra flavors to the dish. During the ganesh chaturthi festival, it is offered to the lord ganesh as a prasam (bhog or naivedya).

    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat

    Step by Step Photos AboveWant to make it perfect first time? Don't forget to check out Step-by-Step photo instructions and helpful Tips & Tricks !!
    Goan Varan Recipe with coconut-Varan Bhaat
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    Goan varan bhaat recipe (Varan recipe with coconut)

    5 from 2 votes
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml)
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Calories: 137kcal
    Servings 2 servings
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml) See details

    Ingredients  

    For pressure cooking:

    • ½ cup Arhar dal (toor dal or split pigeon peas)
    • 1 ½ + 1 cups Water

    For paste:

    • ⅓ cup Coconut fresh or frozen
    • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric powder

    Tempering for varan bhaat recipe:

    • 1 tablespoon Ghee (Clarified butter)
    • ¼ teaspoon Mustard seeds
    • ¼ teaspoon Cumin seeds
    • 2 small Green chilies slit
    • 5-6 Curry leaves
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions 

    • Cook the rice as per your method. and while rice is cooking make the varan

    Pressure cooking the dal:

    • Wash the toor dal under running cold water till water runs clear.
    • Add washed dal to the pressure cooker along with 1 ½ cups of water.
    • Close the lid and turn the heat on medium. And let it whistle 7-8 times on medium heat.
    • Let the pressure go down by itself. Then open the cover.

    Making paste:

    • take coconut and turmeric powder in a grinder jar. Add little water.
    • Make smooth paste. Keep it aside.

    Making goan varan bhaat:

    • Add another 1 cup of water to cooked dal.
    • Make smooth puree like consistency by using immersion blender or grinder.
    • Now heat the ghee in small pan. Once hot add mustard seeds and let them pop.
    • Then add cumin seeds, let them sizzle.
    • Then add slit green chilies and curry leaves. Sauté for 30 seconds.
    • Add coconut paste and salt. And sauté for 2-3 minutes.
    • Add this tempering to the dal.
    • Mix well and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes. Add more water if needed to adjust the consistency.
    • varan is ready to serve.
    • Serve the varan with plain cooked rice.
    • Drizzle some ghee on top if you like.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 8.5g | Protein: 2.8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7.7g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 590mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 2.9g | Sugar: 1.9g
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving
    Did you make this recipe?Snap a pic, mention @spice.up.the.curry or tag #spiceupthecurry. I would love to see.
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    Comments

    1. P

      November 15, 2019 at 1:29 am

      Awesome..tried it and came out amazingly well!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Kanan

        November 20, 2019 at 9:56 am

        good to hear. Thank you for the review

        Reply
    2. Vasant

      July 15, 2015 at 2:36 am

      Hi Kanan,

      I am from Goa. I have not cooked much of Goan food. But the simplicity with which you have written about recipes and posted with photos , I feel that your are the right person for me to learn in making these dishes for my cafe here in Goa.

      thanks a lot
      Vasant5 stars

      Reply
      • Kanan

        July 15, 2015 at 9:31 am

        Thank you Vasant. Happy to know that recipe is helpful to you

        Reply
    Kanan

    Hi, I'm Kanan Patel. I share easy, delicious vegetarian recipes (mostly Indian) and Eggless baking recipes that you can sure count on!

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