Baked Handvo (Rice, Lentils & Vegetables Savory Gluten Free Snack)
Baked Handvo - A Savoury Rice, Lentils and Vegetables Savory Gluten Free Snack or a cake from India. Handvo is a traditional Gujarati snack enjoyed with Green Chutney or Imli Chutney and buttermilk or I can enjoy it as is. The key in making this Handvo is well fermented batter. This can be made using Handvo flour or a batter made from scratch using rice and lentils. And yes if you know me, I have prepared this from scratch. Two reasons, as I do not get Handvo flour here and secondly when you are making it from scratch you are assured of the ingredients going in it.

I have a similar pancake, though not authentic, made using semolina and loaded with loads of vegetables like Broccoli, carrot pepper's etc. It is not a handvo, but it gives almost a similar taste and is quick and instant one for breakfast or at times our lunch box.

Traditionally Handvo is prepared in a special handvo cooker on gas stove but it can be cooked in a pan or even baked. I always cook it in a pan and since long I wanted to bake this. So I decided to make this Baked Handvo, for the Bakeathon where I am posting 3 bakes in a week on M-W-F along with my fellow bloggers. Since this Baked Handvo is also eaten as a main course meal, I thought of posting this as the third main course meal in this Bakeathon series after Homemade Vegetable Lasagne and Vegetable Shepherd's Pie (Vegan and Gluten Free)

Even though I have not planned on any themes, but at least some weeks turned out to be as such and I am happy for that. Just made this day before yesterday, yes I have to still bake, click and post for the remaining, not sure what I am finally baking but my readers be assured you will be getting the recipes as promised.

I made this Baked Handvo as muffins as well as a small cake. Muffins to lure my little ones and a cake shape as I wanted to try different pans for the same recipe. Just loved this beauties when they came out from the oven. Crunchy on the top, soft on the inside and that lovely golden colour. I was specially happy with the way the 6 inch cake turned out. Looked like a perfect birthday cake :D, and yes my kids celebrated by cutting and singing a song. 😀 :D. The muffins are a good nutritious toddler snack or as a filling and healthy finger food. Just make them bite size and they would be happy to munch on them.
We enjoyed this as our dinner and though we were full, we wanted to have some more. I literally forgot to take a pic before enjoying this, so took at the last. I have used Tarla Dalal's Recipe. Though it is the one of pan fried or traditional method, I have used it and baked it with minor modifications.

So here goes the recipe:
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Toor/Arhar/ Dal (Yellow Pigeon peas)
- 2 tablespoon Urad Dal (White …)
- 2 tablespoon Yellow Mung Dal (I replaced the Green with Yellow, as I did not had Green)
- 1 Cup Rice (I used Idli Rice)
- ½ Cup Sour Curd / Yogurt
- 1.5 Cups of grated Bottle Gourd (Dudhi/Lauki)
- 3-4 tablespoon oil
- 4 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon Soda-Bi-Carb
- 3 teaspoon Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Red chili powder (as per taste)
- 2-3 Green chili finely chopped
- ¼ inch Ginger grated (½ teaspoon ginger paste)
- 2-3 cloves of garlic grated (Optional)
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds (Rai)
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (Til)
- 1 teaspoon Carom seeds (Ajwain)
- ½ teaspoon Gluten Free Asafoetida (Hing) **Please see Notes
- ½ Cup Chopped Coriander
Instructions
- Clean, wash and soak the dals and rice in enough water for at least 4-5 hours.
- Rinse and drain and blend into a smooth mixture.
- Transfer the mixture into a wide bowl, add curd, mix and let it ferment overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 180 Deg C.
- Add the bottle gourd, 1 teaspoon oil, lemon juice, salt, red chili, turmeric, ginger, garlic and mix well.
- Now add the Soda-Bi-Carb and give a quick mix.
- Transfer it into a greased baking dish. Do grease the muffins tins all over as sometimes it becomes difficult to remove. (I used a 6 inch cake tin, and a muffin tin.)
- Fill the tin only half way, i.e. around 1 inch from the base.
- In another pan, add the remaining oil, once hot, add the mustard seeds, carom seeds and sesame seeds. Once it pops up, add the hing and switch of the gas.
- Pour this tadka or the oil mix over the tin.
- Bake it in a preheated oven at 180 Deg C for 30-40 mins until golden brown on the top and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- The muffins are ready in 25-30 mins, the cake takes around 45 mins.
- Once done let it cool in the tin for at least 5 minutes on a cooling rack before removing them out.
- Serve them warm with chutney or tea.


Notes
- One can add vegetables of your choice and can add different types.
- Asafoetida (Hing) powder available in shops contains wheat and is not gluten free. Gluten intolerant people can either skip completely or opt for Gluten Free Asafoetida (Hing)

Baked Handvo (Rice, Lentils & Vegetables Savory Gluten Free Snack)
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Toor/Arhar/ Dal Yellow Pigeon peas
- 2 tablespoon Urad Dal White …
- 2 tablespoon Yellow Mung Dal I replaced the Green with Yellow, as I did not had Green
- 1 Cup Rice I used Idli Rice
- ½ Cup Sour Curd / Yogurt
- 1.5 cup grated Bottle Gourd Dudhi/Lauki
- 3-4 tablespoon oil
- 4 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon Soda-Bi-Carb
- 3 teaspoon Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Red chilli powder as per taste
- 2-3 Green chilli finely chopped
- ¼ inch Ginger grated ½ teaspoon ginger paste
- 2-3 cloves garlic grated Optional
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds Rai
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds Til
- 1 teaspoon Carom seeds Ajwain
- ½ teaspoon Gluten Free Asafoetida Hing **Please see Notes
- ½ Cup Chopped Coriander
Instructions
- Clean, wash and soak the dals and rice in enough water for at least 4-5 hours.
- Rinse and drain and blend into a smooth mixture.
- Transfer the mixture into a wide bowl, add curd, mix and let it ferment overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 180 Deg C.
- Add the grated bottle gourd, 1 teaspoon oil, lemon juice, salt, red chilli, turmeric, ginger, garlic and mix well.
- Now add the Soda-Bi-Carb and give a quick mix.
- Transfer it into a greased baking dish. Do grease the muffins tins all over as sometimes it becomes difficult to remove. (I used a 6 inch cake tin, and a muffin tin.)
- Fill the tin only half way, i.e. around 1 inch from the base.
- In another pan, add the remaining oil, once hot, add the mustard seeds, carom seeds and sesame seeds. Once it pops up, add the hing and switch of the gas.
- Pour this tadka or the oil mix over the tin.
- Bake it in a preheated oven at 180 Dec C for 30-40 mins until golden brown on the top and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- The muffins are ready in 25-30 mins, the cake takes around 45 mins.
- Once done let it cool in the tin for at least 5 minutes on a cooling rack before removing them out.
- Serve them warm with chutney or tea
Notes
- One can add vegetables of your choice and can add different types.
- Asafoetida (Hing) powder available in shops contains wheat and is not gluten free. Gluten intolerant people can either skip completely or opt for Gluten Free Asafoetida (Hing)
Recipes Shared in Bake-a-Thon series up-to now
- Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti ~ A perfect Christmas Treat
- Easy Homemade Baked Falafel (No Canned Beans)
- Sticky Honey Sriracha Cauliflower Wings (Baked & Gluten Free)
- GingerBread Men
- Sugarless & Vegan Apple and Carrot Loaf #BreadBakers
- Whole Wheat Chocolate Avocado Banana Muffins
- Homemade Vegetable Lasagne
- Vegetable Shepherd's Pie (Vegan & Gluten Free)
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Dunno why i never tried making handvo yet at home, after going through yours am tempted to make them as baked version. Baked ones looks very prefect and alluring Renu. Beautiful dish there.
Thank you Priya
I love this savory bake,yet to try my hands on baking this yummy savory cake.Yours tempt me to try it soon.
The baked version sounds really good, especially love that idea of baking them in muffin pan...
Baked version of handvo is my favourite and those tiny muffin shaped handvo are my new favourites. They look so cute and perfect for parties.
Handvo ! Wow ! So well baked !
Everyone loves handvo at our place and it’s now that I make from the ready flour , but initially it was Tarla Dalal ‘s recipe that I made and what a perfect recipe .
Mini cakes look very cute and celebrating with these must have been fun .
Yes it really was. Thank You
Wonderful Renu, you have seriously covered so many of the savory bakes I have been wanting to bake. This is simply excellent.
Thank You
I haven't heard of Handvo before. But this sounds so healthy and yum.
Lovely bake! The single serve version looks great too. Very nice idea.
That is a beautifully baked handvo. Looks so colorful and inviting - no wonder your kids thought it was a birthday cake and enjoyed cutting it.
I made this a few years back and it was so delicious - love your idea of making it into muffins though!!
Handvo makes a great meal for anytime of the day. I prefer the baking version handvo to the stove-top one.
This baked Handvo looks like a beautifully baked cake. Also, baking in a muffin pan is a great idea, individual bites can be easily packed in for lunch for snack time.
Mini Handvo Cakes are so much fun, Renu ! glad your kids loved them.. am always looking for healthy savoury bakes and your recipe is being bookmarked to try !
Thank You
Omg! This handvo looks so good, so tempting. I have never made handvo, so this could be a good start. Bookmarking
Thank You
wow, such a wonderful bake! we love handvo's, these baked ones look very tempting with all that tadka on top!!!
Baked version of Handvo looks so delicious. Loved the tadka on the top.
Thank you
Hi Renu!!
When do you add the soda bi-carb in the process. I couldn't locate it in the recipe. Read it twice.
I await your soonest reply as I am looking forward to bake it tomorrow.
Thanks
Darshana
Thank you Darshana for pointing this out. Sometimes it gets missed. It is just before adding the ingredients in the pan. I have updated the recipe. Thank You, hope you like it.
Hi Renu,
I’d love to use ready-made flour for this as I have no large blender at the moment.
Can you give a metric weight of ondwa flour I should substitute please?
Many thanks,
Hi, I have never done with handvo flour. But giving you a rough estimate. You can try with 2 cups of flour. I think it should be good. Let me know if it turns out good if you try it.
Renu