a DeLicACy cALleD "DhOP eR cHoP"

"Dhoper Chop" is a common recipe with divine Bengali cuisine flavours. Chop is hindi means 'pakoda'. I am sure "dhoper chop" is quite famous in other places as well since the process of making it is universal. Just that it is known by different names according to its place of origin with some subtle differences which might have evolved over the years. Anyway my post today mainly focuses on the preparation of this famous dish and then you might be able to guess its name in your mother tongue. For Bengalis reading this post, theres no suspense left since the title suggests it all..but as you have already started reading it, sparing two more minutes might make a little more sense as opposed to the one minute already wasted in reading up to this point.


So before describing the recipe for "dhoper chop" in details let me give you all an analogy. I am sure most of us like to indulge in biriyani once in a while. But making biriyani is an art. You just can't come up with biriyani by putting rice and chicken together. The reason why we prefer fried rice over biriyani in a random restaurant (no offence to fried rice though!!). So you see just like biriyani, making dhoper chop is also an art. Most of the people are just average in making this. The problem with chop is that if you are not good at it, it might crack while deep frying it and the oil seeps inside. And the real problem starts when a gastronomically challenged person is forced to eat it.

"Dhoper chop" should ideally involve doing some small research about the topic on which your dhop revolves. Making dhops is far more diffucult than catching an imperfect one. And thinking that the person on the other side will not be able to see through your "dhop" is another big mistake. So if you dont have the time to do your homework (which is quite obvious considering how busy we are), refraining from making up any "dhops" is the best option. People who are blunt are actually the respected ones at the end of the day. But then if one lacks the expertise, will he/she just give up on making dhoper chop?? NO WAY...practice is waiting for its turn :D ....Practise making up your own small harmless dhops and serve it to your near and close ones. Check their reaction. If they are not able to make out..then come next day and tell them that you had made things up...so that next time they might become a little seasoned when you serve them "dhoper chop". In the end, you eventually train both your friend and yourself. Mutual benefit you see :D ...But then after a certain point of time they might stop believing you. So a little discretion is required from the chef's side.

Anyway the aim is to make the batter thick. A runny batter wouldn't give you a strong hold. Work on the batter. Even I am working on it :D . And refraining from serving people average dhoper chop and waiting till you master the art is a better option than you know what...