MyMusingsSangSpeak- Pet Puja - Paatal Pithale/Pithala

Paatal Pithale/Pithala

Pithala is the most famous Maharshtrian recipe, a lip-smacking delight and it comes in many avataars like paatal (liquid/semi liquid) or semi soft or firm consistencies and can be made in varied ways using various vegetables, constant ingredient being besan that is gram flour. Pithala is also known as Jhunka in Marathi. One can use either green chillies or red chilly powder as per one’s preference. It tastes best with jowar roti or rice. Here, I am giving you the recipe of paatal pithala using green chillies. Hope you all enjoy it.

There are many versions of this recipe in other Indian states too. It is a quick to make dish and generally all these ingredients used are readily available in the kitchen. When you are short of vegetables at home, this is a quick fix recipe. The average Maharashtrian farmer's daily diet used to be Pithala Bhakri.

Ingredients

Besan (Gram Flour) – 1 cup

Onion – 1 large

Garlic – 10-12 cloves

Green Chillies – 2-3 nos

Dry coconut grated – 1 tablespoon

Turmeric powder – ½ teaspoon

Cumin – ½ teaspoon

Mustard Seeds – 1 teaspoon

Oil – 2-3 tablespoons

Water – 750 ml approximately

Salt – As per taste

Chopped coriander leaves (optional) – 2 tablespoons

Method

Chop the onion, coarsely crush together chillies, garlic and dry grated coconut. Heat oil in a karahi and splutter cumin and mustard. Add chopped onion and fry for about 3-4 minutes. Add coarsely ground chiily, garlic and coconut. Add turmeric powder and water. Add salt and bring to a boil. Once the water has boiled, lower the fame and add besan, little by little and keep stirring so that it forms a smooth paste. Stir well and cook by covering with a lid for about 7-8 minutes. Remove from fire and add coriander leaves. Serve hot with a dollop of ghee along with jowar roti and hot steaming rice.

Note – Some people make a solution of besan and water and then add it to the fried mixture to get extra smooth consistency. You can follow that method too.

MyMusingsSangSpeak- Pet Puja - Kardaichi Bhaji (Safflower Vegetable)

Kardaichi Bhaji (Safflower Vegetable)

Kardai (Safflower) vegetable is a popular green leafy vegetable consumed in Maharashtra. It is a highly nutritious vegetable containing many minerals and vitamins. Kardai oil is also a healthy option of oil. The vegetable can be prepared in many ways, simply by tempering garlic and green chillies or by adding onion and various daals (pulses). It tastes good as accompaniment with almost anything like wheat or jowar roti.

Ingredients

Kardai (Safflower) – 1 bunch

Onion – 1 medium

Garlic – 10-12 cloves

Green chillies – 2

Chana Daal (Split Chickpeas) – 2 tablespoons

Oil – 2 tablespoons approximately

Salt – As per taste

Water – As per requirement

Method

Soak chana daal in water for about an hour. Clean the vegetable by separating the leaves and you may take the tender stems. Wash well and chop into approximately 1” long pieces. Chop onions and crush garlic and green chillies. Heat oil in a kadahi, add chopped onion and fry for 2-3 minutes, then add crushed ginger and green chillies and fry for further 2 minutes. Add the chopped vegetable, soaked chana daal, salt, water, stir well and cover with a lid and allow to cook for about 10 minutes on low flame. Afterwards, give a good stir, check if the daal has softened and cooked well. Remove from fire and serve.

Note - You may use daal of your choice, it could be moong, masoor or tur (arhar).