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The name Zunka Bhakar immediately puts you in a rustic mood. It’s a typical rural meal for your soul. In a way, this dish combines the cuisines of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa. It comes in two versions, one is dry and the other watery. It has a distinct texture and flavour. Gram flour, also known as chana dal flour, is one of the most well-known flours in the Indian culinary repertoire. Besan is prepared from ground chana dal, commonly known as split Bengal gram or chickpea. It’s an excellent substitute for refined wheat flour and maida. Besan is gluten-free and high in healthful elements, the most significant of which are dietary fibre and protein.
It’s no surprise that besan is used in a wide range of foods, both sweet and savoury. From pakodas and chillas to halwas, ladoos and other desserts, besan is a key component in a variety of recipes. One such food is the zunka or pithale, a savoury porridge-like dish eaten with traditional vegetables. Zunka is also known as Pithla Bhakri in Maharashtra. Here’s the recipe.
Ingredients:
1. 1 tbsp oil
2. ½ tsp mustard seeds
3. ½ tsp cumin seeds
4. ¼ tsp asafoetida
5. A few curry leaves
6. 2-3 small-sized onion
7. 2 tbsp gram flour
8. 1 ½ cups water
9. ½ tsp salt
10. Half lemon
11. A few coriander leaves
For grinding:
1. 8-10 garlic cloves
2. 3-4 green chillies
3. ¼ tsp salt
Zunka/pinterest.com
1. Take the gram flour sieve. Keep this aside.
2. Coarsely crush green chillies and garlic.
3. Heat a pan on the stove, put the required amount of oil into it.
4. Now add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Let them splutter.
5. Now, add some curry leaves and asafoetida to it and saute for a few seconds.
6. Add some chopped onions to the pan now and saute them, until they become translucent.
7. Now, add the crushed green chilli and garlic, which we put in the crusher and mix evenly.
8. Take ¼ tbsp of turmeric powder, 1 tbsp of salt and mix it thoroughly.
9. Now, add 1½ cup of water to the pan and give a perfect stir. Bring it to a boil.
10. Add the gram flour little by little to the pan, don’t add altogether because it will form small lumps. Keep stirring while mixing the flour to the water.
11. Keep the stove’s flame low. Continue adding the flour and stirring.
12. Now, break the lumps and stir again.
13. Cover with a lid and let it cook for at least five minutes.
14. Squeeze a half of lemon into it. Mix some finely chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.
