Zunka/ Kanda-Besan Bhaji

Zunka/ Kanda-Besan Bhaji

Preparation Time - 5 Mins                        Cooking Time - 12 Mins                 Serves - 4

This is very famous Maharashtrian recipe often served with Jowar roti (Bhakri).

Ingredients:

Chopped Onions - 3 Cup

Besan (Gram Flour) - 1 Cup

Oil - 1 Tbsp

Finely chopped green chili - 1 Tsp

Ginger garlic paste - 1 Tsp

Red chili powder -1 Tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tsp

Goda Masala - 1 Tsp

Asafoetida - 1/4 Tsp

Mustard seeds - 1 Tsp

Cumin seeds - 1 Tsp

Salt - To taste

Spring onions or cilantro - to garnish

Method:

1) Heat oil in pan and add mustard seeds, let it crackle and add cumin seeds.

2) Add asafoetida and add green chilies and ginger garlic paste.

3) Add onions and salt and saute well till become translucent.

4) Add turmeric powder, red chili powder and goda masala.

5) Add besan and mix well. Sprinkle little water and put the lid and let it cook for 3-4 mins

6) Garnish with cilantro or spring onions and serve hot with bhakri or chapati.

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Pithala

Khekda Bhaji

Pithla/ Besan

Preparation time - 2 Min                          Cooking time - 12 Min                         Serves - 4

This a really quick and tasty dish when you don't have veggies at home.

Ingredients:

Gram Flour(Besan) - 1/2 Cup

Curd(Yogurt) - 1/4 Cup

Finely chopped onion - 1/4 Cup

Garlic(Optional) - 3-4 Cloves

Green chili - 1 or 2

Mustard seeds - 1 Tsp

Oil - 1/2 Tbsp

Salt - 1 1/2 Tsp/ To taste

Turmeric Powder - 1 Tsp

Asafoetida - a pinch

Method :

1)  In a bowl take Curd , add 1 cup water and mix well. Now add gram flour in to this and mix well and keep aside. Make sure there are no lumps. You can also use buttermilk here instead of curd.
Tip: You can use buttermilk instead of curd.
        Do not pack in the gram flour in measuring cup.

2) In a wok heat oil and add mustard seeds, let it crackle and add asafoetida.

3) Now add green chilies and garlic. Add onion and fry for 2 mins.

4) Add turmeric powder and mix well.

5) Add gram flour mixture in to this and 1 cup water. You can add less or more water depending on the thickness you like. I prefer not very thick.

6) Add salt and let it cook for 7-8 mins on medium flame. Serve hot.

You can eat pithala with Bhakri(Jawar roti).
You can also enjoy pithala with rice/chapati or khichdi. Khichdi-Besan, Pithala-Bhakri is very famous in Maharashtra.

Pithala

Gola Bhat/ Besan Bhat

Preparation Time - 5 Min                     Cooking Time - 15 Min           Serves - 4

This is very famous and quick dish from Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Ingredients :

Rice - 1 Cup

Gram Flour (Besan) - 1 Cup

Oil - 1 1/2 Tbsp

Carom seeds - 1 Tsp

Sesame seeds - 2 Tsp

Mustard seeds - 1 Tsp

Turmeric powder - 2 Tsp

Red Chili powder - 1 Tsp

Salt - 2 Tsp/ To taste

Asafoetida - 1 Tsp

Green Chili - 1

Cilantro(Coriander leaves) - a few

Method :

1) In a bowl mix besan, carom seeds, sesame seeds, red chili powder, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp salt. Add water and make a dough. Add little oil if it is too sticky.

2) In a pan heat oil, add mustard seeds, let it crackle.

3) Add asafoetida, turmeric powder and then add rice and 2 cup water.

4) Add salt and let the rice cook. Do not keep the lid.

5) Make medium size balls of besan dough and keep aside.

6) When rice is half cooked put these balls on rice and add little water if required.

7) Now put the lid and let it cook for 5-7 mins on low flame.

8) Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve hot with butter milk and spicy curd chilies.

Gola Bhat