Maharashtrian Besan Pitla or Spicy Chickpea Flour Mash
This is a perfect side for Bhakri (made with millet flour). Besan Pitla is a Maharashtrian dish made with chickpea flour. It's easy to make & very delicious.
Servings 2 people
Ingredients
For the chickpea flour batter
- 1 cup chickpea flour/besan
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp paprika
To make Pitla
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 5-6 cloves garlic
- 1 onion
- 1 jalapeno
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- salt as required
- 2-3 tbsp chopped cilantro
Instructions
To make the chickpea batter
- In a deep bowl or vessel, add water, paprika and turmeric powder. Stir it all together till it dissolves in the water.
- Then gradually add the roasted chickpea flour to it. Blend it in with a whisk and ensure there are no lumps formed.
To make Pitla
- Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds.
- Once they begin to crackle, add chopped garlic and check till it becomes light golden.
- Then add a finely chopped jalapeno along with chopped onions, paprika and turmeric powder.
- Saute till the onions becomes translucent. Now add the flour batter to the pan and quickly mix it. Add salt too at this point.
- Lower the flame and cook it covered for 5 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken and become a lump. Once the mixture doesn't stick to the pan anymore, consider it done.
- Garnish it with chopped cilantro.
- Serve Maharashtrian Besan Pitla with bhakri (most preferred combo) but it tastes good with any bread or rice. Spread it on a bread and enjoy it like a sandwich or use it as a dip.
Notes
- For this recipe, its advisable to use roasted chickpea flour as it gives more flavor and omits the raw flavor. Just heat a dry pan and add chickpea flour in it. Roast it for 2-4 minutes on low flame. Be careful to not burn it. You can even roast the flour in advance and store it in an airtight container.
- This step is important - After adding the batter to the pan, the mixture will begin to thicken and become a lump. Once the mixture doesn't stick to the pan anymore, consider it done.
- Add green chillies if a jalapeno is too much.
- Adjust paprika based on your spice tolerance level.
- Do not skip adding garlic, it gives this dish a nice flavor.