Pithale is a quick and easy traditional Maharastrian recipe and this version is made with garbanzo flour. This is vegan and can be served with rice and roti.
Traditional pithale aka pitla uses besan or chickpea flour. This is one of my favorites and I have had these in my friend's place innumerable times. I do not use besan much and this recipe uses garbanzo flour. Both may sound very similar but they are different. Garbanzo flour is made by grinding garbanzo beans or kabuli channa, whereas besan is made with a smaller and darker variety. I ground the garbanzo beans to a fine flour in my Vitamix using the dry grind jar. If you are making your own, it is easy to make, just would need a little patience. It is simple and easy, make sure you have a powerful grinder. I make a batch of this flour and use it in many recipes. Trust me, this is handy!
This is a very quick and easy recipe. All you need is 10 minutes to make this and don't have any prep work. Just temper, followed by cooking the slurry of the garbanzo flour. Sudden cravings, or sudden guests, this is very handy to make and will make a comfort meal without a doubt. I have not added garlic or onion, there is no need for those. If you feel like adding, sauté them and then cook the garbanzo slurry. Methi leaves or spinach can also be added.
Serve this rice or roti/chapathi. This with rice gives the perfect comfort of having dal rice. Rice and dal is heaven, for everyone, not just for kids. Moreover, this gives a good quantity when cooked, and so easier to whip up for a crowd in no time. Sometimes, I like to have this with yogurt, it is comforting. When serving as a weekend brunch, add Kochumber on the side and any veggie curry like Podi Stiffed Eggplant, Avarakai Curry, Stir-Fried Kale, or Asparagus and coconut Stir-fry. This recipe is vegan, tempering can also be done in ghee, which would give extra flavor.
Maharashtrian cuisine, rich in diverse food, has both mild and spicy dishes. Wheat, rice, jowar, bajri, vegetables, lentils and fruit are dietary staples. Kothambir vadi, pav bhaji, waran bhat, Misal, usal, masale bhat are very popular. The flavors and spices also vary according to different regions of the state. Waran bhat is much similar to our parupu sadham aka dhal rice, which is a comfort food. Masoor Dhal Kothambir wadi tastes amazing with a cup of chai, and Kohlapuri Masala Powder, an aromatic spice mix, is a handy mix to make quick veggie curries.
I have tasted many foods from this cuisine from one of our friends. She cooks amazing traditional foods and used to request some of my favorites often. When Poonam suggested the theme "Maharashtrian Cuisine" for this month's theme, I decided on sharing this one as it is one of our favorites. In this group, we give two secret ingredients to our assigned partners and we cook using the secret ingredients. We share a picture of the final dish, and the rest of the group guesses the secret ingredients. Poonam, who has a wonderful collection of Maharashtrian recipes, gave me garbanzo flour and asafetida as secret ingredients, and I made this delicious pithale with those ingredients. In turn, I gave her caraway seeds and black cardamom as ingredients and she made this delicious and comforting Tendli Bhaat.
Ingredients
Serves 2-4
Garbanzo flour - 1/4 cup
Water - 1.5 cups
Salt - 1/3 tsp
Chili powder - 1/4 tsp
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Dried red chili - 2, torn
Mustard seeds - 1/3 tsp
Cumin - 1/3 tsp
Asafetida - 1/8 tsp
Curry leaf - 1 sprig
Ginger - 1/2 tsp, finely chopped
Green chili - 1-3, chopped
Cilantro - 1 tbsp, chopped
Method
Add the turmeric, salt, chili powder to garbanzo flour, and add water mixing slowly to make a lump-free slurry of the garbanzo flour.
Heat oil in a pan, add the red chili, mustard seeds, and when it splutters add the cumin, followed by green chilies, ginger, and asafetida, and fry for 30 seconds.
Add the garbanzo batter/slurry and mix, it will thicken quickly. Lower the flame, cover, and cook for 8-10 minutes, until the raw smell of the flour goes away.
Mix, adjust the salt if needed, and consistency.
Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with cilantro. Serve with rice and/or roti.
Poonam Bachhav says
Piping hot Pithale with steamed rice is my idea of comfort meal..easy to prepare and oh so delightful ! Love your version with Garbanzo flour.
Priya Iyer says
The pithale looks so flavourful! With some hot phulka rotis, this would make for such a blissful meal. 🙂
We love pithale at home too, as it's delicious and easy to make, especially when there are no veggies in the fridge.
Priya Iyer says
The pithale looks so flavourful! With some hot phulka rotis, this would make for such a blissful meal. 🙂
We love pithale at home too, as it's delicious and easy to make, especially when there are no veggies in the fridge.
CookwithRenu says
I love pithale and specially with bhakri's. One of the comfort recipes for sre
mildly indian says
Pithale is my go to gravy it is storebought rotis!! the reason is it is simple and flavourful and everyone loves it.
mildly indian says
Pithale is my go to gravy it is storebought rotis!! the reason is it is simple and flavourful and everyone loves it.
mildly indian says
Pithale is my go to gravy it is storebought rotis!! the reason is it is simple and flavourful and everyone loves it.
Priya Vj says
Pithla and bhakri is a fabulous and sumptuous combination to have at lunch time..I have had pithla using besan but using chickpeas flour is certainly interesting
Priya Vj says
Pithla and bhakri is a fabulous and sumptuous combination to have at lunch time..I have had pithla using besan but using chickpeas flour is certainly interesting
Priya Vj says
Pithla and bhakri is a fabulous and sumptuous combination to have at lunch time..I have had pithla using besan but using chickpeas flour is certainly interesting
Priya Vj says
Pithla and bhakri is a fabulous and sumptuous combination to have at lunch time..I have had pithla using besan but using chickpeas flour is certainly interesting
Anonymous says
We love to have pithale with poori and roti's. Loved your healthy version pithale by using Garbanzo flour. Will definitely try your version.
Anonymous says
We love to have pithale with poori and roti's. Loved your healthy version pithale by using Garbanzo flour. Will definitely try your version.
Sasmita says
fabulous and sumptuous combination to have with some hot phulka roti...... love to have this blissful meal. 🙂
Sasmita says
fabulous and sumptuous combination to have with some hot phulka roti...... love to have this blissful meal. 🙂
Archana says
Pithle and bhakri is my favourite food. Simple, easy and easily adaptable to suit any tastes. You have made lovely pithle. I am impressed that the Vitamix can grind the garbanzo beans.
Archana says
Pithle and bhakri is my favourite food. Simple, easy and easily adaptable to suit any tastes. You have made lovely pithle. I am impressed that the Vitamix can grind the garbanzo beans.
Archana says
Pithle and bhakri is my favourite food. Simple, easy and easily adaptable to suit any tastes. You have made lovely pithle. I am impressed that the Vitamix can grind the garbanzo beans.
Narmadha says
Pithale looks so flavorful and delicious. Love to have it with hot phulkas
Anonymous says
Pithale with Garbanzo flour sounds interesting. Pithale looks so tempting. Love to have it piping hot with rice .Would love to try your version sometime.-Preethi