Due to this crazy obsession about food, I tend to gather many flours, beans, legumes and grains in my pantry. When I myself start losing track of all the ingredients, I decide to use them up pronto before they get spoilt. In that rush, I feel like a "Chopped" contestant where you have to come up with an original dish with the given ingredients. One such ingredient yesterday was "Masoor Daal Flour". It has a delicate orange hue. I could think of many recipes where I can substitute this flour instead of besan/chickpea flour. But finally, I went the most rudimentary way - Pithale. I used the basic Kolhapuri Pithale recipe.
Masoorichya Peethache Pithale
मसुरीच्या पीठाचे पिठले
IngredientsWhisk together :
3/4 cup masoor daal flour/brown lentil flour
3/4 cup buttermilk
salt to taste
Tempering
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp asafoetida
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 sprigs curry leaves, torn
1 small onion, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, chopped, smashed or minced
You will also need
2 tsp Kolhapuri chutney/Masala
1 1/2 cups water
Suggested Accompaniment
Plain Rice
or
Bhakri
and
Raw, sliced onion
Method
1. Whisk besan/chickpea flour with buttermilk so there are no lumps. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds, asafoetida, cumin seeds, turmeric powder and curry leaves. As they start spluttering, add garlic cloves. Saute for 1 minute. Add onion. Stir fry till onion is soft.
3. Now add Kolhapuri masala. Saute for 1 minute.
4. Add 1 1/2 cup water and salt to taste - remember that we have also added salt in the flour mixture. Adjust accordingly. Bring to boil.
5. Switch gas to low. Add whisked flour-buttermilk mixture.
6. Keep stirring, switching gas to medium.
7. Switch off the gas when Pithale reaches the consistency of semi-set pudding.
Note -
1. We are required to add salt in flour + buttermilk mixture and then again in the boiling water. Adjust salt carefully. Also check salt content in your Kolhapuri Masala/chutney. If it already has salt, adjust your seasoning accordingly.
2. After whisking the flour and water, if there is too much foam, just take it off using a spoon.
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