Jhunka or zunka is a gram flour porridge or a gram flour curry, similar to polenta.[1][2][3] It is a traditional[4] Indian dish prepared in Maharashtra,[5][6] North Karnataka, and Goa. It is also known by the name of pithla or pithle.[7] When served with bhakri, the dish is referred to as jhunka bhakar or pithla bhakri. Pithle is also known as chun in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
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Jhunka with bhakar is considered the quintessential peasant fare of Maharashtra.[8] It is accompanied by kharda or thecha.[8][9] In recent times, pithla bhakri has become an inseparable part of treks to mountain forts such as Sinhagad.[6]
Zunka/pithla is considered a nutritious food because of its balanced content of fiber, protein, carbohydrates and potassium.
Preparation
editJhunka is made by mixing gram flour (besan) with water to form a semi-solid paste.[1] It is then sauteed in oil with assorted ingredients like green chillies, red chilli powder, turmeric, salt, fried onions, mustard seeds, ginger, garlic, cumin seeds and coriander leaves. [10][11] Jhunka is traditionally served with bhakri and is also eaten with roti or rice.[8][12][3]
Political significance
editIn 1995, the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government launched the Zhunka-Bhaakar scheme in Maharashtra.[1] The scheme was intended to address the state's socioeconomic crisis by allocating over 6000 stalls to the unemployed.[13] The plan was not successful because the stalls were not able to provide the zunka-bhakar at the subsidized price of one rupee, so they began selling other foods instead.[1] In 2000, the Congress-NCP government ended the scheme and the Supreme Court upheld this decision.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Koranne-Khandekar, Saee (2019). Pangat, a Feast: Food and Lore from Marathi Kitchens. Hachette India. ISBN 9789388322928.
- ^ 1000 Indian Recipe Cookbook. Arcturus Publishing. 2013. ISBN 9781782122531.
- ^ a b Bladholm, Linda (2016). The Indian Grocery Store Demystified: A Food Lover's Guide to All the Best Ingredients in the Traditional Foods of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 48. ISBN 9781250120793.
- ^ Ranade, Vidya; Tyagi, Akanksha (6 October 2011). "Hinterland dreams". Pune Mirror. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ Godha, Ashishwang (2 November 2011). "Simply seafood". Mid Day. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ a b Deshpande, Meeta (28 January 2008). "From stalls to five-stars". The Indian Express. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ Shah, Rupa (2018). What About My Calcium?. CircleOHealth. ISBN 9789353110512.
- ^ a b c Das, Soma (28 March 2013). "Just like home". Mid Day. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ Deshmukh, Gayatri (25 April 2012). "Vandana Gupte believes in nature and God". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ Bharadwaj, Monisha (2005). The Indian Spice Kitchen: Essential Ingredients and Over 200 Authentic Recipes. Hippocrene Books, Incorporated. p. 209. ISBN 9780781811439.
- ^ Rao, Jaishri (2019). Classic Cuisine and Celebrations of the Thanjavur Maharashtrians. Notion Press. ISBN 9781684666492.
- ^ Powar, Anna (2019). Kal: Looking at the Old with New Eyes. GAEditori. p. 226. ISBN 9788834180457.
- ^ Gangan, Surendra (19 November 2013). "Finally, state dumps Zunka Bhakar scheme". DNA India. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Shiv Sena's hunger games". The Asian Age. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2022.