Pithla recipe is the ultimate comfort food in Maharashtra homes that is simply made with gram flour or besan and onions, which is why it is also called kanda besan. This dish is a little different as it uses raw mangoes or kairi in the dish to turn the dish slightly green and also sour. It is on the spicier end, with the raw mangoes adding a bit of sourness and a spicy chilli-garlic chutney that is added to the tadka. The tadka is made with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, and hing, followed by spices and the besan.
What makes this raw mango pitla recipe appealing is how light it tends to be, and it can be made thin and soup-like (jhunka-style) or kept thick like a dip-style pithla, depending on the amount of water added. Marathi cooking relies on fresh garnishes or fried nuts, and this recipe is no exception, using crushed fried peanuts as a final finish. It is best eaten hot with the gluten-free flatbreads of jowar or bajra rotis.
It is the perfect dish to make when you run out of vegetables, eggs or meat and want something quick yet filling. Its preparation is similar to the besan kadhi, but this one does not have yoghurt, and the gram flour is roasted before the onions are added. Pithla recipes dominate eateries called Zunka Bhakar Centres with a side of chilli garlic chutney.
Peel and grate the raw mango. Finely chop the onion. Make the green chilli and garlic paste by grinding 1-2 green chillies with 3-4 garlic cloves. Mix the besan with ½ cup water into a smooth slurry in another bowl. Set aside.
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Step 2: Add the Tadka
Heat oil in a kadai over medium heat. Once hot, add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves and a pinch of hing, let them crackle and release their aroma.
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Step 3: Sauté Onion
Add the finely chopped onion to the tadka. Sauté over medium heat, stirring regularly, for 3-4 minutes until the onions turn golden brown. Do not rush this step.
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Step 4: Add Spices and Raw Mango
Add the turmeric powder and green chilli-garlic paste to the onion. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until the raw smell of garlic disappears. Add the grated raw mango and sauté well for another 1-2 minutes so the kairi softens and its juices release.
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Step 5: Add Water and Bring to a Boil
Add 1 to 1½ cups of water to the pan and stir well. Add salt to taste and half the coriander leaves. If using roasted peanuts, add them now. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
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Step 6: Add the Besan Slurry and Cook
Reduce the heat to medium. Slowly pour the prepared besan slurry into the boiling water in a steady stream, stirring continuously and vigorously with the other hand to prevent any lumps from forming. Once all the besan is incorporated, cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the pithla thickens. Add more water if needed.
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Step 7: Simmer and Finish
Reduce the heat to low and simmer the pithla for 1-2 minutes until it is fully cooked; it should not taste raw or floury. Remove from heat, garnish with the remaining fresh coriander leaves, and serve immediately.
A medium-sour raw mango works best. The very young green mangoes can be overwhelmingly sour. Taste the grated kairi before adding and adjusting the quantity.
Yes. Skip the onion and increase the green chilli-garlic paste slightly to adjust the flavour. The raw mango pithla recipe works as a no-onion preparation for days of fasting or personal dietary preference.
Both are besan-based Maharashtrian dishes, with pithla being semi-liquid and gravy-like, while jhunka is a dry, crumbly version made with very little water.
No, pithla and kadhi are not the same. Pithla is a thick Maharashtrian gram flour dish without yoghurt, while kadhi is a yoghurt or buttermilk-based curry made with besan and spices.