Papda Ki Subzi (A Bihari Chickpea Flour Subzi)

The Cuisine of Bihar is rich and resplendent with spices,sweet,mild and bitter flavours which combine marvellously with main course accompaniments like Rice and Roti!This recipe is extremely popular in the Tirhut and Saran areas where they say “Agar Khana Banana ka mood nahi hai to yehi bana lo” meaning “If you do not feel like cooking then make this quick recipe!

Bihar Recipes were the theme for the Shhhhh Secretly Cooking Challenge for December.My partner was Sujata Shukla who blogs at :

https://www.pepperonpizza.com

Sujata gave me 2 ingredients  – Gram Flour and Coriander Seeds with which I prepared a delicious Subzi which is called Papda ki Subzi!

About the Subzi :

The Papda is a very thin Gramflour pancake which is rolled up and sliced.

The Gravy is a lip smacking combo of spices and seeds!It is so tasty you will lick your fingers clean!

Let us make the Subzi now!

Preparation Time : 1 hour

Makes : 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

For the Papda Batter :

1 1/2 cups Gram Flour (besan)

1 tsp salt

2 tsp Red Chilli Powder

1 tsp Turmeric Powder

1 tsp Garam Masala

Water (as required) for making the batter

For the Gravy :

Paste :

1 tbsp Mustard Seeds

1 tbsp Poppy Seeds

1 tbsp Coriander Seeds

1/2 tbsp Black Peppercorns

2 whole dried red chillies

Other Ingredients :

4 – 5 cloves Garlic (optional)

1 Tomato – finely chopped

2 tsp Fenugreek Seeds

1 tsp Garam Masala powder

Salt to taste

2 tsp sugar

1 cup water

2 tbsp chopped Coriander Leaves

2 tbsp Oil

METHOD

Make the Papda :

Mix the gram flour with the spices and salt and add enough water to make a batter as for Chillas or Dosas.Keep covered for 10 minutes.

Heat a non stick Tava/Griddle on medium heat and spread a ladleful of batter on it.As the bottom of the pancake gets cooked,do not flip it.Instead roll it as you would roll a paratha or roti.As the top is not cooked,it would be sticky thus enabling the roll to stay together and not open.

Prepare all the Papda this way and leave to cool on a plate.

Make the Gravy :

Take Mustard Seeds,Poppy Seeds,Coriander Seeds,peppercorns and dried red chillies in a mixie jar and grind to a powder.Now add 3 – 4 tbsp water,the Garlic Cloves and chopped tomato and grind again to a very fine paste.Keep aside.l

Heat Oil in a pan and add the Fenugreek Seeds.When they splutter add the prepared paste and fry on low heat till oil separates.Add water,Garam Masala and 1 tbsp Coriander leaves and bring to a boil.Let the gravy thicken a bit and take off heat.

Serving the Papda Ki Subzi :

Cut the prepared Papda rolls into bite size pieces.You should get 7 – 8 pieces from one Pancake.Keep aside 3 – 4 for garnishing and mix the rest into the gravy.Mix gently to coat each Papda with the gravy.

Take out in a serving bowl and garnish with Coriander Leaves and the remaining Papda pieces!Serve hot with plain rice!

Serving Papda ki Subzi with plain rice….