APRIL 2014: Bhakri with Thecha -- the food contemporary of the dancing shoes ;-)

photoed by A. Rajan

This is one delicious comfort food.  You will dance with joy and pain. It is tear jerking with powerful sinus cleanse. 

The comfort food that we would like to feature is simple “Bhakri” – Indian roti bread made with a grain called Jowar (Indian name of Sorghum). Nutrition profile of this grain is top notch, with its vitamin and mineral contents with an undertone of delicious sweetness.

Making this roti was a work of art in itself.  First, the grain Sorghum is Gluten free, so when you try to knead the dough, you got to use hot water instead of cold water.  I tried to use cold water to work the dough with no good results.  Then I used hot water to the flour and kept kneading the dough to its required softness. This method worked the best for me.

This roti is supposed to be made on floured surface by using palm and fingers and not the rolling pin. Very arty you might think. It is, as it requires a lot of skill and it comes with time. I remember a friend mentioning, how at the age of 13 she started making these rotis at home and now she makes it every day.  

I almost fainted questioning my abilities by doing stupid comparison. If she can, why can’t I?

I commended that skill of making these rotis and finally after few failed tries succeeded in becoming a little skillful in not breaking the roti. Once it goes on the pan, you got to brush some water on the surface of the roti, to keep it in shape and not break it. That’s what I figured; there can be other reason behind it too. Fortunately, it was a success. The roti didn’t break when I changed its sides on the pan and was cooked through retaining its shape and flavor.

Traditionally, People eat this with Green Chilli and Garlic Chutney known as Thecha in Marathi.

If you take ten green chillies, then the ratio of garlic cloves would be half of that. Take little oil. I used Olive Oil. I then sautéed green chillies and garlic in oil till they browned a little bit on the surface. This gives it a smoky and sweet taste. Once done use mortar and pestle or grind it in the grinder with little bit of salt. It’s that simple really.

Take roti, add dollop of butter on it and eat with Thecha. Enjoy! :-)

This is one delicious comfort food.  You will dance with joy and pain. It is tear jerking with powerful sinus cleanse. Blame it on one skinny chilli which can make you dance on its tunes. It’s delicious no doubt but not for faint hearted.  

Bhakri gets thumbs up all the way. It keeps you full for long time as well. I am hooked for life on Bhakri for good.

--A.R.