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
Jhunka 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
In 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]
