Makka gatka is a healthy and comforting porridge made of corn grits/corn meal. This is another staple food of Telangana where maize plays a major part in our cuisine. Coarse corn grits, salt and water is all we need for this recipe.
What is MAKKA GATKA?
Makka gatka is a thick corn porridge that is absolutely filling and delectable. Also this gatka also go with the spice-heavy main course fare. Gatka is a word we use for thick porridges in Telangana region. As Maize and millets are our staple food we use every grain and crumb of these foods.
Gatka is a form of food which is quite easy to chew and digest, makes a perfect meal for the elderly. In the countryside, gatka is usually had with buttermilk, and dal or country style chicken curry sometimes. During the times when there were no roadside food-joints, people used to carry it while traveling as it was easy to carry porridge. One of the reason being corn is very filling as it is full of good carbs and starch and it is slow to digest. So a bowl of nourishing gatka would keep us full for very long time.
It’s an irony how we’re buying the commercialized desi foods when it gets a videsi avatar. We ignore our desi maize meal/maize flour yet we buy the commercialized superfood corn powder. I hope we understand the dire need to preserve local varieties of produce. Let’s all work towards embracing our local seasonal produce and heritage cuisine. Traditional Indian cuisine always works towards working with the seasonal ingredients and intaking healthy benefits.
Is MAKKA GATKA, a vegan dish?
Absolutely, this dish is completely plant based and vegan. As we’re using only cornmeal, salt and water, which makes it quite nutritious and filling.
What all ingredients we need to make this dish?
- Maize meal/coarse corn meal – Prefer to use the desi cornmeal for the authentic taste and texture.
- Salt
- Water
Flour+Salt+Water is an amazing combination and sourdough is one of the best example at what these 3 simple ingredients can do. The humble three ingredients together do give us some nourishing breads and porridges. If you look at the regional cuisines across India, we have some amazing indigenous foods with the basic Flour or Coarse meal+Salt+Water apart from flatbreads. They are not only quick and easy to make, yet absolutely nourishing and filling.
Maize/corn is a good source of healthy carbohydrates and starch, which helps in aiding anemia, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels, a boon for one who’re on weightloss journey. Isn’t it a superfood which is Gluten-Free, Fibre rich, Low in GI, Nutritious & High in Protein.
Let’s get into the recipe but before that Checkout more traditional and vegetarian Telangana recipes here.
MAKKA GATKA
Ingredients
- 1½ cup Makka ravva/Coarse cornmeal
- 6 cups Water
- 1 tbsp Salt
Instructions
- Heat a stock pot,add water and bring it to a rolling boil.
- Now add in salt and give it a stir.
- Gradually add in Makka rava/Coarse cornmeal with one hand and keep stirring with another hand.
- Mix properly until there are no more lumps, cover and cook for 5 minutes on medium flame.
- Give it a nice stir again, cover and cook on low flame for another 10 minutes.
- The Gatka/porridge should now thicken, if it's still liquidy, increase the flame and cook for more 5 minutes until it thickens.
- Serve warm Makka gatka/porridge with pickle of your choice and salted buttermilk.
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