THAPALA CHEKKALU

Thapala Chekkalu is a crispy,rice flour-based snack,prepared in Andhra pradesh.It is also known by another name- Sarva pindi in a few regions of Andhra. It is similar to the Akki roti ,but for the slight variation in ingredients and texture.In those days,this dish was prepared in a vessel or thapala ,hence it gained the prefix and chekkalu means round shape in Telugu. I'm not sure about the authentic version of this dish,as I have come across diverse recipes for this particular dish. Some incoporate onions in place of bottle gourd. But I thoroughly enjoyed the recipe, cited below.

 

 

INGREDIENTS :

 

RICE FLOUR-  2 CUPS

BOTTLE GOURD  GRATINGS- 2 CUPS

GREEN CHILLIES- 2 NOS

GINGER-  1 INCH

GROUNDNUTS- 2 TBSP

SESAME SEEDS- 2 TSP

CHOPPED CORIANDER LEAVES.

CURRY LEAVES- 2 SPRIGS

SALT TO TASTE

OIL FOR COOKING

PROCEDURE:

1. Wash,wipe,peel and grate bottle gourd and keep it aside. Roast and coarsely pound groundnuts and keep it aside.

2. Make a paste of ginger and green chillies and keep it aside.

2. In a wide vessel, combine rice flour,salt,ginger,green chillies paste,bottle gourd gratings,chopped coriander leaves,sesame seeds and kneed to a dough.

4. Don't add water,as the water content in the veggie is enough for kneading. Sprinkle water little by little ,if required.

5. Keep it covered for 10 minutes. Meanwhile apply oil on the skillet. Pinch out a large portion of the dough and flatten it on the skillet .

6. Make holes on the spread dough. Now heat the skillet and pour oil on the sides and the whole and cook till it turns crisp and brown in colour.

7. Use generous oil for the crispy texture. It gives best result,when cooked on a iron tawa/ skillet.