Thalipeeth Recipe (Crispy Maharashtrian Multigrain Flatbread) – Easy & Healthy

About this Flatbread and some memories

I explored into making this Thalipeeth, the regional flatbread from Maharashtra as part of the Food Odyssey, for my Blogging Marathon group. Food Odyssey was Journey through 30 Indian States.

I had various choices to select from Maharashtra on my to-do list. However, I chose to make this flatbread as this is very unique and an apt one to showcase the state.

Fond memories of the city will always linger to me as I remember my visit to the city many years ago for a family frien's wedding. We visited Bombay and Pune and had a wonderful time. I can still remember the feast we had during out visits.

What is Thalipeeth?

We use Bhajani flour to make Thalipeeth, is a traditional flatbread. At home we can prepare this bhajani flour by dry roasting a mix of whole grains, cooling them, and then grinding them into a flour. We can easily make this flour at home if these grains are available. However, I read that most people get this ready-made flour from shops.

I referred to some online resources that also explained how one can make this flour at home. So I decided to make the flour myself. I even went one step ahead and made this flour with the ready-made flours I had on hand. As I understood, there are so many varieties to make this bhajani flour. I sort of mixed and matched my recipe based on the various sources I read.

I made a Maharashtrian meal for the day with Thalipeeth and Thecha along with mango pickle, curds.

Some of the sources I read were from the different online resources and blogs like Tarladalal, Sanjeev kapoor, Nupur of Onehotstove and Chefandherkitchenhere.

Ingredients for making the Quick Bhajani/ Thalipeeth flour

Traditionally they dry roast the grains and grind together to make the flour.

Millets - Millets like Jowar Flour, Bajra Flour, Ragi Flour
Other Flours - Rice Flour, Besan, Wheat Flour and Rava.

Ingredients for making Thalipeeth

• Bhajani flour - This flour is a mix of all the above grains/flours.
• Vegetables - You can use a variety of vegetables to make this flatbread. However, I used finely chopped onions along with green chilies, coriander leaves.
• Spices - We use spices like Cumin Seeds, Coriander powder, Roasted Cumin Powder and Red chili powder.
• Other ingredients used - Roasted Groundnuts along with Sesame seeds for a nutty taste

Take all the above ingredients along with salt to make the dough. Cook the flatten discs with oil and served with butter.

How to Make Thalipeeth with Bhajani Flour

In a big bowl take all the flours. Add finely chopped onions, green chili paste, chopped coriander, sesame seeds, groundnut, coriander powder, cumin powder, red chili powder, and salt and mix well.

Add warm water to the bowl and knead it into a soft dough. The dough will be slightly sticky because of the combination of various flours.

Grease a plastic sheet and take a small orange sized ball and pat it to form a 4-5" diameter disc of 1/2" thickness. You need to wet your hands for easy spreading. Slightly press the edges with your fingers to give a nice circle. Once you pat down the flatbread, with your fingers make few holes with equal spacing on the top. This helps in drizzling oil into the holes to help cook evenly.

Transfer it carefully onto a hot tawa and pour oil in the holes and also around the edges and cover it with a lid. You can smear some water on top of the thalipeeth, this will make sure that the thalipeeth would not get dry.

Let it roast on a medium flame for 2-3 mins, once it is brown at the edges turn to the other side and roast again.

Repeat the same for the remaining dough to make thalipeeth.

Serve it hot with Thecha, Mango Pickle, and salad.

What to Serve with Thalipeeth (Best Traditional Pairings)

🌶️ Maharashtrian Thecha (Best Pairing)Thecha is a spicy Maharashtrian chutney made with green or red chilies, garlic, and salt. It is traditionally served with Thalipeeth and adds a bold, fiery flavor that perfectly balances the earthy taste of the multigrain flatbread.

Ingredients Needed for making Thecha

• Green Chillies - I have used green chillies, washed and pat dried before being ground. Another variation would be to use red chilies to make this Thecha as well.
• Ginger and Garlic - Used about 2 inch ginger with a full head of garlic with skin on.
• Rock Salt or Crystal Salt is best used to make this condiment.
• Tempering is done with Cumin, Mustard, with turmeric powder in a very hot oil.

🔥 How to Make Thecha (Quick Method)

1. Wash and dry the chilies
2. Coarsely pound chilies, garlic, and ginger
3. Heat oil and add mustard, cumin, and turmeric
4. Pour hot oil over the mixture and mix well