Faraa | Chattisgarh Snack | Steamed snack

Faraa is an interesting yet simple dish of Chattisgarh. As this state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh (MP) only as recently as 2000, the culinary influences of this state are limited to what was seen in MP or has influences from Orissa on the east and Maharashtra to the South west and Andhra on the South.. So one could possibly guage that the cuisine is an amalgamation of these, the primary one being from MP. Being the 10^th largest state of India, mining is an important economic activity in this state.

Location map of Chattisgarh

Today’s dish Faraa is like a steamed dumpling, only that there are very few online resources from where the authentic recipes of Chattisgarh are sought. In fact after I made this version, I watched on a TV FOOD channel something called Bundelkhand ka Farra (from Bundelkhand, which is in Northern MP), and the hostess and the guest were mentioning that this version itself is borrowed from UP (Uttar Pradesh). But this dish on television was totally different from the one below, although both of them originated perhaps from the same state.

With some creative license, we can only assume that certain dishes are from that state based on the few authentic recipe sources we have…

This snack is pretty easy to make, although the dough is a tad delicate to handle. I made a very small quantity adequate for clicks, and as we liked it shall be making it again very soon !

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BM : 39 ~ Indian State : Chattisgarh

Recipe : Faraa or Farra

Dish type :  Steamed snack

Spice Level : Medium

Accompaniment : Green Chutney

Prep Time : 15-20 mins, Cooking time : NIl ; Serves : 2

Source : Here

Ingredients:

• Rice flour – ½ cup
• Cooked rice – 1/3 cup
• Warm water – 3 to 4 TBSP (or as required)
• Til / white sesame seeds – 1 tsp
• Oil – 2 tsp
• Salt – to taste
• Garlic – 2 pods (or to taste – I didn’t add)
• Red chili flakes – 1 tsp (and / or diced green chilli)
• Ginger – optional – 1 tsp
• Coriander leaves – 2 tsp

Method:

1. Mash the cooked rice well. In a large bowl, add rice flour and warm water little by little or as required to make a soft but firm dough. Rest for 5 – 10 mins
2. Grease your palms a bit and make thickish cylinders and cut them into 4 inch pieces.
3. Heat oil in a non stick pan. Splutter sesame seeds, garlic and green chillies. Saute well.
4. Add the dough cylinder pieces and sauté well for 3 -4 mins carefully.
5. Sprinkle little water and cook covered for 8-10 mins till the faraa is cooked and raw smell disappears.
6. Garnish with coriander and serve hot as it is or with green chutney or tomato ketchup.

Notes:

• I used store bought rice flour. Homemade flour might be coarser and requires higher standing time
• I added both green chillies and red flakes.
• Strictly going by the recipe source, I felt that adding ¼ cup of water (as mentioned in the recipe) would make it soggy. So sprinkled only a little and let it brown and crisp a bit as I was using non stick.

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