Warli Tribal Nachni Bhakri Finger Millet Flatbread

Method

1. 1

   Boil water: Bring 1 cup water to a full boil.

2. 2

   Pour hot water over nachni flour: Place nachni flour and salt in a bowl. Pour the boiling water over the flour. Mix immediately with a spoon — the boiling water partially gelatinises the starch, making the dough workable.

3. 3

   Let cool briefly: Allow to cool 2 minutes until handleable.

4. 4

   Knead with wet hands: Knead the nachni dough with wet hands for 3 to 4 minutes. Keep wetting your hands — nachni dough must always be handled with very wet hands or it cracks and falls apart. The dough will be coarser and less elastic than wheat dough.

5. 5

   Divide into 6 balls.

6. 6

   Shape by hand: Nachni dough cannot be rolled with a pin — it cracks. Instead, place one ball on a wet cloth or wet surface. Using wet fingers and a wet palm, press the ball outward in all directions into a disc about 14 cm wide and 5 mm thick.

7. 7

   Heat griddle: Heat a flat griddle on medium. Apply a few drops of oil.

8. 8

   Transfer carefully: Lift the shaped nachni bhakri using the cloth if needed and place on the hot griddle.

9. 9

   Cook 3 minutes per side: Cook on medium heat 3 minutes. Flip carefully. Cook 3 more minutes until both surfaces show golden patches and the bhakri smells earthy and slightly malty.

10. 10

    Serve: Serve hot with whatever accompaniment is available — traditionally eaten with a handful of dry coriander chutney, forest greens stir-fried with oil and chilli, or dried fish.

11. 11

    Note: The Warli people of the Palghar, Dahanu and Jawhar forest belt of north Maharashtra are one of the largest tribal communities in Maharashtra — known internationally for their circular Warli paintings depicting community life. Their daily food is governed by what grows in the surrounding forest and hillside — nachni (finger millet) is the primary grain, as it grows in the laterite soil of the Western Ghats where rice and wheat cultivation is difficult. Nachni bhakri with forest greens is the meal eaten before the day's work.